Chris' sleeping porch Here's a post you may enjoy on Chris Corrigan's blog about the practice of sleeping outside.  The post is about the absolute joys of connecting to the 'real' world by sleeping outside every chance we get. Quote: ''My house faces southeast, so I know which planets are up, when the dawn is and what kinds of ...

In this, the final offering of submissions for the 'Where's Home' exercise, we explore carrying home with us as if we were a turtle or snail.   We hope you enjoy submissions from Terri Good,  Ella Moss,  Karen Cox,  Rita Clagett and Mo Scott.  Thanks to each of you for these nutrient-rich entries! Winners for this ...

Part 1: The call comes from 'Bougainvillea' (i.e. Katrina) asking me to come help her die. Katrina and I have been friends for over 20 years.  Note: In the late 1990's Katrina took on the nickname from a tropical plant I had carted to Colorado from Florida--a bougainvillea that I couldn't seem to kill--although I left it outside to freeze, ...

Second in the series, ''Hi Honey, I'm Home'' as part of the 'Where's Home' contest.      I had the honor of helping present Toni Ryan, Executive Director of Saving Grace (formerly COBRA: Central Oregon Battering and Rape Alliance) the 2008 Crime Victims Assistance Network (CVAN) Community Service Provider Award last night in ...

''Abu Yazid made his periodic journey to purchase supplies at the bazaar in the city of Hamadhan--a distance of several hundred miles. When he returned home, he discovered a colony of ants in the cardamon seeds. He carefully packed up the seeds again and walked back across the desert to the merchant from whom he had bought them. His intent was ...

 After Apple Picking by Robert Frost My long two-pointed ladder's sticking through a tree Toward heaven still. And there's a barrel that I didn't fill Beside it, and there may be two or three Apples I didn't pick upon some bough. But I am done with apple-picking now. Essence of winter sleep is on the night, The scent of apples; I am ...

''We don't have to be each other's cup of tea, but tolerance lets a variety of kettles peacefully share the stove.'' NPR This I Believe essay: True Tolerance by Joel Engardio This week I had an email dialogue with my oldest 'surviving' friend--the one that has never let my lapses in communication phase her.  T. is an evangelical Christian, ...