Category Archives: St. Joseph

Signs of the (Political) Season

In 2000, I participated in a faculty exchange with a technical college instructor from the Netherlands. She visited me in Joliet, Illinois, and I’ll never forget her reaction to our political campaigning. Now this was Bush v. Gore and it was … Continue reading

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Stickwork, part 2

This is week two of three of the sculpture project at Saint John’s University. I went back on Friday and helped with the second step of the project, which was the stripping of the saplings. Three days of gathering willow … Continue reading

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Stickwork

One of the highlights of our trip in March to New York was a walk through the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, where we came across a large-scale sculpture made of twigs. I like this kind of nature-based art in the style … Continue reading

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My Mother’s Salad

My mother has always loved salad. I was impressed early by her willingness to stand at the sink and prepare all the fresh vegetables she put into them. At dinner, it was a challenge to pick around the things I … Continue reading

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The Predator

I am often grateful for the predator that lives near my garden, as I credit him or her with keeping rabbits out. I have not known who this predator is, but I have so far thought of it as the protector … Continue reading

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Yak Dung

This is a pile of yak manure on our driveway. It is one full dump-box load of yak dung. This is the view of the yak dung from our screen porch. It is lovely because we can sit and eat … Continue reading

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Black-eyed Susan Season

The expanded parts of the prairie are totally taking off this year. We have lovely mown paths and can go deep into the world of rudbeckia, black-eyed Susans. Rivers, just rivers of them.  

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Back to the Garden

After a week away, this morning I ventured out into the vegetable garden. The flower garden in front of the house was looking great, but I wasn’t sure what I’d find out back. It has rained and rained and rained … Continue reading

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First Person

Last night at the workshop I’m attending, we had a visit from Patricia Hampl, a wonderful memoir writer who lives in St. Paul, Minnesota. She spoke to us about the first person, particularly the first person essay. Writing in the … Continue reading

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Communal Weeding Project

Last year Steve and Tim decided to cut down on the mowing in the Commons area of the farm and move the prairie in toward the center. They planted large, curved areas of wildflowers and mowed it to keep the … Continue reading

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