“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the…

The Forum, Pompeii, Italy, with Mount Vesuvius volcano in the background The day I visited the Lost City of Pompeii was an ominous day, threatening rain as I walked the…

Oliver Wendall Holmes Jr. 10 Favorite Places to Visit in Italy Pisa, the Italian Riviera, Switzerland, and Home to Prague: a photojournal Italy: Tuscany and Rome, a photojournal EAT, STRAY,…

“It starts with a dream. Add faith, and it becomes a belief. Add action, and it becomes a part of life. Add perserverance, and it becomes a goal in sight.…

There’s no place like home. – Dorothy, The Wizard of Oz A long time ago, I grew up in New York City. Not the kind of growing up made of…

I might know a thing or two about being a hillbilly. Much of my growing up took place in the Ozarks of Arkansas catching crawdads and eating black-eyed peas at…

“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” ― Henry James Garden Roses Summer is my favorite season For its…

“Everyone must leave something behind when he dies, my grandfather said. A child or a book or a painting or a house or a wall built or a pair of…

There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart.  -Celia Thaxter It’s late August, and my boys are all tucked back in to their school rhythms. 7th, 5th, and 3rd…

“Sweet spring, full of sweet days and roses…” – Sir Alan Herbert This past weekend, I took advantage of the warm hours of sunshine, slipped on my gardening gloves, and…