In October, two girlfriends swept me away to a swank resort in Arizona for an early milestone (more like mileboulder) birthday celebration. I felt loved and pampered. Miravel offers top-notch service with fine accommodations and accoutrements tending to all of life’s comforts. Evening landscapes are replete with stunning high-desert […]
Purchasing property is one of the biggest decisions most people will ever make, and your real estate broker is essential to making it happen. But it takes a team of professionals who work with your real estate broker, and a good Realtor will have an established team […]
I had to skip a couple articles; my apologies. Along with my very sick wife needing extended out of town medical care, we had an unexpected funeral to attend for her beloved brother and, oh yes, there’s that nasty business of being sued for copyright infringement.
Apparently, a Google […]
Now that the leaves are falling, you know snow and freezing temperatures will follow.Here are 9 things to get done before winter to prevent costly home repairs.
Another Thanksgiving holiday has come and gone. For me, this one was special because I owe so very many people a big “thank you” for their support and their vote in this past election. What was especially heart-warming were the letters to the editor of the […]
With a Supreme Court position and numerous judgeships around the country sitting vacant waiting for U.S. Senate approval of Presidential appointees, this month’s profile focuses on local lawyer, District Judge, and Oregon Supreme Court Justice Paine Page Prim.
Prim’s beginnings were inauspicious. He was born in Wilson County, Tennessee, on May […]
“Pressure pushing down on me, pressing down on you…” ~Queen/David Bowie
Whew! Well, that’s over. We finally can relax, knowing that the incessant pressure exerted by an endless flow of shrill television commercials, flyers cluttering our mailboxes, competing yard adornments, and snarling voices has come to an end. Few of us […]
This year Britt enjoyed an enthusiastic response to the Crater Lake Project, the Britt Orchestra Season and our Popular Music line-up. Out of 45 concerts performed on Britt’s main stage and in the Performance Garden, overall attendance was over 64,000, with an average attendance of […]
He looked like something out of the cartoons, a dazzling green blubbery caricature of himself. Given his lazy, lumbering gait, this little guy was in no hurry to get to his destination.
I inspected him closely, intrigued by his suction cup feet, the wrinkles in the fern-green folds of his skin, […]
Jerry Evans and his wife, Linda, have owned the Jacksonville Inn for over 40 years. In that time, Jerry has stayed home a total of 173 days or, to put it another way, he has averaged less than 5 days a year at home during the past 40 years. This must […]
“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” ~T. S. Eliot
I’m back, baby! And happy and grateful to be here. Thanks to all the lovely people who let me know I […]
In life, the idea of surrender comes up usually when we meet an intolerable level of frustration and reach the end of our rope. It is a word that in our Western minds is often experienced as a failure and giving up on. The dictionaries say: “giving yourself up into the […]
As Christmastime draws near, I often reflect on favorite gifts. My daughter (and now granddaughters) always loved the beauty and intrigue of Matryoshka dolls, better known as Russian nesting dolls. They are bright and beautiful, intriguing and surprising. Most of us know about these hand-painted wooden dolls, separated in the […]
“Using the proper layering techniques is essential for providing necessary warmth and comfort during the chilly days of fall and winter.” ~ Miss Rich, fashionista and blogger, January 2013
When I moved to Southern Oregon from Hawaii six years ago, I didn’t own a pair of closed-toed shoes, let alone a […]
Water is an important resource anywhere, and the Rogue Valley is no exception. During the heat of the summer, it is relatively easy to see the lush green of those properties with water rights versus the brown fields of those without.
Those properties with water rights have additional value, […]
There’s nothing easy about moving but there are some tips that can make moving easier. I have been a Realtor for 15 years and have watched 1,000+ clients move. I’ve also helped friends and family, and have acquired a lot of ideas that make the process smoother.
Here’s 6 tips […]
One of our edicts is: “Don’t remake Hollywood’s great classics; remake the movies that had the potential to be great but were screwed up in some way.” Cases in point: remakes of The Karate Kid, King Kong (twice), Psycho, and The Pink Panther each did a disservice to the originals. […]
Here we are—election time again, with the media blasting out the latest “he said”…”she said” news daily until one is worn out! Therefore, it is with some reluctance that I bring up the subject of our local election… something I hadn’t even considered doing except that people […]
Because Jacksonville is replete with “Sensational Seniors,” I only needed to walk to the end of Shafer Lane to interview my good friends and neighbors, Russ and Margaret Lyon, of the well-known Daisy Creek Vineyard, for this column.
