Full Circle

When I was in my forties, I had lost some weight and decided that the next step was to get more physically active. I decided that I wanted to learn yoga and nervously signed up for my first in-person yoga class.

I did my due diligence prior to going. I called ahead and spoke to the teacher and explained that the extent of my yoga practice thus far consisted of following along with the YogaKids Videos with my son when he was little. She said that was fine! Come to the class! It’s for all levels! Keep reading

The right place at the wrong time

I met the love of my life at the exact wrong time.

When I was in my teens, I thought that everyone at some point in life would meet the person they were destined to marry, the one they were supposed to be with for their whole life, their person(I didn’t think in terms of ‘soul mate’, but if you do, then this would be the equivalent).

I met him when I was 14 years old at my first church youth group dance, and I knew! He was the one! The only problem was, he didn’t know. I thought, that’s okay! I can wait!! Keep reading

Exercise your right to vote—for the best chili in town!

My daughter and I used to go to the Wells Chili-fest together over the years when she was younger. We loved buying the tasting kit in the plastic baggie, filled with small plastic cups, a spoon, and that all-important voting ballot!

Izzy at the Wells Chili-fest, 2013

After trying all of the different versions of chili from the participants, we would vote for our favorite one. Often we would have to go back to re-try one or two that we were torn between before we could make a decision. These contenders produced top shelf chili and it was sometimes hard to narrow it down to what we considered to be the best one, but, of course, we always did–although we didn’t always vote for the same one! Keep reading

Celebrating life’s important moments

My husband and I celebrated 32 years of marriage this month.

We decided to go to Calzolaio Pasta Company in Wilton, Maine.

As of today, we have been together over 34 years, but we almost never met.

At the time, I was working as a restaurant manager. I was happy where I was, but my store location was closing and I needed to take a new store.  The one that was offered to me was one that I had no interest in taking over. None. Zero. What I discovered was that the company had zero interest in my feelings about it. It was that store or I was out of a job. Keep reading

Shower wisdom

A friend mentioned a problem she was having to me recently and it had been on my mind for a day or so.

I noticed that whenever I was thinking about my friend’s problem, I also began thinking of another person that I knew that was from the same area as she. Gradually I realized that my intuition was telling me that I should reach out to this second person to see if they might have any information that could help with this problem.

And because I was in the shower at the time, I realized that I had to act on this. I get a lot of intuitive hits when I am near (or in this case, in) water. I have learned to trust these nudges and to act to put them out into the world. Keep reading

The garden, 2023 edition

It’s one of my favorite times of year: the mostly blank slate garden.

Deciding what to grow this year and seeing what lived through the winter.

My habit is to way, way, way overplant tomatoes, such that my tomato bed turns into a jungle from which it is difficult to extract any actual edible tomatoes before they split, mold, or become otherwise unappetizing. I am going to do my best to avoid that this year–and yes, I say this every year. Maybe if I declare in advance of plant shopping that I will grow one heirloom, one purple/orange/or yellow, one cherry, and one early variety then I will stick to that plan. Okay, so already know I won’t because I want a Purple Cherokee and I want a Lemon Boy, and I want a Supersweet 100 and a Sun Gold… Keep reading