My sister sent me a picture of my Dad the other day that I remember taking. He was gently staring at the camera with his hand resting on his cheek. I love that picture. He died when I was twenty and I think about him often. To me he was a kind philosopher who recognized the artist in me, but to my brothers he was an enthusiastic sportsmen and life coach. He was both, and considering our shared DNA, I can see both characteristics in each of my siblings. But there are fat

I’d like to dedicate this years Fathers Day Blog to all the young men I know, especially my son, who will become fathers for the first time. This will turn me into a Grandmother for the first time too. When our sons were running crazy round our houses, accidentally breaking lamps while throwing footballs across the dining room table or wearing that same favorite shirt for the fifth day in a row, it was hard to imagine that those darling crazy boys would be the fathers of ou

What a warm and quintessential spring day it was today. While I was making a cup of tea this morning, I opened the back door to see what the day felt like beyond the door. It was what I would call pre-warm. I could tell that the temperature today would soon be perfect, perfect for a person who thinks “in the 80s” is too hot. The water in the kettle began to boil, and as I poured the water into my white porcelain cup, I heard a buzz. Was it a fly already? I soon saw one of my

After writing my last blog, I started looking at some of the other cookbooks I own. Like a hundred other things I have collected, cookbooks have always interested me. I bought a Betty Crocker Picture Cookbook a little while ago. It was copyrighted in 1950. It was in pristine condition, which meant no one ever used it, so it was a great find for me. The illustrations are truly historic artworks and worth preserving. I first started reading the recipes out of curiosity, but now