Their life story is one of determination and overcoming obstacles, while maintaining a finely-tuned […]
There have been many positive aspects of our move to Jacksonville some four years ago. For a village of 2,800 people, it offers a host of outstanding restaurants and watering holes, it is a walkable town with miles of trails and there is a spirit of volunteerism that surpasses anything I’ve […]
Textiles have always been a big draw for me at estate sales and auctions, where I will buy vintage textiles every time. If it’s not the antique handmade, hand-quilted quilts, it’s the vintage crochet blankets. I especially love the colorful “Granny Squares” blankets, the old ones from the 1920’s and […]
Where many states seem to be making voting as difficult as possible, Oregon keeps making it easier. Residents who are U.S. citizens can register to vote by mail or online. If they are not registered voters, they are automatically registered when they obtain or renew an Oregon driver’s license. And then […]
6th-Annual Scarecrow Festival, October 8 & 9, 11:00am to 4:00pm—Free Admission. Make your own scarecrow (complete kits cost $15 or $10 for SOHS members), hay rides, children’s activities and games, farm-fresh food for purchase, and tour of the historic Hanley House ($5 or $3 for SOHS members).
A highlight of […]
“Anyone who thinks gardening begins in the spring and ends in fall is missing the best part of the whole year, for gardening begins in January with the dream.” ~ Josephine Nuese, “The Country Garden,” 1970
For some gardeners, wintertime means growing cold weather crops or enriching garden soil with cover […]
Pet restrictions are generally associated with rentals; however, homeowners also have animal restrictions, depending on the type of animal and where the property is located. If you’re looking to buy a condominium or in a planned subdivision (frequently called planned unit development or PUD), be prepared for rules. Lots of rules, covering everything from how […]
Do you have enough for retirement? Financial planners usually use the “25 Times Rule” to determine how much a portfolio should be worth for someone to safely retire. If you need $50,000 a year to live on when you retire, then, using the “25 Times Rule” you should have […]
Before addressing our tagline, here is the long-awaited announcement concerning a Public Citizen’s Day at the New City Hall. The date for the festivities is set for Friday, October 14th from noon until 1:00pm, complete with refreshments. Your hosts and hostesses will be the Belles and Beaus […]
Thirty years ago, three master entertainers joined forces to create the fantasy film Labyrinth: director Jim Henson (creator of the Muppets), producer George Lucas (the man behind Star Wars), and actor/artist/rock god David Bowie.
If your memories of Labyrinth are vague, you’re probably a guy. If, however, your memories are tinged […]
I wrote this column several years back and have never repeated a column before now. Read on and you will understand why I am re-publishing this sweet reminder.
I am dedicating this entire column to the Britt Society, the unsung heroes of Britt Music and Arts Festival. Did you know […]
Who do you think you are? Not who do you think you should be or you were, or what others want you or expect you to be. From a very young age who you are is defined by your parents, your siblings and relatives, then […]
I was walking downtown one bright mid-July afternoon and came upon a bee in the middle of 3rd Street. She was on her back spinning frenetically. I reached down and as her little legs grasped my pinky, I wondered, “Was she battling the residual effects of a recent mosquito spray?” […]
Being so involved in real estate, we look at sales numbers and home values every month, quarter and year. Sometimes the numbers go up and sometimes the numbers go down, but if you look at the numbers over a longer period of time, they tell a clear story. In […]
At the beginning of the year, I wrote this would be a year for transformation and change. Like it or not, things are changing all around us. It’s becoming harder and harder to ignore what is not working in our lives and in our world. This continues to be a year […]
Marble collecting can be fun, interesting and exciting. Generally, you wouldn’t think too much about a bag of random marbles found at a thrift shop or garage sale until you look more closely beyond the common cat’s eyes, the clearies, the swirls, and the shooters, and see […]
“Water is the vehicle of Nature.” ~Leonardo da Vinci, “Codex Atlanticus” c.a. 1600
The great “Renaissance Man,” Leonardo da Vinci, was obsessed with water. Over and over again he drew water—flowing, falling, whirling, raging, destroying. Da Vinci’s series of black and white sketches, called “The Deluge,” depicts a torrential apocalypse, perhaps […]
Buying a home is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. A home inspection is an inexpensive way to find out about the overall condition of the home. It is important to conduct a home inspection to avoid a costly mistake by purchasing a property […]
Here comes September. “Where did the summer go?” is a common question dating back long before our time. The yearly cycle repeats itself: children go back to school… vacations end… commerce picks up… and soon squirrels will begin to hoard fall nuts for the long winter. Speaking […]
With the move of Jacksonville’s City offices into Jackson County’s historic courthouse building on North 5th Street, it seems appropriate to focus this month’s Pioneer Profile on Silas J. Day, the County Judge who initiated the historic courthouse’s construction.
