A popular French Canadian song goes something like this: “The nest is in the tree, the tree is by the house, the house is on the street, the street is in the town, the town is in the county,” and so on. What’s happening in our own backyard? Even long-time Vermont residents often feel like [...]

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What is it to return home for a Veteran? There is the “glory” of having taken part in something greater than oneself and being celebrated for service to an entire nation. I place “glory” between quotation marks because veterans’ humility reaches far beyond our comprehension. There is the transformation that has inevitably taken place within; [...]

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Imagine Martha Stewart, comfortably sitting in the real-leather, reclining seat of a time machine. She has agreed to an impromptu journey to a destination of your choice and awaits departure, magazine and martini in hand. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1… Launch! The capsule disappears from your laboratory. You and Martha remain in contact throughout the [...]

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What would happen if, instead of the current economic system, all nations were set up so that every individual automatically received a monthly allowance? A decree might state that everyone would receive the same amount. It would be up to each person to budget and ensure they put each dollar to good use. Entrepreneurship would [...]

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Foreclosures are sad and dramatic; they can also be a turning point. There is a difference between willfully and maliciously failing to keep one’s end of a contract and suddenly facing new circumstances that turn everything upside down. Whether it is due to loss of income, sudden health expenses or even the consequences of initially [...]

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Last week was National Etiquette Week. Was it a faux pas for me to not Blog about this earlier? Etiquette, in 18th century France: A book in which court ceremonies were noted down or labeled. Our current definition refers to “the practices and forms prescribed by social convention or by authority.” “Etiquette”, today, is French [...]

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 Jeffersonville, VT – April 27, 2011 When asked about health insurance during a radio interview, some years ago, speaker and author Louise Hay responded, “Health insurance is not going to make you well.” The host, who had already set his mind on the next question and uttered a few words, stopped mid-sentence with a quizzical [...]

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It has been a long Vermont winter. Yet can you remember the date you last shoveled? Or the day you last bundled up to go to the corner store or to walk the dog? How quickly we forget. We create quiet nooks, entertainment rooms, chef’s kitchens and bedrooms fit for kings and queens in our [...]

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The end of the road is flooded this morning. Though the road appears flat, its slight slope offers several feet before the water could reach my door. Yet, I catch myself beginning a mental list, just in case. I should set up the cat carrier so I can just grab it if necessary; prepare a [...]

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(Sidewalk Art) If you have read today’s Blog post by KMC, posted earlier on our Facebook Wall, you might understand how I feel when I gather information pertaining to the state of the market. Every time, I have to make a choice. How do I highlight the positive without ignoring the negative? To answer this [...]

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