Category: Columns

About every 20 minutes or so growing up, my mother would tell me, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” It’s not likely that her mother had to tell her that, so I think she heard other moms use that old nugget on their kids and jumped on the wagon.

We know a product is recyclable when we see the “chasing arrows” symbol. But not many know that the symbol came from a design contest sponsored by the Container Corporation of America in 1970.

I am standing in my backyard and looking up into a tree. Beside me is my loyal black Lab, Echo. He is looking up into the same tree.

One of the joys of writing about nature is hearing from readers who share stories or ask questions about a species of interest. The most common topic is the white-tailed deer, a familiar creature around Harpswell.

Nothing warms the soul in January more than comfort food, like Donnette Goodenow’s shepherd’s pie. (Kathy D’Agostino photo)

It’s chilly, 24 degrees with a 20-mph northwest breeze. For dramatic effect, I’d tell you what the “wind chill” factor is, but you and I don’t need any more drama. Just figure it’s 24 degrees and blowy.

You walk into a hardware store and ask for a screwdriver. The clerk points to a small array. “Where are your cordless ones?” “We don’t have any. The standard ones are plenty good.” You’ll walk out thinking, “Well, that place was quaint, but they didn’t have many options.”

I’m disingenuous about New Year’s resolutions, so I quit making them a long time ago. In the very moment I’d vow to lose weight, exercise more, cook nutritious meals with joy, and somehow be a better person, generally or specifically, my inner voice mocked my earnest intentions and I knew I’d never follow through.

Santa is exceptionally talented at being Santa. There are people in the world who aren’t good at their jobs, don’t love their careers and even ignore their callings.

Composting is a practical and convenient way not only to handle your yard waste, but also any fruit and vegetable scraps you have after preparing meals.

When you hear “book club,” what comes to mind for you? Book clubs come in all sizes, ranging from the megaclubs of Oprah and Reese Witherspoon, which drive book sales for authors to glorious heights, to intimate groups of fewer than four.

Not too long ago I came home from my real job and, upon entering my real home, where my real wife and real kids and real pets live, I saw my real wife pulling out of a shopping bag a real plant.

During the winter months, our local population of oceangoing ducks soars as migrants arrive from hundreds or thousands of miles to the north.

With several holidays coming this month, many of us are planning some sort of celebration. Some may travel to be with friends and/or family, while others may choose to have a quiet holiday at home.

When you ask people why they give, the answer is almost never “the tax deduction.” However, if Uncle Sam rewards you for being philanthropic, that is a welcome bonus!

As if I needed objective evidence for the alleged incompetence at the BMV bureaucracy, I visited there to renew my driver’s license recently.

I love a magic moment. Not the cocktail or the song but the warmth, strength and connection — a fleeting and magical sense of deep peace from knowing I’m in the exact right place at the exact right time.

We sent our only child off to college this fall and are suffering from a form of nostalgia that some call empty nest syndrome. This is definitely a transitional moment for our family, and it has led me to revisit old photographs and memories of our son, Sam, when he was little.

September’s sun warmed me as I listened to migrating warblers and local birds. Then I heard the soft brush of movement against a spruce tree to my left. Slowly turning, I saw two predators padding down the trail, unaware of my presence.

Of the many blessings to celebrate this holiday, gratitude for our friends, cooks, and volunteers who help neighbors in need within our community certainly tops the list.