From Obligation to Opportunity, Wonder, Our Learning Platform, Poetry and More…

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One of the mainstays of living gratefully is cultivating a capacity for surprise. Being surprised rests in releasing expectations, assumptions, and what we think we know and want, and welcoming what arrives into our experience with fresh eyes, curiosity, and a willingness to learn from it.

Gratefulness offers abundant pathways and opportunities to awaken to the many gifts of your life. May you avail yourself of the grace and generosity that is offered to you here, and in the unfolding moments of this precious day.

From Obligation to opportunity
What would it take to see the considerations, commitments and responsibilities in our lives as our riches, blessings and privileges? What can we do to remember our good fortune in having people and things to consider and tend as we move through our days?
Explore this powerful practice…
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Blog: Wonder
“When people are struck with wonder, they generally are not yelling, arguing, fighting, or angry. Wonder provides a moment where we can hold hands, (perhaps) tear up, and find common ground.” Katie Steedly guides us to ponder the impact of wonder.
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Read complete newsletter -> From Obligation to Opportunity, Wonder, Our Learning Platform, Poetry and More…

Gratitude

Alaska News Nightly: Thursday, November 21, 2024 November 22, 2024
Alaska's State House will be majority female for the first time. Plus an 8th grader in Anchorage wins big at the first national civics bee.
Tim Rockey, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage
For the first time, women will outnumber men in the Alaska House next year November 22, 2024
There will be 21 women in the state House, according to unofficial election results. 43% of the Legislature will be women, a record high.
Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media - Juneau

Alaska News Nightly: Thursday, November 21, 2024 November 22, 2024
Alaska's State House will be majority female for the first time. Plus an 8th grader in Anchorage wins big at the first national civics bee.
Tim Rockey, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage
For the first time, women will outnumber men in the Alaska House next year November 22, 2024
There will be 21 women in the state House, according to unofficial election results. 43% of the Legislature will be women, a record high.
Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media - Juneau

Recent Research Spreadsheets
Our students have compiled research in three topic areas. Below are the links to their research tables that can be downloaded for searching and viewing. For a state-by-state review of Mandatory Reporter laws, click here. For a state-by-state review of Background Check laws, click...
feigleycommunications
Legislative Drafting Students
Our students spend the summer working on the research project of the LDICP. Through their extensive research, massive databases of information on state statutes regarding the abuse of children have been created and will be posted here as their work is finalized. Here are...
feigleycommunications

Smorgasbord Christmas Book Fair – #Thriller #Familysaga – Judith Barrow, #Supernatural Adventure John W. Howell, #Psychological #Thriller Toni Pike, #YA #Mystery Joy York November 22, 2024
Welcome to Christmas Book Fair featuring authors I have personally recommended and also the new book spotlight authors from 2024 to give their books another boost. The first book today is the latest release by Judith Barrow. The Stranger in … Continue reading →
Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

Sunny Ann Starling, July 2, 1943 - January 6, 2023 January 10, 2023
All-American patriot, artist, designer, entrepreneur, flower arranger, chef, and joyful servant, Sunny Lou Starling, was carried on the wings of angels to the arms of her savior, Jesus Christ, on Friday, January 6, 2023. She once said her mission was to “Gather and feed all you can, as often as you can, because you never know if […]
Unknown
WASP Final Flight February 28, 2022
WASP Deanie Bishop Parrish, 44-W-4"Failure isn't failure unless you let it be. It's simply a change in direction. Just count your many blessings move on. With God's help, anything is possible!"Deanie Bishop Parrish passed away peacefully in her home in Waco, Texas, on February 24, 2022, just one day shy of her 100th birthday. She met every challenge […]
Unknown

Four Fun Kodachrome Car Image Series No. 519 October 30, 2024
Editors Note: After posting over five thousand features and twenty five thousand images over the last thirteen years, the time has come to end posting weekly features here on The Old Motor. At this point, the site’s future hasn’t been decided, although it will remain online for the foreseeable future. There may be future updates...
David Greenlees
Four Fun Kodachrome Car Image Series No. 518 October 23, 2024
In this weekly series, we ask our readers to tell us the year, make, and model of all of these vehicles along with the location where the image was taken and anything else you find of interest in the photos. You can look back on all the earlier parts of this series here. The photos are via Americar....
David Greenlees

Lynchburg Depot: 1943 November 19, 2024
March 1943. "Lynchburg, Virginia -- railroad station." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size.
Dave
Baltimore Jam: 1943 November 17, 2024
April 1943. "Baltimore, Maryland. Transportation for war-swollen population. Traffic jam as workers of the first shift leave the Bethlehem Fairfield shipyards in cars and trolleys on the road to Baltimore." Photo by Marjory Collins for the Office of War Information. View full size.
Dave

