The messed-up church and a handful of raspberries
I remember it very clearly. On November 18th I was out in the backyard, revelling in the warm sunshine and picking beautiful red raspberries. I […]
Authorkristineobrien
Jesus kale and its eight million seeds
Last year I grew two garden boxes of kale: one was Curly Blue Scotch and the other was Red Russian. Everyone I knew, including my […]
Wonderful waiting in South Baymouth
Here in snowy Ontario we are waiting for spring to arrive (it’s April–hurry up already!) so I thought this would be the perfect time to share […]
Is it good luck to plant seeds while wearing your bathrobe?
I have heard that you can ensure greater garden success by planting during certain phases of the moon (who knows? I can’t say I’ve tried […]
Quetico: Hard work and a surprising payoff
This summer, I had the blessing of quite literally getting away from it all. We journeyed to northern Ontario, past Thunder Bay and into Quetico Provincial […]
Isn’t “winter garden” an oxymoron?
This year for the first time ever I managed to stretch my growing season into October and I had bok choi and lettuce to harvest […]
My global garden feast featuring Taiwan and Nicaragua
It was an odd summer at my house, with my husband working in another city and kids away for weeks at a time. It may […]
Good news for bad apples (or, Why making applesauce was good for my soul)
At our weekly fresh food bank, we receive a variety of produce, meat and dairy products. Sometimes they are near their expiry date, other times […]
California is for preachers. And gardeners.
For the last couple of years I have been a participant in a Toronto Micah Group, which is a program of Fuller Theological Seminary in […]
The Kindness of Strangers
Last spring I walked a 100-kilometre pilgrimage called St. Cuthbert’s Way. It was a journey I undertook alone, on trails that were almost entirely bereft of travellers. It was quite an adventure
New boots, new journey!
I am taking a course on Celtic spirituality as a part of my Doctor of Ministry studies, and am leaving Sunday afternoon to spend two […]
The wilted reverend: How to write a great eulogy
Last week, I found myself a little wilted after listening to eleven eulogies in only two funeral services. Yes, eleven. And while I listened to […]
I have five hundred new friends but they are rather quiet. And wiggly.
Well, I haven’t actually counted, but I am told there are about five hundred in a half pound of worms. They are Red Wigglers and […]
Get lost, but mind the cauliflower.
I grew up taking piano lessons. As a teenager, I would get so absorbed in practicing that I sometimes forgot things. Like the pot on […]
Advent redeemed the church lawn
This Advent, our congregation celebrated the season leading up to Christmas with a Giving Calendar. Each family in the congregation was given a long banner […]
Inconvenient, breathtaking beauty
The Advent and Christmas seasons are an intense time for clergy. Here in Ontario, December also brought severe winter weather, difficult travel and widespread power […]
I am remembering the women who stayed home
This morning was busy at our house. My oldest, A., was up early so he could get dressed in his full piping kit, ready to […]
Jackson and the school trip-turned-spiritual-exercise
I don’t do school trips. At least, not since S. was in grade one. Parents were given explicit instructions not to buy any treats for […]
Giddy in a Cow Head garden
It might sound a little strange if you’re from Ontario, but I love Cow Head! It was one of my favourite stops on our Newfoundland […]
The hunky dory garden
As we traveled through Newfoundland, we didn’t do much shopping for gifts or souvenirs. But somehow, “The Hunky Dory” seemed like a great name for […]