Letting Go

Posted on August 18, 2015 by Eileen

Paul & caterpillerA friend gave me the following quote by Reverend Safire Rose on letting go. Lately, I have been reading it almost daily. It reminds me to let go of all that I can’t control, which is almost everything, and live in the present. Bit-by-bit I am loosening my grip, and finding the gift of freedom that results. I share it as a gift to you:
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On Kindness

Posted on August 11, 2015 by Eileen

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Of all the qualities that augment good in the world, I believe kindness is number one. Kindness is a doorway to the heart. It is something we learn (or not) from childhood. If we have not been treated kindly, we have to make it a conscious practice. Kindness begets kindness.
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Martha Stewart’s “American Made”

Posted on August 4, 2015 by Eileen

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Working a loom in my dorm at college

For more than 20 years, my friend Martha Stewart has celebrated a spirit of innovation in the pages of her magazines, on her television shows and, more recently, online. Now, through American Made —founded in 2012— Martha and the editors of Martha Stewart Living are spotlighting the next generation of great American makers: entrepreneurs, artisans, and small-business owners who are creating beautiful, inspiring, useful products; pioneering new industries; improving local communities; and changing the way we eat, shop, work, and live.   Continue reading →

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Sublime Summer Strawberry Spoon Bread

Posted on July 28, 2015 by Eileen

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Say that title five times fast! I don’t include recipes often, but this one is so good you’ll want to make about four of them in the first week! At least that’s what I did. It’s a recipe I’ve adjusted slightly from the Food52 Website, called “Strawberry Balsamic Spoon Bread with Poppy Seeds.”
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Untangling The Family Web

Posted on July 21, 2015 by Eileen

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When a friend took me to see “The Wild Center” in Tupper Lake, New York, last weekend, a giant spider web captured my imagination. It reminded me of something I learned while writing my book; that while the family we grow up in is our first mirror it is not usually an accurate reflection. We spend our lives untangling the stories that live inside us.
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On Winning

Posted on July 14, 2015 by Eileen

image“Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” Those words, spoken by Eunice Shriver at the start of the first Special Olympics, in July of 1968, were in my mind as I entered the ring with my horse, Lucky, at the Vermont Morgan Heritage Days’ carriage driving competition.
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Interlude

Posted on July 7, 2015 by Eileen

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At the end of a long day, there’s nothing better than to pick up a paddle and drift on water. A friend invited me to join her for kayaking. The moment we pushed off the shore we felt the stresses of the day drown in our wake.     Continue reading →

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Things Not Seen: Making Amends

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Eileen

President Obama Joins Mourners At Funeral Of Rev. Clementa Pinckney

 

 

 

 

Photo by Paul Zoeller-Pool/Getty Images

In the aftermath of the recent racially motivated shooting in Charleston, South Carolina, I feel the weight of systemic prejudice and racism, still alive in our country today. I’ve been reflecting upon President Obama’s eulogy for one of nine victims, the Reverend Clementa Pinckney.

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What Is Spirituality?

Posted on June 23, 2015 by Eileen

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The racist shootings in Charleston, South Carolina last week have torn my heart. What motivates anyone to kill fellow human beings? I don’t know the answers, but in the wake of such horror I find myself searching for comfort in community. At my family gathering this past weekend I joined a small discussion entitled, “What is Spirituality?”
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Recipe For A Long Life

Posted on June 16, 2015 by Eileen

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Celebrating my father’s 100th birthday last weekend got me wondering if there’s such a thing as a recipe for a long life. I don’t believe there is one recipe for all any more than my granola recipe is the only one. But here are a few things I have observed, many of which come from watching the example of my father.
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