One pilgrim I passed today on my way through the town of Arzúa had a small gourd tied to his pack with a green shoelace. Another pilgrim had a ribbon with seven silver beads wrapped around the neck of a water bottle, and still another carried a tiny pair of…

I am a big fan of any place that welcomes writers, readers, and wanna-be artists of the written word. Richard Hugo House in Seattle is one of my favorite writerly haunts. If you’re even remotely interested in putting pen to paper, I suggest you check them out during their upcoming…

Share your story with me! I want to know about a time when you relied on someone or something that became your touchstone during a difficult period in your life. Did you have an invisible friend as a child? An animal whom you loved more than anything else? An old…

My friend, Michelle, became a convert 5 years ago after watching my son play in the yard with a chicken slung under each arm. She’d been wary of these modern day raptors since childhood while she watched her grandmother chase them around the backyard for Sunday night dinner. But as…

I was told these words taped to my bathroom wall came from a letter exchanged between F. Scott Fitzgerald and his daughter, Scottie. I don’t know if this is true, but they are sound pieces of advice. These beautiful nuggets of wisdom remind me to claim all the definitions I…

When we write about ourselves, we lay the pieces of our human heart onto the page.  Our secrets, our heartaches, our shame, and our triumphs become a language of their own. A soul-speak. When I decided to tell the story of Andrew and Frightful, I knew this story was bigger…

It’s been five long months since the streets were dry and the city was bathed in sunshine. I don’t know if Mount Rainier still watches over Seattle from the southeast, or if she took off in search of some place that will appreciate her beauty on a more regular basis….

Four-year-old Buff Orpington Hen, living in the hen house at the end of the cul-de-sac, is seeking a sugar daddy for pecking, grazing and family building. Must live within crowing distance. My self-Summary: Hi y’all! My given name is Duke on account of my owners believed I was a rooster,…

Five-year-old Barred Plymouth Rock Hen, living in the hen house at the end of the cul-de-sac, is seeking a Rhode Island Red rooster who lives within crowing distance. My Self Summary: Hi! I’m Blanche. I’m looking for a gorgeous mate who doesn’t sport a mullet (like the black Silky that lives in my coop), has excellent…