Botany and Bookends

August 17, 2021

Girl, don’t do it…

It’s not worth it. I’m not gonna do it, I was just thinking about it. I’m not gonna do it. I did it. The recipe for Southern Living’s Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake. Holy nutmeg! The perfect marriage of spice cake and pumpkin bread. I am NOT one of those people. I don’t like rushing seasons […]

August 16, 2021

Midtown Farmers Market

We look forward to Saturday every week. The Midtown Farmers Market is the perfect size. It’s not an overwhelming market, so you can slow down and see it all. We are also developing our ‘favorites’ list of vendors we must stop and see what they have new for the week. For Scott, it’s the vendor […]

July 26, 2021

THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN + Book of the Month

I was very honored that Book of the Month posted one of my pictures today on their social media. It was a photo of this fantastic book about J.P. Morgan’s assistant, Belle da Costa Greene, who helped build the J. Pierpont Morgan Library in New York City in the early 1900’s. THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN is […]

May 11, 2021

Sutherland’s Sunday Summary (except on a Tuesday)

Spring in Northern California…wow. From February to the end of May is northern California’s show-off time. It’s a gorgeously long season of magnificent blooms and growth. After a few months of rain, everything catapults to life. This was just a walk around the block… Clearly this house has mastered the art of rose bushes. The […]

April 14, 2021

commonality

In a world of disconnection, it has felt even more comforting to gather with people all over the world as we circle the same scripture on the same day. That is the beauty of the liturgy, for me. Similar thoughts are being mulled over. Time of year is being considered. The great joining together happens […]

April 14, 2021

SING, UNBURIED, SING

This family drama was true southern prose full of spirits and stories and spells. Sin and family and forgiveness. No one dies quite like a southerner, taking their specific cooking and unique lineage, leaving us our heritage and pockets full of stories to embellish for many generations to come. “…. sorrow is food, swallowed too […]

April 10, 2021

our days…

“Our day is but a path we tread, a gentle walk among possibilities.” – Kent Nerburn

April 10, 2021

fines are no longer fine

I started a new jigsaw puzzle and am in that never-mind-it’s-too-hard-put-it-all-back-in-the-box stage. It’s a puzzle of classic paperback book covers. USA Today published an article recently about library fines and how much they impact those who can least afford the fines or the punishment of no longer being able to check out books. Library fines […]

April 10, 2021

Spring 2021

Without regard to pandemics or plight, there will always be a Spring. Find your spring.

April 10, 2021

lemons as neighbors

We certainly know we’re no longer in the midwest when we come home to a bag of fresh lemons on our front porch. Our neighbors across the street share their bounty with us. It’s been such a good way to get to know them. And their taste far outweighs grocery store produce, for sure! Thank […]

April 10, 2021

reading. listening. learning.

I reach for books to learn while listening to people who have lived the injustice. There is so much for all of us to learn…

April 10, 2021

books and justice

Making totes and stuff while stuck inside for quarantine. Always about the books and justice! -ha.