When my wife and I moved to Jacksonville six years ago, we met numerous fine Jacksonville citizens and in so doing several names were frequently mentioned; among them were Pete Dahl, Lee Lewis, John Braislin and Jerry Ferronato. Unfortunately, I missed out on the opportunity to meet Pete, Lee and John […]
Kitchen utensils are an everyday item that one rarely spends any time thinking about, until you can’t find the one you are looking for.
Kitchen drawers all over America are over-filled with tools one doesn’t necessarily need. I call these “vanity tools.” Do you really need a pincer to remove a […]
“It standeth north-north-east
and by east from the west corner of thy curious- knotted garden:
there did I see that low-spirited
swain, that base minnow of thy mirth…”
~William Shakespeare’s Love’s Labor’s Lost, Act I, Scene 1
In this scene, the fantastical Spaniard, Don Adriano de Armado, inserts himself into the Bard’s romantic comedy before […]
Clients repeatedly ask me about Zillow. For those who aren’t familiar with Zillow, it’s a website offering an opinion of a home’s value called a “Zestimate” and it is prominently displayed on each property’s listing page.
While that information is helpful for buyers and sellers, Zillow’s Zestimate can be […]
My background in investments had been my 401K and my personal stock portfolio. Thirty five years of my life was spent in the High Tech industry so that became the majority of my stock portfolio. I have seen my high tech stocks double, triple and then crash! It wasn’t […]
I know a young man who was recently visiting who needed to pick-up two weeks of work in order to earn money to return home. When the time came for him to be picked-up and taken to the job, he became flustered because he couldn’t find his […]
Last May, the Southern Oregon Historical Society accepted the donation of Ashland’s “Amphibious Fire Engine” from a Medford family. The engine acquired its curious nickname in the 1948 Ashland flood. As it prepared “to pump out the basement of Weitzel’s department store on the Ashland Plaza, a bridge collapsed […]
With women today finding their voices and power by sharing their experiences, organizing, marching, demonstrating, and seeking political office, a look at some powerful pioneer women seems in order.
A woman’s role was considerably different in the 19th Century. It was a “man’s world.” But while subject to male dominance, women usually […]
JACKSONVILLE, OR — Britt Music & Arts Festival announces its first group of concerts in 2018 season lineup, coming to the outdoor amphitheater on the Britt hill in scenic Jacksonville, Oregon this summer. The first of three scheduled season announcements presents a wide variety of musical artists, including the funk-rock of Primus, a capella choruses […]
“The short-term, dopamine-driven feedback loops we’ve created including the hearts, likes, and thumbs up of various social media channels are destroying how society works. There’s no civil discourse, no cooperation; only misinformation, mistruth.” Chamath Palihapitiy, Former Vice-President for User Growth, Facebook
There it is. Straight from the dragon’s mouth. New-tech minds exploiting the most vulnerable elements […]
I read the other day the difference between having cancer or not is just one radicalized cell…out of billions. Makes me rethink the microwave.
The difference between driving safely down the highway and a horrific head on collision is one ill-timed text or hot coffee spill. Maybe extra hot to […]
Science now shows us that there is more to a healthy heart than just diet and exercise. A study led by author and cardiologist Ilan Wittstein, M.D showed that, “sudden emotional stress can also result in severe but reversible heart muscle weakness that mimics a classic heart attack.” The challenge is […]
This “Sensational Seniors” article features the engaging personality of Paul Parker, who celebrated his 95th birthday on December 21, 2017. Paul resides in Pioneer Village and is a Jacksonville treasure, and is one of our few surviving World War II veterans. Paul has a story to tell, beginning with his birth […]
Coffee is a beverage which the whole world consumes. Roasting, grinding, and serving are subjects that could be discussed at length, but I want to focus on grinding.
