Hobbies

Continuing in my London travel series, I’d like to introduce you to the Serpentine Galleries (now officially called Serpentine South and Serpentine North) located inside London’s gorgeous Hyde Park and extending to Kensington Gardens. On this visit in mid-October, I saw both exhibits, North and South. Serpentine South Gallery sits just south of the Serpentine […]

I am a lone traveler and have been my entire life. When the opportunity arose to return to London after a hiatus of two decades (way too long), I jumped on it. The main reason for going was to attend the world premiere of The Hunger Games stage adaptation – I’m a longtime fan of both…

Arthur C. Brooks’ From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life is a compelling guide for navigating the challenges and transitions of life as we age. Drawing upon a rich tapestry of personal stories, psychological insights…

Full confession: I don’t always read every page of the novel I’m reading. Sometimes I flip to the final chapter. Or I’ll skim through a list of names in a mystery novel to see who’s still alive by page 150. (If my favorite character vanishes, I start slowly backing away – emotionally…

Smartphone photography is often associated with quick and easy snapping away. That’s because you can just walk around, point at something, click – and there’s your photo! I’d like to take a different approach to smartphone…

October is breast cancer awareness month and a reminder to have our mammograms. If you’re unfortunate enough to brush up with breast cancer, you hopefully have a great support system. During the course of my two breast cancer journeys, writing has always been my panacea…

Summer has unfortunately come to an end, and now it’s time to jump into your rain boots, grab your trusty trowel and put those garden beds to rest. While fall certainly isn’t the most exciting time to be gardening, your plants will appreciate…

Paper crafts are a wonderful way to make decorations for your home. This article offers two interesting paper pumpkin designs. Enjoy and share your craft ideas! Vintage Book Page Pumpkins These 3D vintage book page pumpkins are easy to make and add a touch of class to your Halloween decor. When books are damaged and […]

There probably has never been a better time to become a published author. Just 15 years ago, your best chance of getting published meant submitting to traditional publishers and keeping your fingers crossed while you wait months for them to respond with whether…

I first became interested in teaching small children how to write during my undergraduate work as I trained to be an elementary teacher. In the 1980s, the teaching of writing was shifting in a new direction. Influenced by educators like Donald Graves and Lucy Calkins, the focus moved away from rigid rules, drills, and worksheets and toward a child-centered approach.