All The Home Forum
 My daughter’s ‘Friends’I savored the ’90s sitcom for a decade. For her, it’s fast-forward. My daughter’s ‘Friends’I savored the ’90s sitcom for a decade. For her, it’s fast-forward.
 Just right for one cookMom ran her kitchen with an efficiency that the military would envy. Just right for one cookMom ran her kitchen with an efficiency that the military would envy.
 There are leaf-rakers and leaf-blowers ...... and I’d been ‘rake only’ for years. Then desperation set me on a new path. There are leaf-rakers and leaf-blowers ...... and I’d been ‘rake only’ for years. Then desperation set me on a new path.
 A captain finds a new crewMy husband heard a new career beckon – with a buzzing noise. A captain finds a new crewMy husband heard a new career beckon – with a buzzing noise.
 Lessons from the lawnThe men who’ve tended my yard and garden have also helped me grow. Lessons from the lawnThe men who’ve tended my yard and garden have also helped me grow.Â
 Bring back the phone boothIt used to be that a phone call was for two people – and two people alone. Bring back the phone boothIt used to be that a phone call was for two people – and two people alone.
 Music and the lesson of loveMy sister and I both played instruments. I had talent. But she had something more. Music and the lesson of loveMy sister and I both played instruments. I had talent. But she had something more.
 Shades that shimmer, hues that cryWhen it came time to paint the house, we pulled out all the stops. Shades that shimmer, hues that cryWhen it came time to paint the house, we pulled out all the stops.Â
 How Mom found meI was lost, and she was 1,500 miles away. But all it took was one word. How Mom found meI was lost, and she was 1,500 miles away. But all it took was one word.
 Why I’m still drawn by trainsThey’re a lullaby, a punctuation, a (mostly) relaxed way to travel. Why I’m still drawn by trainsThey’re a lullaby, a punctuation, a (mostly) relaxed way to travel.
 Our barn and BeethovenDesigned to hold livestock, it has now done everything but. Our barn and BeethovenDesigned to hold livestock, it has now done everything but.Â
 My cultural collisions with BotswanaThe encounters were cosmic, comic, compassionate, and life-changing. My cultural collisions with BotswanaThe encounters were cosmic, comic, compassionate, and life-changing.
 I traveled on trust and couchesWho’d let a stranger stay with them? A lot of people, it turned out. I traveled on trust and couchesWho’d let a stranger stay with them? A lot of people, it turned out.
 My island reckoningThe biggest challenge, for me, was to preserve my self-esteem. My island reckoningThe biggest challenge, for me, was to preserve my self-esteem.
 The indoor wilds at outdoor parksI got used to sharing space with critters – up to a point. The indoor wilds at outdoor parksI got used to sharing space with critters – up to a point.Â
 Memorable fish I’ve been givenIt’s best to learn to catch them, but I’m glad to be handed one, too. Memorable fish I’ve been givenIt’s best to learn to catch them, but I’m glad to be handed one, too.Â
 The Maine attractionMy first memory of the place is framed above the prow of a canoe. The Maine attractionMy first memory of the place is framed above the prow of a canoe.
 Spinach helps me feel acceptedIn Paris, it was learning how baguettes should be eaten; here, it’s liking ‘leaves.’ Spinach helps me feel acceptedIn Paris, it was learning how baguettes should be eaten; here, it’s liking ‘leaves.’
 Summer announces itself with a ‘crack!’For me, the most enjoyable screen door is a wooden one. Summer announces itself with a ‘crack!’For me, the most enjoyable screen door is a wooden one.
 Finding a place the 19th-century wayI grew up navigating based on familiar landmarks. Finding a place the 19th-century wayI grew up navigating based on familiar landmarks.