Fostering a new renaissance through creativity, authenticity, spirituality, and art
Polly Castor 
You gotta love living in the northeast, where we get to hunker down and hibernate for a few months. It makes us appreciate the other seasons so much more! And the privilege of extra reading time under cozy polar fleece blankets is another fringe benefit of the area. So here we are, going nowhere, yet … Read more
This warm, nourishing soup was perfect for lunch today, a day that was all of two degrees when we woke up! And this is not only delicious but very quick and easy to make. It took me all of a half hour from the first chop to the table, and it generates just the … Read more
As I’ve said (click here) what you value governs what you are grateful for and therefore what you get more of. But what you value also determines what you do and don’t do. I value local and organic food, so that’s what I buy. I value education, so I’m always learning, etc. One of the … Read more
We’ve had a lot of snow so far this January. Public school kids here have missed at least 8 days of school this month, not counting late openings and early dismissals. One snow alone dumped two feet. You can see it up to the table tops in one photo below. That lump above is our … Read more
I enjoyed this touching Christian film and give it four stars. It has the feel of a good Christian revival: a temperamental white South African farmer’s life is turned around when he is led to accept Jesus and acquires a Bible. He sees proof of God listening to his prayers, and his Zulu workers do … Read more
Want a dense, flavorful muffin with enough staying power to get you through the morning? Try these from Jillian Michaels… Pumpkin Cranberry Muffin Recipe Preheat oven to 425˚F. Butter, spray or muffin papers to line the muffin tin 1 (15 oz) can of pumpkin puree 1/2 cup maple syrup 1/2 cup olive oil 1/2 … Read more
I’m so glad blog reader Clare recommended this book to me multiple times! Thank you! I really enjoyed this touching novel and give it five stars. It is a story told of Seattle’s International district, bouncing between the 1940‘s and the 1980‘s, from the perspective of a Chinese boy both at the age of twelve … Read more
Following the Tucson shootings, our Ridgefield Clergy Association, of which I have been an active member for thirteen years, unanimously supported the idea of publicly taking a civility pledge. We extended this at yesterday’s town Martin Luther King celebration where we invited individuals of the public to stand and join us in this pledge, as … Read more
As promised (click here) I wanted to feature an example of vital picture books. Usually I’d promote individual picture books that were remarkable in themselves, which is not particularly the case here. This post is about a remarkable man and his ideas. Picture books about him best communicate his important message into the budding thought … Read more
This page represents January 3, 2011 through January 14, 2011. See close-ups of recent entries below. Enjoy!
I am a periodic columnist for the Danbury New-Times Forum on Faith column, which also appears, I am told, in the Stamford Advocate and the Connecticut Post. But it was my total surprise this morning to find my New Year’s Eve blog post (click here) printed in today’s paper! I have reprinted the text below … Read more
I first played the Bananagrams game last fall at Creative Arts Camp and knew then that I’d be buying it as a gift to put in my husband’s stocking. Wow, has this game made a hit in our home! Fast moving and addictive, well made, mentally stimulating, relaxing, portable and tactile… We highly recommend it … Read more
This is a book more people should read. I give it five stars. My oldest daughter read it in high school and ended up attending one of the 40 schools featured here. Her school, St. John’s (click here), which I had not heard of before, is already an enormous blessing even though she’s only half … Read more
A year ago today, my good friend Jill unexpectedly passed on. (You can read my eulogy to her on this blog by clicking here). Maybe we’ve watched too much Victorian era costume drama, or read too much Jane Austin, but I am reminded of how they would wear black for a year of official mourning. … Read more
In the last month a massive quantity of food has moved through our kitchen. We’ve enjoyed all our guests; it was great to have family and friends grace our table. Yesterday, the groaning shelves were again bare and I scrubbed down the kitchen to reclaim it for a fresh new year before restocking on staples … Read more
This page represents December 22, 2010 through January 2, 2010. See close-ups of recent entries below. Enjoy!
