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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.

September, the first month of autumn, brings with it the suggestion of the season to follow. Although still three months away, the wonders of frostbitten cheeks, slips and falls on icy surfaces...

For most of her 80-plus years, Marjorie Johnson lived in a modest house on Bailey Island, on the side of a hill overlooking Mackerel Cove. Her father was a fisherman; her mother, the proprietor of a summer boardinghouse and cottages known as The Willows.

It was while we were returning from a dad and daughters fishing and swimming trip in Woolwich that Molly mentioned that Calliope, the youngest child, was bleeding.

Is it a good idea to crochet a bikini? My mother thought so and my debut as a bikini model was at the public pool. My mom and I walked in hand in hand, she wearing whatever the mom fashion was and me wrapped in yarn knots.

For many of us, autumn — when the trees turn on their colors and the "leaf peepers" ogle the view — is a time for raking fallen leaves and preparing the yard for winter.

Although Harpswell has an abundance of open space and natural beauty, building a home here can be challenging. Mortgage rates are rising. Contractors are in high demand and short supply. Materials costs have surged because of kinks in the supply chain.