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Keeping Traditions Alive Through an Old-Fashioned Christmas
Some families choose bright lights and bustling schedules at Christmas. This year, we chose something quieter. No waterparks. No venturing off to buy batteries or take advantage of sales. No packed schedules. We're trading dependable Wi-Fi, a dishwasher, and extra space for a small, remote cabin in northern Wisconsin. It begins outside, where we strap […]
A Season for Noticing
I was excited when the mockup for my latest picture book arrived in the mail. The cover of When an Octopus Crashes Your Party was colorful, imaginative, and fun. I eagerly flipped through the pages, scanning for typos or layout issues, and found a couple. A week later, during the swirl of Thanksgiving preparations, the […]
Embracing the Night (Even When You’d Rather Hibernate)
As the days grow shorter and the sun slips away before many of us have even thought about starting supper, I find myself wanting to do what any sensible woodland creature would do: crawl into a warm den, curl my paws around a mug of chamomile tea, and not emerge until April. One night, while […]
A Thanksgiving Lesson From Josie
Josie the Cockapoo’s worn pads click across the kitchen floor. Fifteen years old. My husband and I display a photo of her as a puppy—see photo above—and often comment on how quickly the years have gone. Bare patches show where she’s scratched herself raw from persistent allergies. Still, when I ask if she wants a […]
The Farm That Love Built
Nestled in the lovely Baraboo Hills sits Jane’s Journey Home for Dogs—or simply “the farm,” as many affectionately call it. I spoke with Rachel, who has worked there since the non-profit was founded in 2021 and brings over twenty years of experience in animal welfare. She first met the owner, Larry Barton, through their church […]
A Studio Filled with Stories and Light
Step inside Marjorie Cutting’s Baraboo art studio, and you’re greeted by a twelve-foot fabric panel of the Archangel Rafael. His hand-sewn wings drape gracefully down, and a blue fish with lace-trimmed fins rests at his feet. In many traditions, Rafael is known as a guide who brings understanding along with physical and spiritual healing. Standing […]
Singing it Our Way
The moment “Dean Martin” strolled on stage at the Legacy Theatre in Lake Delton—drink in hand, cigarette dangling, voice smooth as silk—I was back in my teens. I could see myself standing in our living room, wearing a colorfully patterned culotte dress while my mother knelt to pin the hem. Dean Martin’s record spun on […]
History is Haunting Enough
Some places don’t need ghosts to feel haunted. I recently visited Lake Delton’s Dawn Manor Speakeasy. Walking up to the entrance, diners are greeted by historic gargoyle-like stone statues. These weathered guardians once graced Dawn Manor when Helen Raab owned it. I picture the passionate arts patron and world traveler, who died in 1970, walking […]