It's taken me a long time to realize that, when you add things to your life, you usually have to subtract some things, too. Unless what you've added is more time or help, and then you might be subtracting money. The holiday season fools me each year, especially now that it includes Thanksgiving, Chanukah, three … Continue reading December: Taking Time to Celebrate and Be Sick
I went for a walk with my son today. We do this almost every day. It's a gorgeous day, sunny and unseasonably warm. The leaves are changing and falling. Some of the trees—enough to be quite noticeable—aren't changing their usual fiery colors. The maples in our yard have gone yellow with brown spots. They say … Continue reading Here’s to spotty brown leaves: making meaning in a changing climate
Our seasons aren't quite what they used to be, here in New England. June of 2021 was the wettest on record in my region, and quite cool. We had a couple of stretches of days in the 90s in May. I'm never sure when summer ends and fall begins, now. With weather consistently in the … Continue reading 2021: year of the mushroom
To those familiar with the craft—and those who can at least spot a doily on grandma’s loveseat—crochet doesn’t typically evoke visions of immodesty, subversion, or the struggles of women in the workplace. There was a time in history, however, when the act of crocheting became bound up with the entrepreneurial dreams of impoverished women, as … Continue reading The “wanton-eyed” crocheter: from Irish lace to pussy hats
It’s mid-morning on the first day of the new year. I’m sitting in my living room, which is still scattered with gift wrapping, almost-stale cookies, and boxes of holiday decorations. My life hasn’t changed much since yesterday, aside from the vaguely shameful memory of going to bed at 10:30 after a night of card games … Continue reading Why we need the “clean slate” rituals of the New Year
Upcycling is fun, en vogue, and arguably a good practice for the planet. The popularity of this form of creative reuse has exploded over the past decade, even making its way into luxury brands. It's got a little problem, though—we can't seem to agree on what it actually is, and which items qualify as "upcycled" … Continue reading Upcycling vs. creative reuse: what’s the difference?
Before you launch into the rest of this blog post, I want you to sit back, take a deep breath, and say these words to yourself: I won't let plastic pollution drag me down or overwhelm me. No, you don't need to fit all of your trash for the year into a mason jar. You … Continue reading One thing you can do to reduce plastic pollution right now
String bags and mesh shopping bags are popping up everywhere, which probably feels like déjà vu for people who grew up in a time or place where they were the norm. For those who enjoy the occasional nugget of history, you might be surprised to know that Wikipedia actually has an entire (albeit brief) page … Continue reading Color Block Market Bag Pattern
Every year, I see a new way of turning simple seasonal decor from something that looks beautiful on its own—and could be composted—into something that will end up in the trash by November and won't break down for a really long time. Metallic painted pumpkins come to mind: Yes, they look pretty fab, and I … Continue reading 13 Natural Autumn Decor Ideas
There are a lot of local soap-makers in the Pioneer Valley, and most have their own unique take on this basic staple of our daily lives. Despite there being many proverbial fish to choose from in this sudsy sea, my heart belongs to the makers of Just Soap, a savonnier (hey, it sounds better than … Continue reading Local product love: Just Soap in Ashfield, MA
Mushrump 