January 2016

When I was in elementary school in the 1960s, the United States was experiencing a great deal of turbulence and division. Divisive issues included race, civil rights, and the Vietnam War. Segregation and systemic denials of civil rights to African-Americans were the law of the land in many states. The Ku Klux Klan, which was […]

The wedding feast at Cana was re-enacted at Saint Martin in the Fields church in Grand Island. According to the story, which is in the Gospel of Saint John (chapter two, verse one), a couple got married and friends and family spent an entire week celebrating. Unfortunately, they ran out of wine well before the

It’s time to post an update of the 366-day photography project. I am excited to report that I have managed to take at least one photograph per day since I started the project on September 1st. And, amazingly enough, I’ve taken photographs of things other than my food and I have not taken any photographs

Today, I had the opportunity to visit the old Erie County Hall for a meeting of the county legislature’s Energy and Environment Committee. I went to the meeting with a group of farmers from Grand Island. These farmers had applied to be included in an agricultural district. If the farmers are included in the agricultural

On a cold winter day, what is more welcome than some delicious soup? It is warm comfort food that brings happiness on even the darkest and dreariest of winter days. A number of years ago, I found a recipe for Middle Eastern Lentil Soup. It is a good soup for anyone to try, including vegetarians

cold water crackles where the bushes hit the creek the magic of ice Swimmers go indoorsBoats have been stored somewhere elsewinter dormancy The snow piles upwhite and fluffy but so coldneeding some color On a quiet street,the snow serves as a blanket.hibernation time. Snow on tree branchesglitters in the cold sunlightmagic of winter bare tree

About the 366-day photography project: On August 1st, 2015, I began a 366-day photography project. The goal that I had set for myself was to take at least one photograph a day for 366 days, which would take into account the fact that 2016 is a leap year. I am now in the sixth month of

Food is photogenic. It is colorful and comes in variety of shapes and sizes. Above is a giant strawberry that makes a quarter look like a miniature.  This is one of the pineapple brownies that I baked. The pineapple is in the center of the brownie. It is kind of a little surprise for the

If you want to write and you feel stuck when you are trying to compose, you can try a random first line generator. There are a variety of random first line generators on the internet. Here is a link to the one that I used: Random first line generator The adventure begins… Your first step in

Yesterday was epiphany. It is also known as “Three Kings Day.” January 6th, which is the twelfth and last day of Christmas, is the day that three kings come to bring gifts to the baby Jesus. They bring three gifts, all of which seem like odd gifts for a newborn: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The