There are many versions of this tale originally by Hans Christian Andersen (ours, for example, is illustrated with penguins dolled up - or not - in their finery). The bottom line of this story regarldess of illustration is always the same: self-deception. It takes a young boy to finally find the bravery to point out that indeed the emperor was not wearing any clothes at all. Why do we do that, why do we hide behind the safer message, the message of the masses? Are we shee

"Study Nature. Love Nature. Stay close to Nature. It will never fail you." ~ Frank Lloyd Wright. This book is probably not much of a surprise: I love my green spaces, I love being outdoors. And honestly, who wouldn't love to be surrounded by truffula trees? This book is a fun way to help kids start to see their impact - both good and bad - on the world around them. Bigger picture, though, and how this is a useful book for all sorts of lessons is the message that one does

​ I love avocados. I think I could enjoy them every day, and not get bored. Life, it seems, is much like avocados. The avocado principle: If you wait until you really want an avocado, the market won’t have any ripe ones. You need to buy them in advance. If you eat an avocado that’s not quite ripe, you won’t enjoy it. AND, you won’t have a chance to enjoy it tomorrow, when it would have been perfect if you had only waited. If you live your life based on instant gratification

Sez the dog As you well know, there exist cat people and dog people. I’m not sure if this is really a statement about personality so much as preference for pet (or at least, that’s what I’ll claim to think. I deny saying otherwise). I am a dog person, although most recently we’ve been owned by cats. I think that’s the proper way to word it, too, because while I do love them dearly, they do not behave as pet-like as would, say, a dog. I am bothered by their indifference.

"Feminism isn't about making women strong. Women are already strong. It's about changing the way the world perceives that strength." —G.D. Anderson I have been reading all of these powerful messages from women in response to yet another MeToo moment. At the same time, this is both disheartening and uplifting. Disheartening because more heart-breaking stories of men/boys not respecting the person/space/rights of a girl/woman. Uplifting because of the unbelievable bravery of