I just bought dishes from Crate & Barrel. It’s not the first time I’ve purchased from them. It sure has heck won’t be the last. I like the value of their products. You can buy inexpensive home products or go nuts for their higher end stuff. I love their Classic Century Dinnerware, designed by a […]
Tech Wizardry: At Last My Genes Don’t Matter
From my dad I inherited the ability to not understand mechanical things, so I can’t figure out how to get machines—and tools—to work. From my mom I inherited the talent to sew a button on a shirt while sewing the shirt to my pants. Mystification. Clumsiness. And left handed to boot! Then I got an […]
No Jobs Are Menial: America Get to Work Already
Occupy this and protest that, but get to work already. Now, are you going to scream at me or read this article? It’s true, many people are unemployed, can’t get employed, and are suffering. Their children are suffering. Their animals. Many people want to work. They find what they can and are proud to […]
Thanksgiving: What We Should Really Be Grateful For
I was thinking, what should I be grateful for this Thanksgiving? Then I saw this silly article, again, and I knew. I’m grateful for common sense and for refusing fear. This article, written by Joan Raymond and updated 1-25-11 at Pet Health on msnbc.com, suggests sleeping with our animals can give us diseases. Okay, it’s […]
(Not) Meowing for Mizuna: Exploring Greens with Dogs (and a Cat)
Cooking is a skill I apparently lost with menopause—and only miss when I’m hungry. I used to be a great cook. When I say this to friends they always pause, clearly deciding between laughing at what they presumed to be a joke or at what I’d cook, which wouldn’t be. It doesn’t stop me from […]
The Not So Crazy Things We Do for Our Animals
Here I’d been thinking I was just a bit off. And, as usual, not regretting it a bit. When I think about being a bit off, I understand that I’m more off than normal. At least that’s what some people tell me, because I’m making a living in partnership with a crystal ball (literally). I […]
My Mom Wore Tweety Socks: Why I Care
My mom wore Tweety socks. She thought they were hilarious. She’d sit in her chair and raise her feet in the air, wiggling them at the world. Giggling. Made me laugh, too. Annoyed my brother. In fact, he was offended and objected to her wearing Tweety socks. They weren’t age appropriate. Really? What is age […]
The Alchemy of Grief: 50 Years Later
In Memoriam: Randall Ray Fritz, July 26, 1947 – November 1, 1961. Years ago, I couldn’t imagine that today would ever occur. Today, it’s been 50 years. What to make of them? In October 1961 my grandparents came out from Montana to visit. My oldest brother, Randy, was sick, in and out of the […]
Introducing LaBelle Construction
At Alchemy West and our magazine, Bridging the Paradigms, we promote community: from creating healthy, balanced lives with our animals, homes, businesses, and nature to creating connections between good businesses and good people. Let me introduce LaBelle Construction, and my adopted godson, Vincent LaBelle, and his friend and coworker, Brian Meuller. Viincent is a general […]
Phoning Home: What Women Should Do About Obscene Phone Callers
Unfortunately, I think what most women have in common is an obscene phone caller. We’ve either had it happen to us or to someone we know. But I have a new way of dealing with it. Won’t you help? An Obscene Phone Caller Strikes My most recent experience with an obscene phone caller was shocking […]