This winter, as in other winters, when I need a blossom boost, I have enjoyed the fragrance of paper white narcissus that I planted in tall glass vases. I surrounded the bulbs with seashells from White Sand Beach here in Old Lyme and kept them in a dark cool area keeping them moist as the roots developed. When the bulb foliage reached about six inches, I introduced the … [Read more...] about Gardening Tips for February from ‘The English Lady’: So Much to Decide, So Much to Do This Month
Columnists
A la Carte: Pork in a Pandemic, Roasted with Sauerkraut Gives Lots of Leftovers
The pandemic has certainly made my days and weeks disappear. Has it really been almost 11 months since our children went to school? Last January, would we have understood the phrase “remote learning”? Would we have known what the heck this thing called Zoom is? Most seasons used to involve food. April meant that first sweet radish, sliced thin on sweet buttered French … [Read more...] about A la Carte: Pork in a Pandemic, Roasted with Sauerkraut Gives Lots of Leftovers
Reading Uncertainly? ‘Brief Candle in the Dark: My Life in Science’ by Richard Dawkins
“But I digress ...” Ostensibly a continuation of his autobiography, this engrossing and superbly entertaining ramble by Dr. Dawkins, the noted Oxford zoologist, biologist, and humanist, stretches your knowledge and imagination. Is it possible to read an autobiography that is self-acknowledged as a, “Series of flashbacks, divided into themes, punctuated by digressions and … [Read more...] about Reading Uncertainly? ‘Brief Candle in the Dark: My Life in Science’ by Richard Dawkins
A la Carte: Something Different for Breakfast? Try These Savory Muffins
Hopefully, by the time you read this, I will have an appointment for my first (and maybe my second) COVID vaccine, although that may not be the case. My last missive from VAMS (Vaccine Administration Management System) says, "Thank you for registering ... If you have not gotten that notice ... " How in heaven’s sake would someone know that they had not gotten that note if … [Read more...] about A la Carte: Something Different for Breakfast? Try These Savory Muffins
A View from My Porch: Thoughts on the Occasion of the Inauguration
At noon on this past Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, President-elect Joseph R. Biden was inaugurated in a ceremony on the West Front of the Capitol. This was the culminating event in what has been a hostile transfer of power from former President Donald Trump to President Biden. The Environment: The then President Trump had claimed, repeatedly and without evidence, that the … [Read more...] about A View from My Porch: Thoughts on the Occasion of the Inauguration
A la Carte: Baby, It’s Cold Outside … so it Must be Time for Soup!
It has been pretty cold outside and, for that matter, inside my condo. I keep my thermostat at 60 degrees, until friends are coming for dinner (which doesn’t happen these days because of the pandemic) or coming to watch the UConn women play basketball (my neighbors don’t have SNY network). When they visit, I turn the heat to 65. They wear their puffy jackets and I offer … [Read more...] about A la Carte: Baby, It’s Cold Outside … so it Must be Time for Soup!
Reading Uncertainly? ‘Humankind: A Hopeful History’ by Rutger Bregman
Ah! In the midst of a global pandemic and toxic political strife almost everywhere, it is a sheer delight to be encouraged by some optimism. Rutger Bregman, a Dutch historian, asks some serious questions: are we humans not basically bad, but innately “good? Do crises actually bring out “the best in people” rather than the reverse? Is “resilience . . . universally human”? He … [Read more...] about Reading Uncertainly? ‘Humankind: A Hopeful History’ by Rutger Bregman
Gardening Tips for January by The English Lady: New Year, New Chapter, New Opportunities
Happy New Year everyone! Recently on Dec. 21, we experienced the Winter Solstice and turned the corner so that with each day, we move gradually from the dark into the light to a longer, brighter day. A few weeks ago, I planted my Paper-white Narcissus on pebbles, with just enough pebbles to anchor the bulbs in place or you may use potting soil. I use tall glass vases and … [Read more...] about Gardening Tips for January by The English Lady: New Year, New Chapter, New Opportunities
A View from My Porch: A Primer on Vaccines, Part 2.5: Where Are We With Vaccines? CT’s Distribution Plan, Immunity Questions & More
Editor’s Note: This is a previously unplanned third of three parts of a highly topical essay titled, “A Primer on Vaccines,” by Thomas D. Gotowka. Part 2.5 reviews Connecticut’s readiness to distribute the vaccine, identifies some of the side effects that may be experienced, and considers the acquisition of individual immunity. Read the previous parts of the essay at these … [Read more...] about A View from My Porch: A Primer on Vaccines, Part 2.5: Where Are We With Vaccines? CT’s Distribution Plan, Immunity Questions & More
A la Carte: Lee Shares a New, Fun, Easy and ‘Craggy’ Recipe for Scones
It was a bit of a sad holiday season. I shared Thanksgiving with my neighbors. They are the only people who have been invited into my condo during the pandemic, other than my daughter, the physical therapist, visiting nurses or a few minutes from friends. I lit the candles on my menorah each of the holiday’s eight days and Sue and Bob and I decided not to spend Christmas dinner … [Read more...] about A la Carte: Lee Shares a New, Fun, Easy and ‘Craggy’ Recipe for Scones
Legal News You Can Use: Understanding CT’s New Paid Family & Medical Leave Act
Happy New Year! Welcome 2021! As Connecticut employers bid farewell to the year of “unprecedented times,” not so fast, I say. This New Year ushers in a significant change in employment law for Connecticut employers of all sizes. Connecticut has joined a handful of other states in creating a Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (PFMLA) that drastically changes the landscape … [Read more...] about Legal News You Can Use: Understanding CT’s New Paid Family & Medical Leave Act
Senior Moments: A New Year’s Message from our California Correspondent
Happy New Year, my Friends! Yes, I'm late, I know. Good intentions sometimes go wrong. But still I want to wish each and every one of you a happy and prosperous and satisfying New Year! For more than 99 percent of you this is already 2021, though a tiny number of you are living in far-off lands on a different time clock. As always, I've made my New Year's resolutions … [Read more...] about Senior Moments: A New Year’s Message from our California Correspondent
Letter From Paris: After 47 Years, UK Leaves EU with ‘Thin’ Post-Brexit Deal
After 47 years of co-habitation, the UK has left the European Union (EU) with a "thin" post-Brexit deal. An end-of-year need for holiday food delicacies, such as caviar, lobster or foie gras, panic about running short of fresh produce -- such as lettuce, combined with the Covid-19 procedure slowing down the traffic, caused spectacular chaos with thousands of trucks lining up … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: After 47 Years, UK Leaves EU with ‘Thin’ Post-Brexit Deal
A la Carte: Lee’s Last Recipe for 2020, Instant Pot Beef Bourguignon
I have a good kitchen in my condo although not as nice as the one I had in Old Lyme, where my husband knocked down walls between two rooms, then got rid of a hallway. When he was done, and with help from a carpenter neighbor, that kitchen was 24 ft. by 17 ft., the center island could hold 10 people, my 42-inch gas stove had six burners and there was a separate pantry that held … [Read more...] about A la Carte: Lee’s Last Recipe for 2020, Instant Pot Beef Bourguignon
A la Carte: All About Apricots … in a Pie … for Christmas
With Christmas just around the corner, we are probably looking toward another different holiday. In my heart of heart, I believe that our next festive holiday, if not Easter, will be Memorial Day weekend with backyard barbecues and parades with marching bands. I really do believe this. In the meantime, many of us have been cooking and baking for Christmas. Perhaps dinner … [Read more...] about A la Carte: All About Apricots … in a Pie … for Christmas