For the Andersons, a porch is essential. Our first island house had a porch across the back that overlooked a tidal marsh. The reality of aging and the challenge of stairs convinced us it was time to …

Boxes and files of family information haunt me. Digging through the albums and files, I find things that surprise and amaze me. If only we could go back in time and talk to our grandparents, now long …

In other parts of the country the first signs of spring are robins, but not in Florida. Many times, an alligator sighting may be a clue that the seasons have changed. Neighborhood retention ponds and …

Architectural Treasures of Amelia Island. Amelia Island offers a unique opportunity to experience history. Fernandina Beach's Historic District is a living museum. Like sleeping beauties, the …

The term "resort casual" always strikes me as funny when the question comes up about what to wear to a social event. The quick and sometimes flip answer is resort casual. Is there a resort formal? …

People often ask me about some of my adventures on foot and on a bicycle. One of my most memorable trips was to Provence, France, on a bicycle. Big Guy and I have long hung up our wheels but remember …

We are welcoming the warmer weather. I find myself wandering around my backyard, eager to find signs of spring. My garden is like me — unplanned, meandering, sometimes blooming, sometimes not. …

Amelia Island offers a unique opportunity to experience history. Fernandina Beach's Historic District is a living museum. Like sleeping beauties, the island's Victorian-era homes …

Many of us have been looking back five years and remembering the strange world we woke up to in March of 2020. A full-blown pandemic changed everything. Looking back through my columns and articles, …

It has been a tough few months. We have lost several close friends. I know it is part of aging, but nonetheless, it is hard. Reading the paper, it is difficult not to look at the recent obituaries. …

I did it! I actually baked some sourdough bread. I learned that it is not a simple process. It is part chemistry, part work, timing, and maybe magic. How the gooey dough turns into a beautiful loaf …

Pills seem to be an inevitable part of our lives. They have strange names like Lipitor, Zoloft, Zocor and Celebrex. The older we get, the greater our inventory of little brown bottles with twist-off …

Amelia Island offers a unique opportunity to experience history. Fernandina Beach's Historic District is a living museum. Like sleeping beauties, the island's Victorian-era homes have been frozen in …

Ever stop to think about it? Some of our habits are so ingrained that we rarely analyze how they became such absolutes in our lives. At our house coffee in the morning is an absolute. It is as much …

We all hate to lose things. It is crazy-making. It can be big things like where you parked your car or small things like an earring. Thank heavens for the key fobs telling your car to blink or honk. …

When you least expect it, your routine is interrupted by a true “aha” moment. We had such a moment last week. Snow. Some people argue it really wasn’t snow but more ice.  …

Recently, a friend returned from her dream trip to South Africa. Excited for her, I shared memories of my two trips to Africa years ago. The trips were with my fellow adventurer, my sister Betsy. The …

Amelia Island offers a unique opportunity to experience history. Fernandina Beach's Historic District is a living museum. Like sleeping beauties, the island's Victorian-era homes have been frozen in …

Yup, we have opened a brand new calendar. Welcome, 2025. We all want it to be a good year and promise ourselves and others that we will set some goals. So the dance begins – the pressure is on. …

The party is over. The holidays and all the hoopla are behind us. How did we measure up? How did it measure up? As we moved through the chaos of December, our wheels spun faster and faster and …