living well and dying with dignity
Greetings Further Shore friends, These early November days are for the Remembrance Holidays, as we take time to honor and celebrate loved ones who have passed from this life. The upcoming season of winter holidays can be a time of joy and celebration, gift exchanges, and sharing good times. For persons who are grieving, holidays … Read more
Welcome to October, the month of hayrides, corn mazes, riotous fall colors, leaves swirling, and pumpkin spice everything! Fall in the northern hemisphere is a time of beauty and bustle; of bringing in the late harvest, storing away the patio furniture, and preparing for winter. During the Remembrance Holidays in late October and early November … Read more
Happy September! This is one of my favorite months for so many reasons: the days are a bit cooler; apples are coming in season, and a hint of color is starting to appear on our mountain treetops. It is also a time to celebrate the Vernal (fall) Equinox in the northern hemisphere. This year the … Read more
August is here and with it, (finally) the monsoon rains for our mountain hometown. After July’s record-breaking hot spell, this rain is so welcome. Our morning skies are bright blue with cool temps; afternoons filled with the great gift of rain. Any rain for the desert is welcome, but this year it was as if … Read more
Greetings Further Shore friends, Although summer was long in coming this year, it has finally arrived fully, and we are loving it! July is dressed up with high summer’s greenery and a dizzying array of wildflowers. I’ve lived here for 34 years and never seen this many wildflowers. I’m guessing it was the snow! What … Read more
Greetings Further Shore friends, Welcome to June and the season of summer! School’s out so there is plenty of fun to be had during these warmer months. A few special highlights include Father’s Day on June 18th; Juneteenth (June 19th) the holiday to mark the end of slavery in our country, and just for fun, … Read more
Greetings Further Shore friends, Happy month of May, when we celebrate Beltane, Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day and Memorial Day alongside warmer temps and the earth greening up. Today I’m starting with a bit of news about my own health. Some of you in the FS community are aware that since early 2020 I’ve experienced severe … Read more
April is the month of spring things: gentle rain, flowers blooming, baby animals, outdoor festivals, and warmer temperatures. Here in northern Arizona (especially in our small village), we are beyond ready for spring things! The infamous atmospheric river that has dropped so much rain and snow this year seems to be subsiding now that April … Read more
Greetings Further Shore friends, According to Time and Date, most of the U.S. will be “springing forward” into Daylight Saving Time (DST) on March 12, 2023 (Arizona and Hawaii are the exceptions). I am personally glad that we don’t spring forward in AZ as I always found the change to be disorienting and annoying. The … Read more
Happy February Further Shore friends, This is the month we look to that famous marmot, Punxsutawney Phil, to tell us if winter will last for six more weeks. Since Phil saw his shadow on February 2nd, we can expect 6 more weeks of winter. Even before Phil saw his shadow, those of us who live … Read more