dessert – food that builds community

Teaching How to Teach

Struggling to learn at any age involves courage and persistence. Treat yourself to a pie for encouragement!

Sunflowers

Learning about creativity and love from an unusual source.

Did you ever have a dog that feigned disability? We did. When growing up in India we had a cocker spaniel named Tuffy (because, my sister said, he was all black except for a white “tuff” at his throat.) Distemper shot. When a puppy, my doctor-Dad ordered distemper vaccine from the USA and administered it… Continue reading Our Dog the Drama Queen

Protected: A Community of Walkers

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

March

March Storm. On a recent morning walk, a passenger jet prepared to land on my head. It didn’t. And it wasn’t. It was only the wild wild wind thrashing the trees– spraying the raindrops into showers of rainbows in the surprising, intermittent sunshine. The fierce roar was intense. Sometimes I was hustled along,… Continue reading March

Keeping A Journal

Me: [Ending a telephone conversation]: It will be so good to see you. I thought I’d make fish pie.” Prospective visitor: “Yes. You made that the last time we came.” Me: I did? PV: Uh-huh. It was good. (vaguely) It was good. A storage of memories Keeping a journal will prevent YOU from having such… Continue reading Keeping A Journal

The Steinbeck House

How many of you retired folk wake up one morning and say, “I think I’ll buy me an old house, turn it into a restaurant, and get it registered as literary landmark”? Not your ordinary retirement activity, is it? Not quite sitting and staring at the middle distance waiting for a daughter to ring, or wandering… Continue reading The Steinbeck House

Apples — Part One

With many thanks to Helmut and Christel for sharing this information. What’s the connection between apples and your local Council? Plenty, if you happen to live in Rheinstetten, Germany. Our friend Helmut has a buddy-buddy relationship with his town council – a very forward thinking lot, those people. Their public land is dotted with apple… Continue reading Apples — Part One

A Community of Dog Walkers

In a country where prevention of cruelty to animals gets Royal blessing (RSPCA) and the same for children only gets national blessing (NSPCC) I guess it’s not surprising that my articulately crafted, brilliantly witty poem against owning a dog never gets published. However, being a dog-less morning walker, I am free… Continue reading A Community of Dog Walkers