As we draw near the end of our time in Scotland, my brother and I have traveled south towards the more inhabited areas of the country. We’ve encountered more tourists and more precipitation during this leg of the journey, as … Continue reading
Over the last couple of days in Scotland, my brother and I have done about 20 miles of “walking” (hiking) in the Scottish Highlands. We walked to a blustery mountain-top called Carn Liath. The wind on Carn Liath was so … Continue reading
Why is “twinning” so fun? I’ve noticed and enjoyed the phenomenon since I was a kid. My brother and I would dress identically in an attempt to confuse people, and I suppose it was just silly childhood amusement. But I … Continue reading
We got over a foot of snow over the weekend. It’s already disintegrating into a yucky pile of slush, now that a new weather system has moved in with warmer temperatures and soaking rains. Fortunately, though, my kids and I … Continue reading
I saw this sign while hiking along the Buckeye Trail this morning: “Poison Ivy Everywhere.” It feels like a symbol or metaphor for something… but I don’t know exactly what the antecedent might be. Fomenting unfounded fears? The depravity of … Continue reading
Merry Christmas from our family (or families, as the case may be) to yours! It’s a privilege to be able to spend time with loved ones over the holidays. We enjoyed eating Swedish meatballs and singing “Silent Night” by candlight … Continue reading
One of my favorite gifts this holiday season has been a self-published book produced by my children, featuring story-sketches and images of my children. They gave a copy to both Marci and me on Santa Lucia Day (December 13th), and … Continue reading
“Tuscarawas” is an extraordinary word. It is apparently derived from a Native American word meaning “Open Mouth.” A few friends from H2O have been telling me stories about growing up in Tuscarawas County (Ohio) this semester, and honestly: these stories … Continue reading
Most of the ornaments on our Christmas tree have a special story or significance. For instance, there is one ornament featuring a scene from the Dutch countryside. It was given to us by our neighbors, Jasper and Katrijn, in the … Continue reading
I love the way that the window over our backyard gets turned into a stained glass window every autumn. It seems to me like the “peak color” of our fall foliage arrived a bit later than usual this year… But … Continue reading
