Jack and the Bean Stalk

I put beans into new black dirt this morning, and thought of Jack (pun intended).  Spring is the time for telling Jack and the Bean Stalk, the story of an ne’er do well son, who risks ogres and uses his head to get right by his mother and create a good life for...
Satyagraha, Beauty and the Daily News

Satyagraha, Beauty and the Daily News

There was snow in Portland today, and the kids are all out of school. It was fun to wake up and feel like we have an extra Saturday this week, to see the quiet, white streets. The kids hung out and played — and I read the morning news, which I rarely get to do....
The Holiday Ritual

The Holiday Ritual

I really look forward to the holiday season.  I know it will be extra busy, but I hope it will also be fun.  I try to minimize the sense of endless shopping, and I hope be able to spend extra time with the people I love doing special things.  In my family, Christmas...
Halloween: Finding the Meaning Amidst the Kitsch

Halloween: Finding the Meaning Amidst the Kitsch

Tonight, when we came home from a dinner out, the house was dark.  It was cool out, and you could still make out the orange leaves against the black of the sky.  The almost full moon was made fuzzy by a few hazy clouds.  The kids wanted to light the Halloween lantern....