When coffee was introduced as a beverage in the 1200’s by the Arabians, small amounts of beans were roasted at meal times and […]
February is when many people start to wonder if it’s time to put their house up for sale. It’s not a bad idea to start thinking this way, as spring marks the beginning of the busiest home-selling and home-buying season in most areas. With warmer weather, more daylight, […]
Happy New Year! 2017 was a great year for Jackson County real estate. The median sales price for existing single-family residences climbed 10.3 percent last year to $264,700 following a 6.6 percent increase to $239,900 in 2016. The median also surpassed the previous high of $259,000 from before the […]
When you woke up this morning, how did you feel? Were you happy? Did you feel like singing? Did your morning coffee have that refreshing aroma? Were you exuberant at the thought of a new day? Was the sky bluer? Was the grass […]
This year, Hanley Farm will again host the ever-popular Heritage Plant Sale, second Annual Hanley Farm Music Festival, Haunted Fields/Scarecrow Festival, and Living History Days – and this summer, Hanley Farm will be open every weekend, with a variety of new events, including Hanley House tours. So plan to […]
To my faithful readers: The new year has arrived on the winds of change. Going forward, you’ll now find my Soul Matters column on my blog in a slightly more expansive voice. I invite you to sign-up for my newsletter/blog at katherineingram.com to continue our lovely relationship and receive posts via […]
We love the smell of popcorn in the winter. It reminds us of…entertainment award show time!
The year kicks-off with the televised Golden Globes ceremony in January. And then comes February, and the Superbowl of entertainment events: the Academy Awards! Except this year, the Winter Olympics threw a loose ski pole […]
The 3rd Annual Valentine Day Gala benefiting the Britt Orchestra is coming home to Jacksonville! We have moved this popular event to the Bigham Knoll Ballroom.
The 2018 Valentine Gala will offer an intimate dinner with jazzy entertainment by vocalist Britney Simpson, Teddy Abrams on piano, and members of the […]
The Britt Music & Arts Festival and Cantaloupe Music announce the digital release of Michael Gordon’s orchestral work “Natural History” for orchestra with 10 Klamath tribal drummers, a chorus, brass […]
MEDFORD, OR, Jan. 22, 2018 — Britt Music & Arts Festival’s Education & Engagement department has announced it is now accepting concert program submissions for its BrittKids Koncert series. Now in its 3rd year, this free family-friendly series has expanded to present additional […]
A recent conversation with Dr. Elaine Ingham, Soil Scientist, Soil Life Consultant, and President of Soil Foodweb, Inc, brought to light the importance of soil health in relation to pollinator health.
Dirt is dead.
That sounds so Nietzsche-esque, but I’m not waxing philosophical. It’s scientific reality. Dirt is devoid of life, of […]
This December “Sensational Seniors” article features well-known and involved former Jacksonville citizen, Carl Nelson, whose 36-year career with Hughes Aircraft is a story in of itself. First, however, it is important to start at the beginning, and in Carl’s case this begins on October 22, 1928 in the remote farming […]
For the past 55 years, Britt Music and Arts Festival has been providing our community with world-class music in our beautiful outdoor venue. In 2014, we brought you the new Performance Garden and ADA accessible pathways. In 2017, we introduced new concessions featuring local eateries, providing you with […]
The edge of a new year is the perfect time to identify what needs your healing attention. Anything in your life or in your body that creates the feeling of imbalance, lack, discomfort, pain, etc., is a clue. You can activate your intentions for pro-active solutions rather than the effort […]
The general school of thought for real estate—and it often proves to be correct—is that listing your home in the spring market will bring the biggest benefit. People are more likely to look for homes when the weather is nice. Weather-wise, it is a nicer time of […]
This the time of year when the coziness of a quilt is most appreciated. As the days and nights get colder, we spend more time cozied-up by the fire, or on the window seat with a good book. It can rain or snow as much as it likes while […]
On Tuesday, October 17, roughly one year from beginning the process of working toward Jacksonville’s Bee City certification, the Bee City leadership team experienced another setback during our third council meeting.
After our team worked industriously to overcome council’s initial objections by generating financial independence, raising $2200, by creating self-reliance […]
#1. My House is Worth!—There are only two people that ultimately determine what a house is worth—the buyer and the appraiser. To determine a home’s value, many owners add up what they have spent on their house, add what they owe on their house, look on Zillow, or […]
We credit Germany with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we now know it in the 16th century, when “devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes.” And, in other countries, it was believed that the evergreens would keep away “witches, ghosts, evil spirits and illness.” Fact or […]
Since a big part of our Thanksgiving celebration is geared around food preparation, I thought I’d share a tried and true recipe for a Joy-Full Life. At this time of year we are reminded to cultivate one of the main ingredients for this recipe: gratitude.