Jefferson and 7th November 20, 2024
In reply to Lynchburg Depot: 1943: Vachon might be standing on the Seventh Street bridge that takes you over the rail lines shown in this picture, and Blackwater Creek. A least one of these buildings still exists. Now, leading off the road, where you can see people have worn a trail of convenience, is the […]
sittininlab
NB Handy November 20, 2024
In reply to Lynchburg Depot: 1943: Still in business today: HANDY DISTRIBUTION was founded in 1891 by Nathan Bryant Handy, who began his family-owned business delivering galvanized black sheets, steel roofing, copper, solder and accessories to his customers by horse and wagon.
Baxado

Hungarian Wax Peppers October 18, 2024
Here’s an old Italian recipe for canning peppers, one of my husband’s favorites. Searching the internet, you’ll come across many variations — all probably good — but here’s a basic recipe to start you on your course. The kids and I canned these using the boiling method, though pressure canners might make the process easier. Not sure how, […]
gardenfrisk
Easy Microgreens June 13, 2023
Microgreens seem to be all the rage these days and for good reason: they are packed with nutrients and easy to grow! The USDA and University of Maryland found that leaves from microgreens had more nutrients than the mature leaves of the same plants. And great flavor. Plus, you don’t need a lot of space […]
gardenfrisk

Creamy Chicken Tortellini Soup November 9, 2024
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our privacy policy for details. An easy one pot soup using rotisserie chicken and quick-cooking tortellini, made in 40 min start to finish! Cozy, comforting, rich with an oh-so-creamy chicken broth…what more do you need here? Oh that’s right, cheesy tortellini. Yes, please! Not to mention, this […]
Chungah @ Damn Delicious
Ravioli with Sage Butter Sauce November 2, 2024
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our privacy policy for details. The quickest (BEST!) 25 min dinner. With a nutty garlicky brown butter sauce, crispy sage & toasted pecans! Fall is in full swing and sage brown butter takes all of the glory here. And I really do mean, ALL OF THE GLORY. […]
Chungah @ Damn Delicious

Astronaut in Army Reserve awarded wings and space badge for trip to International Space Station November 21, 2024
Army Reserve Maj. Kate Rubins was already an astronaut when she joined the Army, but was surprised to find that learning some of the basics of soldiering reminded her of trips to space. “I was quite surprised when I was in my basic officer leadership course learning land navigation and thinking how helpful that would […]
Patty Nieberg
Police report sheds new light on Pete Hegseth sexual assault allegations November 21, 2024
President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was investigated in 2017 for sexual assault, according to police in Monterey, California. The woman who filed the report against Hegseth, said she couldn’t remember much of the night and was having memory problems when she spoke to police more than a week later. Hegseth told […]
Patty Nieberg

Tepees and Buckley's Golf Balls November 14, 2024
Tuesday, November 12A pretty mellow day for Martha and I, this day marks the 29th Anniversary of her putting up with me as a husband. I say it often, the woman should be sainted!No festivities planned for or wanted by either of us, there'll be trips to foreign lands in our future we'd rather save […]
redlegsrides
Post-Snow Storm Views of Mount Blue Sky November 10, 2024
Record-breaking snow falls, this past three days. We approached two feet of snow accumulation I think here in our cul-de-sac in the SE portion of the mess which is Metro Denver!Lets just say I spent quite a bit of time running the snow-blower and doing some shoveling along with my loving wife Martha.I elected not […]
redlegsrides

Hey Democrats: It’s Not the Volume, It’s the Frequency November 9, 2024
The reference might be a bit antiquated in our online age, but frequency means the radio station you’re dialed in to. Volume, of course, is how loudly the radio is turned up.I’m sure there are some exceptions, but the overwhelming majority of explanations I’ve seen from Democrats following their crushing loss in what they constantly […]
Barry Eisler
Some Post-Election Thoughts November 6, 2024
Obviously there’s a lot to discuss about the 2024 election results. I’ll offer just the following.None of this is about the merits of either candidate; it’s about the broad dynamics that shaped the outcome. You don’t have to like those dynamics any more than you like any other aspect of reality. But as the saying […]
Barry Eisler

Kashevaroff Mountain April 6, 2019
Long before we were a sailing family, Alisa and I were a young couple in love with adventuring in Alaska. The opportunity to introduce Eric and Elias to the delights of outdoor living in the Great Land was one of the big bright sides of our return to Alaska. Earlier this winter, the boys and […]
Letting go March 20, 2019
So...this beautiful island is our home. See the barky? The boys just had their spring break. A week off from school and nothing to keep us from buggering off in Galactic. The weather was generally poor - nothing like the pics above for the most part - so we just snuck off to the west […]

