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 […]
Fall is the best time to plant trees, shrubs & perennials. Take a look around your yard—if a plant is healthy and thriving, there’s little doubt that the roots are strong and growing. For newly-planted trees, shrubs or perennials, the fall season can be the best time […]
“Fresh tears stood on her cheeks as does the honeydew upon a gathered Lily almost withered.” ~William Shakespeare, “Titus Andronicus,” Act III, scene 1 (1594)
This passage makes it clear that Shakespeare had closely observed and appreciated the beauty of morning dew on the petals of a lily, and he also […]
The approval of Ballot Measure 91 in 2015 to allow the sale and use of recreational marijuana has made some dramatic changes to the landscape of Southern Oregon. The County’s limited farmland, especially properties with irrigation rights, has increased considerably in value and there is a limited inventory […]
Life was not a valuable gift, but death was. Life was a fever-dream made up of joys embittered by sorrows, pleasure poisoned by pain; a dream that was a nightmare-confusion of spasmodic and fleeting delights, ecstasies, exultations, happinesses, interspersed with long-drawn miseries, griefs, perils, horrors, disappointments, defeats, humiliations, and […]
Rental prices have been increasing since the real estate crash in 2007, but home prices didn’t begin to rebound until 2013. Rental prices are now running at an average of $1 a square foot for a suburban home in Medford and higher in Ashland and Jacksonville and for rural […]
I recently had occasion to remember a political figure I listened to every week on the radio. His name was Senator Claghorn and he was a true Southern spokesman. One week, when objecting to the import and sale of apples from the North, and being told that’s […]
It’s October, one of Hanley Farm’s “most favorite” months, other than November when we celebrate the onset of the holidays with Santa’s visit and “Holiday Wreath Making.” And there’s December, when we offer after-holiday Hanley Farmhouse tours, that is! And why are we so enthused with October? Because we can conjure up “ghosties” and goblins […]
The previous two installments of Pioneer Profiles recounted Col. John England Ross’ exploits as Indian fighter, treasure seeker, and entrepreneur. We left him in the Klamath basin escorting wagon trains across the Cascades, providing protection from ambush and murder by the Modoc Indians. But by October of 1852, he and his […]
Editor’s note: Since starting this column, “Sensational Seniors” back in 2016, Mike McClain has featured many of Jacksonville’s most respected and admired citizens. This month, in honor of Mike’s writing success, his dear friend, Mira Wingfield, thought it was time to […]
Okay, we’ll admit it. We haven’t reviewed much cinema this year. Frankly, we weren’t inspired by Hollywood’s offerings in 2017. Yes, we liked Wonder Woman (a lot) but many of the other films left us—hmm—we believe the correct word in the current parlance would be “meh.” Look it up.
Until recently, […]
We’d like to share our excitement about critical improvements being made on the Britt hill. With the close of another fantastic season, Britt is transitioning into what is sure to be a busy “off” season. Beginning this month, our old grey Britt bench seats will become just a memory. […]
The first 30 minutes of my interview with Mac and Peggy Peffley was spent touring their expansive Singler Lane home to see their extensive eclectic art and southwestern pottery collection, which reflects their world travels and experiences. Then it was time to get busy with the life stories of two more […]
John Muir’s quote speaks to the interconnectedness of all things. Humans to nature, nature to earth, earth to the universe, and the cosmos back to humans. Take for example the zeal surrounding the solar eclipse uniting us all under one sky to witness the moon’s passage over the sun. Something exceptional transpires when we grasp […]
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported last year that more than a third of Americans don’t get enough sleep. Many health issues like depression, autoimmune disorders and memory issues have been linked to insufficient sleep. Harvard medical researchers have also linked sleep deprivation with obesity, high blood pressure […]
Last month I wrote about the decks of my life being cleared: how my practice rather abruptly emptied out and how that seemed purposeful and meaningful. The way I wrote about it made the experience sound like a cruise through the Greek Isles, reclining on my metaphorical deck chair aboard the ship of my life’s […]
Anyone who comes in to our shop will instantly see that we love antique and vintage glass. While we rarely get “big name” glass makers’ items in-stock, such as “Tiffany” or “Stuben,” you will see the classic “Fenton” glass.
Fenton glass has been around since Frank and John Fenton (brothers) set […]
“Be you in the park about midnight at Herne’s Oak, and you shall see wonders.”
– In William Shakespeare’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” 1597
I’ve mentioned before that every year Jerry and I enjoy watching a performance at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, and this month I’m looking forward to […]
Summer is winding down, but I think we would all agree there’s something special about the back-to-school season that’s filled with the promise of new beginnings. This time of year offers fall colors in bloom, and the bounty of harvesting fruits and vegetables from backyard gardens.
According to Wikipedia, “It ain’t over till the fat lady sings,” is an expression that means you shouldn’t presume to know the outcome of an event which is still in progress. Although the phrase is generally understood to be referencing the stereotypically overweight sopranos of the opera, it […]
Hanley Farm’s music festival was GREAT! Hundreds of people attended, making the Southern Oregon Historical Society’s 71st anniversary an event to remember. The forecast for the day was 103 degrees, but the weather gods prevailed and it was a cooler 97 degrees, with a slight breeze. Despite the hazy […]
An old man walked across a city intersection on a blistering hot summer day. His shock white, trimmed full head of hair and long beard betrayed advanced age as he walked with a damaged gait; probably an old injury never healed. A Santa Claus belly screamed […]
Home prices soared over the last 5 years with the median price of a single family home in Jackson County increasing from $176,000 at the end of 2012 to $282,500 as of August 2017, yielding an increase of over 60%. The increase in the median price is only part […]
We all have one of “those days,” a day when unforeseen circumstances alter our plans. Sometimes they offer pleasant surprises. Oftentimes they are anything but pleasant. I had one of these in late July, and thought it worth sharing.
When we left Colonel John England Ross in our August 2017 Pioneer Profile, he had barely avoided eating crow…literally. After finding gold near Sawyer’s Bar on the Klamath River in California in 1850, he had been wounded in a skirmish with Indians and had his horses stolen. By the time prospectors […]
You don’t know what you missed. And that makes us very sad.
We’re serious. Every August, the residents of Southern Oregon are offered a tremendous opportunity. Yet many residents let that opportunity slip away with little thought of its value. And, now that September has arrived, it’s gone. Again.
Yes, we’re talking […]
I had not planned on writing about a power outage for the September column. Mother Nature had different plans. When you think about it, we were due. Britt concerts have lucked out for 55 years. With that statistic, we had already beaten the law of averages. We should be […]
On August 5, 2017, Hanley Farm presents, “Hanley Farm Music Festival,” a fundraiser for Hanley Farm! In addition to great toe-tapping music from five popular local entertainers, there will be food, a Farmer’s Market, children’s games, a Faerie Garden, soda, mead and more beverages, including freshly-brewed lager from Standing […]
I’m not a writer by profession but brewing up a cup of conversation has come reasonably natural. My concern about staring at a blank page with nothing to offer hasn’t been an issue although the empty page does steep a little longer these days. It must be the “growing […]