Day was described in the 1904 publication, Portrait and Biographical Record of Western […]
Are you looking for a fun excuse to get outside with the family this summer? How about a beautiful location that explores the rich history of the Rogue Valley and provides green, shade-covered lawn areas for picnicking? If this sounds appealing, the Southern Oregon Historical Society invites you to visit Hanley Farm every Thursday from […]
Brace yourself. The cultural phenomenon known as Star Trek is about to turn 50. In the coming weeks, you’ll likely hear a lot about the celebratory gatherings taking place. But we like to think this monumental anniversary calls for a look back to the beginning.
On September 8, 1966, Star Trek […]
As most of you know, on July 29 & 30, Britt celebrated the Centennial of the National Parks Service, with the world premiere performance of “Natural History,” a composition written by Michael Gordon, and inspired by the beauty and splendor of Crater Lake. Members of the Britt Orchestra, along with members […]
Inflammation is your body’s way of protecting your well-being. Your body is designed to be well and wants to restore balance more than it wants to be sick. The word inflammation comes from the Latin “inflammo,” meaning “I set alight, I ignite.” We “in-flame” and then progress to chronic inflammation when […]
Wedgwood is more than the collector’s passion it has been for over 250 years, and its creator is more than a mere potter. It is part of history.
Josiah Wedgwood was born into a pottery-production family, and was apprenticed in his youth, and […]
Here’s flowers for you;
Hot lavender, mints, savoury, marjoram;
The marigold, that goes to bed wi’ the sun
And with him rises weeping: these are flowers
Of middle summer, and I think they are given
To men of middle age.
~ William Shakespeare, The Winter’s Tale, 1609
Every summer, my husband, Jerry, and I attend a […]
One of the things I love most about the Rogue Valley is the abundance of fresh, local produce and other goods grown on our surrounding rural lands. However, with projected population growth and the legalization of marijuana, comes increased pressure on farmland and the ability of farmers to afford farmland.
There are a number of organizations […]
Rental Market—The rental market has gone crazy in the past few years with three inter-related trends that have impacted the rental market and caused rents to skyrocket in Southern Oregon and throughout the United States.
The first is the rapidly-growing population. There has been very little building during the recession […]
I lost my patience the other evening. Patience and controlling the tongue are active, not passive. Patience is graduate level virtue not without personal cost and tamed tongues are essential to relationship, respect, and reconciliation.
Mary was out of town so I was dining alone. The restaurant was busy and […]
East Side, West Side, all around the town…
Boys and girls together, me and Mamie O’Rourke
Tripped the light fantastic on the sidewalks of New York
Things have changed since those times, some are up in “G”
Others they are wand’rers but they all feel just like me
They’d part with all […]
When John McCully took the stage out of Jacksonville in the winter of 1861, he closed the door on the town, his home, his marriage, and his family. He left his wife, Jane, with his debt and three children. Over $7,500 was owed on his 2-story brick commercial building and his […]
It was lunchtime. The café was jumping. We stood near the entrance, enjoying the air-conditioning while quietly awaiting an available table. Across the room, a gentleman stood to leave. As he approached the door, he glanced at our faces and smiled in apparent recognition. “Mr. Robot is coming back,” he […]