PDS on PBS II Cross post from "Frozen Grin" April 5, 2024
Here is a link to a story about my struggle to draw with Parkinson's Disease. the story is from "The Daily Cartoonist" a Web journal concerning the world of professional cartooning. It was occasioned by the release of the documentary "Matters of Mind, My Parkinson's" which follows three families and their efforts to cope […]
Peter Dunlap-Shohl
Matter of Mind, My Parkinson's, PBS Looks at PD and PD-S March 4, 2024
Here is a short trailer for the PBS documentary "Matter of Mind, My Parkinson's. It follows the attempts of three people and their families to cope with the progressive, disabling and incurable neurological condition. The film won the Audience Choice Award for documentaries at the recent San Francisco Film Festival, possibly due to a scenery-chewing […]
Peter Dunlap-Shohl

Identifying Devil’s Club Plant August 10, 2023
Devil’s Club is a common wild plant in Alaska that’s large & covered in hidden sharp thorns, growing everywhere from remote forests to even well-groomed Anchorage city trails. Just because you’re “in town” doesn’t mean you won’t run into devil’s club. It’s smart to stay on the trails, particularly if you’re not confident spotting it. […]
Ashley
Pumpkin BOO-berry Muffins (Fun Halloween Toddler Snacktivity!) October 21, 2022
Here’s a delicious fall-time spin on classic blueberry muffins. If you’re a solo adult who likes good food, this recipe is for you. Or if you’ve got extra kitchen “helpers” around (read: kids who need entertainment), turn baking these Halloween muffins into a fun toddler snacktivity. Pumpkin BOO-berry Muffin Recipe Ingredients: 2 boxes Jiffy brand […]
Ashley

"Home" vs. "Away" May 20, 2022
I’m home now. I’m looking at the flea market couch I brought up from California; I had cushions made three times over the years till I got it just right. Now it’s just right. It’s been in my life 42 years. Tim has been in my life 34 years, but he had to be out of […]
CloudyinAK
Goodbye, Toronto May 10, 2022
I’m saying my goodbyes to Toronto. I’ve seen my last Hot Docs Festival film, and I’m just back from my last author program. I’ve probably had my last roti, checked out my last book at my local branch library, gone to my last art workshop. Horror of horrors, I’ve even watched my last play. The thing […]
CloudyinAK

Malnourished launches today January 21, 2020
It’s here. The big day. My memoir, the one I spent 15 years struggling over, launches today from Raised Voice Press. I’m feeling very exposed, very vulnerable. This is not at all similar to when Dolls Behaving Badly launched from Hachette Book Group. That was a novel, and while some of it was based on… […]
cinthiaritchie
Book review: Secondhand Summer by Dan Walker December 1, 2019
I had had Alaska writer Dan Walker’s YA novel SECONDHAND SUMMER on my list for a long time, and two weeks ago finally had the chance to dive in. I wasn’t disappointed. Walker’s book, geared for middle school readers (but still immensely enjoyable for adults), follows 14-year-old Sam’s move to Anchorage from the small fishing… […]
cinthiaritchie

Sitka Nature Show #318 – Kari Sagel and Brooke Schafer June 30, 2024
Download Radio Show The June 30th show featured a conversation with Kari Sagel and Brooke Schafer in our semi-regular cross-over between the Sitka Library Show and the Sitka Nature Show. If you have questions or observations you want to share, please feel free to leave a comment here or on the page I’ve set up […]
matt goff
Sitka Nature Show #317 – Daniel Graham and Zach LaPerriere June 16, 2024
Download Radio Show The June 16th show featured a conversation with Daniel Graham and Zach LaPerriere. Daniel was the artist who crafted the Sitka violin commissioned for the Sitka Summer Music Festival by Marcel and Connie LaPerriere, it was the made out of wood sourced in Sitka by Zach LaPerriere. We discussed the of the […]
matt goff

Sandra’s Overnight Artisan 10" Cast Iron Soft Bread-No Knead March 2, 2024
INGREDIENTS3-1/4 cups all-purpose flour1 teaspoon active yeast (not rapid or instant)1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt1-1/2 cups slightly warm water (tepid)--2 teaspoons canola oil (For top and bottom of dough ball so it doesn't stick or form crust while rising)-2 TB butter melted in ramekin, with brush (set aside)--10” Seasoned Cast Iron SkilletMETHODAdd flour to bowl. Add yeast […]
sandra
Sandra's Fresh Apple Pecan Cake (9x13") September 18, 2023
My husband loves this cakeso much he had two pieces 'after' eating lunch...Ingredients2 Eggs1 ½ cup Canola Oil2 cups Granulated Sugar3 cups A-P Flour2 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon½ teaspoon Ground Nutmeg½ teaspoon Kosher Salt1 ½ teaspoons Baking Soda4 cups Chopped Apples (peeled and cored): measure after chopping1 cup chopped Pecans: measure after chopping1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract⅔ […]
sandra