Since my son became a vegetarian, I’ve mostly given up my Meatless Monday posts. Obviously, every day is meatless for him, and many are for me. I’ll sometimes have something different or I’ll add some shredded chicken or something to our vegetarian base. But if you’re interested in that practice, or just want some vegetarian … More Meatless Monday: MLK Day Edition–MLK Stir Fry
When I taught middle and high school literature classes, one of the books I commonly taught was George Orwell’s Animal Farm. In a 1946 essay (“Why I Write”), Orwell explained “Every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism and for democratic socialism.” This is the … More Remembering the Truth of January 6 Through Software, Storytelling, and Soup
OK, so they weren’t really baked. They were cooked in my air fryer because my grill isn’t working so I couldn’t BBQ them. But it’s hard to know how to write about things cooked in the Air Fryer. Is it Air Fried? Air Fryer-ed? Roasted? The important thing is that for our special Labor Day … More The Great Labor Day Hatch Chile Burger Bake Off
I hope you read my previous post about My Labor Day Reflection. It’s been an interesting holiday. As North Carolinian songsmith James Taylor wrote, “I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain. I’ve seen sunny days that I thought would never end. I’ve seen lonely times where I could not find a friend.” (Except that last … More My Extended Labor Day 2025: One of the Best Ever?
In some ways, it seems like this summer has flown by. In others, it seems like it has lasted forever. Or maybe that’s just me. How has it been for you? I substitute teach at a year-round school. For the first time ever, I taught the last day of the 2024-25 school year and the … More What Are You Doing for Labor Day?
One of the columnists in one of the newspapers I read wrote today that this Juneteenth felt hollow. To him, it seems that true freedom and equality between black and white people in the US seems farther away than it did in 2021 when Congress made ““Juneteenth National Independence Day” a federal holiday. I totally … More Celebrating Juneteenth with Two James and a Queen
How was your May Day? Mine was busy but powerful. Here are a few highlights of the day… I did the meditation from yesterday’s post so I would be centered in May Day or Beltane energy (click here for that post). I had a business call at 1:00 that I took outside, basking in the … More May Day 2025: Meditation, Manifestation, and Miracle
Saturday, April 5 was one great day for me. It was the first day of the Regular Season of our local Farmers Market, the Cary Downtown Farmers Market. Our Market runs all year long, but many farmers and other vendors don’t come during the “Winter Market” (November through March). Thus, the first day of the … More What a Spectacular Saturday!
I just finished reading this book of essays about food and life by Alton Brown. I enjoyed it. But I have to admit, I have no idea why I read it. I got the book at the library because I put a hold on it. But looking at the cover, I knew I’d never seen … More What Is Your Horcrux Dish?
Last night I had a very special opportunity to celebrate the Islamic spiritual practice of Ramadan, even though I am not Muslim. Ramadan is one of the most sacred traditions in Islam. It commemorates the revelation of the Qur’an through a month in which Muslims shift their focus from their material world to their spiritual … More Celebrating Ramadan with Feasting and Philoxenia at the Divan Center
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