Cindy on November 22nd, 2010
Gratitude is the heart’s memory.” ~Jean Baptiste Massieu
My son Nate drove from Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with us, so I’m closing the door to my home office this week. Meanwhile, I’m sharing links to two essays with a Thanksgiving homecoming spin. The first is from the archives of my Michigan Women’s Forum column, and the other runs currently on Mothering by Jennifer Margulis. If you’re the parent of a college student who’s back home for the holiday, you’ll probably relate.
Another homecoming: My weekly Our Town column debuted on Royal Oak Patch yesterday. You’ll be able to read it all week (check under “Columns” or type “Cindy La Ferle” in the Search option). It’s fun sharing my little corner of the world, and I’m getting a kick out of the comments readers leave on the Patch site. I’ve even heard from folks who’ve left the state but still want to stay connected with their hometown. Happy Thanksgiving to all! –CL
–Photo by Cindy La Ferle–
Cindy on March 20th, 2010
It’s spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you’ve got it, you want — oh, you don’t quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! ~Mark Twain
It’s officially spring today, but our weather reporters in southeast Michigan tell us we’re in for snow showers this weekend. Regardless, we’ve enjoyed sunshine and unseasonably warm temps all week. Our tulips are already pushing their leaves through the soil, and the neighborhood kids got a chance to dust off their roller blades.
And just in time, the April issue of Body and Soul arrived on the stands with several fresh articles on adopting a healthier diet, managing stress, and celebrating Earth Day. But what really sold me was an especially good piece by Amy Maclin on the deeper meaning of housecleaning. I enjoyed the issue so much, in fact, that I started a subscription.
Being an optimist, I’m also starting to plot my herb garden. But since I can’t start digging outside yet, I’m methodically purging the useless stuff I’ve accumulated in previous seasons — one drawer, one room, at a time. My new “Somewhere in the Middle” column in Michigan Women’s Forum offers a few tips for spring-cleaning your own closets and dumping shabby attitudes. Click here to read it. Here’s to fresh starts and a happy spring! — CL
–”Spring” collage detail by Cindy La Ferle–
Cindy on September 15th, 2009
“The foliage has been losing its freshness through the month of August, and here and there a yellow leaf shows itself like the first gray hair amidst the locks of a beauty who has seen one season too many.” — Oliver Wendell Holmes
Returning from a family visit in Chicago, I realized this morning that I’ve fallen way behind in my blogging. Since early September, I haven’t had much time to visit favorite blogs — nor have I had a spare minute to edit a new post I wrote about “rediscovering” high school classmates on Facebook. While I was away, my mother’s dentist called to ask if I noticed that my mother is showing additional signs of dementia — so dealing with that prickly issue remains a priority. Coincidentally, a column I wrote about caring for my mom during another health crisis appears in the current issue of Michigan Women’s Forum. Meanwhile, I’m preparing for some local writing events that start up next week. The blogging will have to wait while real life unfolds. Please don’t think I’ve forgotten you … I’ll be back soon! – CL
Cindy on January 10th, 2009
“More important than the quest for certainty is the quest for clarity.” — Francois Gautier
The answers to our most difficult career questions are rarely “clear as glass.” Sometimes we need to pull back and get quiet in order to gain fresh perspective. Curious? Read more in my January 2009 Michigan Women’s Forum column. – CL
Cindy on December 14th, 2008
“Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.” — Peg Bracken
Nothing stirs my Christmas nostalgia more than the co-mingled scents of oranges, cloves, pine, and cinnamon. Several years ago at Christmastime, my dear friend Debbie came over with a holiday bag filled with all the ingredients to make a simmering Christmas potpourri on the stove.
It quickly became one of my favorite holiday traditions, and sharing it with friends is always a pleasure. From my kitchen to yours, here’s the recipe:
THE SCENT OF CHRISTMAS
Fill a wide-mouthed pan 3/4 full with water. Add:
- 3 or 4 sticks of cinnamon
- 3 or 4 bay leaves
- 1/4 cup of whole cloves
- 1 lemon, sliced
- 1 orange, sliced
Simmer all ingredients on low, adding more water when necessary. You can use the mixture for a few days, and your house will smell delicious for the holidays.
My son Nate drove from Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with us, so I’m closing the door to my home office this week. Meanwhile, I’m sharing links to two essays with a Thanksgiving homecoming spin. The first is from the archives of my Michigan Women’s Forum column, and the other runs currently on Mothering by Jennifer Margulis. If you’re the parent of a college student who’s back home for the holiday, you’ll probably relate.
