Guess what I got for Christmas: MORE BOOKS! Here are reviews of ones I've already read: Class Mom. Let's Pretend This Never Happened. Convenience Store Woman. Runaway Ralph. The Tiger's Apprentice. The Enchanted Castle. A Prayer for the Earth.
What Might Get You Through 2022
Feeling discouraged as 2022 begins with record-breaking viral spread? Me too! But here are some things that have helped me keep my spirits up so far; maybe they'll help you, too.
Protected: Twelve Months in Pittsburgh: 2022 Photo Calendar
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Wearing masks on Christmas? It worked for my grandfather!
Some people in 2020-2021 have been acting like masks to reduce the transmission of germs are some kind of new, unproven idea. They aren’t! My family wore them on Christmas 1986, and we knew why.
Growing Sustainable Together, Ramona’s World, and The Vagina Bible [book reviews]
In the past few months, I've mostly been rereading novels I had read before--most notably, I was already midway through Snow Crash [reviewed here] when Facebook announced its intention to create the Metaverse, so that was chillingly appropriate! Let's hope we don't all catch a brain-stem virus. Anyway, I also read two excellent nonfiction books … Continue reading Growing Sustainable Together, Ramona’s World, and The Vagina Bible [book reviews]
Earth Sightseeing: Pittsburgh’s North Side
If you've been sticking close to some other place on Earth, maybe a little photo journey to the exotic North Side will be just the refreshment you need to feel less trapped!
Quick Lunch from Leftovers: Roasted Tomatoes and Crispy Garlic Kale
Throw together leftovers from different meals to create this quick, vegan lunch in a bowl!
Mysteries, Dogs, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Wes Moore [book reviews]
No Flying in the House. Ribsy. You Learn by Living. The Searcher. The Other Wes Moore. Still Life. Glass Houses.
Great green goods from Grove Collaborative!
Grove Collaborative continues to expand its range of environmentally friendly cleaning products, including some items now available at Target stores. After 20+ years' experience going greener, here are my opinions of some Grove products.
Forgotten Secret Darkest Midnight Book Reviews
The Forgotten Door. Mary Poppins. The Darkest Hour. The Secret Lives of Church Ladies. At Home in Mitford. The Midnight Library. The Glass Castle.
What have kids learned in a year of distance learning?
After our local public school buildings had been closed for more than a year, we opted to keep our kids home for another two months. Why? Will this be a setback in their education?
Get Your Friends to Go Green!
I'll be speaking at a Zoom event about how to inspire people to tackle Earth's plastic problem and their own environmental impact. Sign up here or read the written version!
Distance Learning Dance Party!
Why, yes, the young Earthlings over here are still distance learning, and we’re glad they’re staying home and staying safe and leaving space in the schools for the kids who more strongly need to get back in-person...but some days are difficult. Today, there were three times in three hours when we checked on our first-grader … Continue reading Distance Learning Dance Party!
Book Reviews and Hope for the Future
Drawdown. The House at Riverton. Glittering Images. The Tortilla Curtain.
Break Free From Plastic Pollution!
Legislation now before the U.S. Congress could be a huge step toward reducing some of the most omnipresent garbage in American life.
Turn, Turn, Turn . . .
The fast forced upon us for Lent 2020 still won't be over by Easter 2021. We didn't choose this particular turn in our lives, but we each have a role in determining what comes next.
Book Reviews: Racism, Scandals, and Cults, oh my!
The Color of Water. Such a Fun Age. Reputation. Girl at the End of the World.
The Upstairs Room and other pandemic reading
As the novel coronavirus that attacked Earth in 2019 continues into 2021, we're still staying home a lot of the time and seeing hardly anyone outside our family, and it's really getting old! Yes, I was able to write a cheery article about celebrating holidays with just your household, and I mean every word of … Continue reading The Upstairs Room and other pandemic reading
Three Weeks of Mostly Vegetarian Dinners (winter, in a pandemic)
Here's what a real Earth family ate for dinners: some complicated recipes, some easier ones, some convenience foods, hardly any take-out. Bonus rant about Ree Drummond!
Mexican Casserole
Do you happen to have some stale old corn tortillas (or corn chips), some leftover roasted peppers and onions, and someone demanding a "different" meal from last night? Throw this in the oven!
The Earthling's Handbook 