Grandchild No. 1 came for a holiday visit and it rained all week. Here’s what we found to do with a kid on a rainy day. Read more.
Barbara’s Riffs on Life
May Your Days Be Merry!
On my Christmas card this year, “May your days be merry,” is code for — may your days be filled with hope and faith. Read more.
Widowed: I Got Caught in the Act of Crying for My Husband
I came home to what I thought was an empty house but, widowed, I got caught in the act of crying for my husband. Noisily. Read more.
A Widow’s Christmas Card — Where’s Jon When I Need Him Most?
My first widow’s Christmas card — my husband isn’t here to compose the poem and photoshop the card. How do I pull it off without him? Read more.
Betty Rollin on How to Talk to a Widow
Betty Rollin on how to talk to a widow: Betty says don’t assume she’s over it just because a year has gone by. I say, ask me about my garden. Read more.
An Urban Oasis: Keeping It Wild — And Fire Resistant
Beaconsfield Canyon was blighted with trash and invasive species — until its human neighbors took it upon themselves to restore their wild urban oasis. Read more.