“… blogging about life, travel, books, food and the outdoors”
Doses of history, wine and spirituality all in one setting
The monks would surely say it was the power of prayer, keeping the faith, and believing in divine intervention that finally allowed them to complete a significant structure at the Abbey of New Clairvaux. This religious enclave in Vina 20 miles north of Chico and 20...
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California Poppies Are For Picking–Kind Of
Each spring in California (and other parts of the West Coast) poppies are prolific, decorating hillsides, private gardens, and public spaces. In 1903, the poppy was named the state flower. Somewhere along the way the notion of picking them was associated with...
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Placerville loses the noose, keeps ‘Old Hangtown’
Nooses and hangings are not something most towns brag about. Placerville, though, is a little different. A noose has been part of this town’s logo for decades. And “Old Hangtown” is the motto of this city sandwiched between Sacramento and South Lake Tahoe....
read more Doses of history, wine and spirituality all in one setting
The monks would surely say it was the power of prayer, keeping the faith, and believing in divine intervention that finally allowed them to complete a significant structure at the Abbey of New Clairvaux. This religious enclave in Vina 20 miles north of Chico and 20...
read more
Book Review: Novel unearths atrocities at Tennessee orphanage
Thousands of lives were stolen or ruined in the first part of the 20th century all because one woman wanted to profit from stealing and selling children. While Before We Were Yours (Ballantine Books, 2017) is historical fiction, the Tennessee Children’s Home Society...
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Being immersed in the world of materialism
We live in a material world. The more space, the more we fill it with. I understand the minimalist mentality. That less is more. I’m just not embracing that concept right now. Sure, I could live with the kitchen table that seats two that my mom bought for an...
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Secret Trail beer is something to shout about
Secret Trail Brewing Co. may be off the beaten path in Chico, but their product should be no secret to those who like craft beers. Charlie Barrett had been making beer at home long before he and wife Michelle Barrett opened their brewery in November 2017. Now he has...
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Finding a new place to walk while ridding the trail of trash
How did a half dozen plastic hangers end up on a paved bike trail? Were these the remains of a shoplifting incident? Were they going to be used for an art project and fell out of a bag? I’m still curious. They wound up in a garbage bag with lots of other debris...
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Beauty of Bidwell beckons with flowers, flowing creek
It’s been a while since a trailhead felt overwhelming. It might be the case every time I venture into Bidwell Park in Chico. At 3,670 acres and nearly 11 miles in length, it’s going to take a while to completely explore this city park that feels more like a state...
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Free Krispy Kreme doughnut just what the doctor ordered
I just got vaccinate and can’t sit still. It must be the sugar rush. My reward for being jabbed with the second dose of Moderna on April 19 was to take Krispy Kreme up on its offer for a free doughnut to anyone with a vaccination card. Mom and I each flashed our cards...
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Book Review: Former NOW leader’s autobiography still relevant
It’s amazing how reading a book published 25 years ago at times seemed like it was written in present day. Such was the case with What Women Want (Penguin Group, 1996) by Patricia Ireland. Unfortunately, women still want so much of what Ireland writes about. Equal...
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April jobs report surprise: Is this a labor shortage or a great reassessment of work in America? - The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/05/07/jobs-report-labor-shortage-analysis/