Before we start, it is important for […]
It’s November, time for Thanksgiving gatherings and the annual viewing of one of my favorite movies, Home for the Holidays. I love this movie not just because of the terrific ensemble of actors, but because it depicts family holidays in such a realistic and comical light: the rifts and rivalries, the […]
I came across a recent article geared toward baby boomers, that states that nobody wants to buy your parents things any more. If that were true, then we would be out of business in a day!
People come in or call the shop all the time wanting to sell items from […]
“Knowledge is like a garden; if it is not cultivated, it cannot be harvested.” ~African proverb
Gardening has provided me with lots of seasonal traditions, and one habit that I look forward to every fall is participating in the Winter Dreams/Summer Gardens educational symposium.
Hosted by the Jackson County Master Gardener Association, […]
Sometimes it’s easier to begin with a clean slate when you’re embarking on a landscape construction project, but often there are important existing landscape features that benefit the final results by incorporating them into your new outdoor space.
Existing decks, fences, pools, and large trees are […]
What happens during the escrow period after a buyer and seller enter a purchase agreement? As the seller, you may think you won’t have to do much during this time except sit back and wait; however, there is considerable work that needs to be done before […]
We recently watched a Netflix production called Jerry (before) Seinfeld. The iconic comedian showed his genius once again by revisiting where it all began. Aside from initially laughing our tails off, I was reminded of a time long forgotten… but then stopped laughing. Jerry quipped about growing up in […]
Now that the leaves are falling, you know snow and freezing temperatures are soon to follow. Here are 9 good ideas to implement before winter to prevent costly home repairs.
Did you know we have a town historian? Well, we do! He’s one of the many volunteers who serve without pay in our community. His name is Larry Smith and he can just about recite the history of any event, person, or structure within our city. He’s […]
In the mid-1800s, the promise of gold and free land lured fortune seekers, settlers, and merchants to the newly formed Oregon Territory. Carolyn Kingsnorth has stepped aside from our pioneer tales this month so that you can hear from an actual pioneer. A big thank you to historian Ben Truwe for […]
Wreaths—a fascinating history and beautiful holiday tradition! The word “wreath” is from an English word meaning “twist, such as in a circle.” And, wreath, translated literally, means “a thing bound around,” from the Greek word “diadema.” In Christianity, the wreath was used to symbolize Christ, the “circular shape, with […]
One of the first things Joan Long showed me in her Pioneer Village living room was a small book by Deidra Riggs, Every Little Thing. Joan said the book’s theme, that one can make a positive difference wherever they are, has been her lifelong goal.
To understand how this has played out […]
May we get personal here? We have a tale to tell.
Many of you know writer William Goldman for his Academy Award-winning screenplays to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and All The President’s Men. None of his work, however, is remembered as fondly as his story of Buttercup and Westley. […]
I think we can all agree that Britt is a part of Jacksonville and Jacksonville is a part of Britt. Moreover, because of Britt Music and Arts Festival, our Jacksonville community is bigger than we think! Meaning that support for this community reaches far beyond our city limits. Did […]
The past few months have been challenging for us all with tragedies, smoke, hurricanes, illness, etc…. In times of crisis stress levels run high; fear, frustration, and anger take over, and peace seems impossible, even inappropriate. “How can you think of peace at a time like this?” By learning how to […]
If you can see your path laid out in front of you step by step, you know it’s not your path. Your own path you make with every step you take. That’s why it’s your path.” “The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.” ~ Joseph Campbell
If you are one of those lucky […]
If you live in or are visiting this region, chances are that you will visit our award-winning, top quality wineries that this beautiful valley offers. At home, you will want to serve your guests our local wines in quality stemware.
American glass companies from the early 20th century, such as Cambridge […]
Watching a monarch metamorphosis is mind-blowing. Work deadlines, family time, and personal care all take a temporary backseat to what I view as a mesmerizing marvel. The fact that a single egg, only slightly larger than the period at the end of this sentence, in four days, turns into the […]