The holidays are a busy time and after all the stress, events and parties are over, we face the end of another year. Some people get a little down about all the things that never got accomplished and the realization that all the energy spent on external “fixes” didn’t magically […]
Milestone in Hanley Restoration – Southern Oregon Historical Society’s (SOHS) Associate Curator of Collections, Tina Reuwsaat, a decorative arts historian who specializes in recreating original period furnishing plans for historic interiors, has overseen the completion of the restoration of the Historical Hanley Farmhouse Foyer. Using the probate records from the Michael Hanley estate inventory and […]
There’s no better way to get into the holiday spirit than by taking a tour of the historic Hanely House Museum! Here, the past come to life with a fully-furnished and beautifully-embellished holiday exhibit of decorations, toys, ornaments, and clothing from the Southern Oregon Historical Society’s collection. Each […]
There are a few people in every town you can count on. These are the people who step-up when work needs to be done, volunteer, and then actually do it when they say they will. Sometimes a town is lucky enough to have one such who also has […]
We sat in a sea of fragmented red, green and gold wrapping paper. My husband and I were content with our coffee as we watched our children explore all the little gifts they missed as they tore through their stockings. After the adrenaline rush of the gift giving and receiving […]
Every day, someone comes into Sterling Creek Antiques and shows me a picture or describes an item they hope I will appraise at a high value! Over the years, I’ve come to the realization that I’m just as happy teaching someone how to value their […]
“I bring you good news which shall bring great joy to all people…”
Mary wasn’t dreaming when the words hit the woman-child like a thunderbolt. She could not be pregnant because she had never been with a boy that way. The only thing more surreal than the idea of […]
Having just spent almost a month in France and Italy, I can definitely say that I have a new appreciation for opulent decorating and also for simple decorating. Sounds confusing, doesn’t it?
Let me explain. The beauty and magnificence of the many gorgeous, over-the-top castles, palaces, churches, duomos, […]
‘Tis the season of Christmas! (Yes, we can still call it that despite all who would have it otherwise.) Christmas is upon us, as well as the end of another year, and it’s been a very busy year for this mayor!
As I wanted to do something special […]
It has been a very busy year for Britt, and perhaps that’s why we feel 2014 flew by so quickly. We’ve reached new goals and met new challenges while experiencing another successful season. And we know none of that would be possible without our amazing community support and why we owe you, our […]
It’s one of the most unnerving scenes in cinema history. A woman sneaks into the room where her husband has been writing his novel. She peeks at the sheet of paper in his typewriter and starts reading: “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” She reads […]
Thanksgiving is one of the most celebrated holidays, not just because so many people love a turkey dinner but because we feel the joy of gathering with loved ones. We intuitively know the importance of giving thanks. Through all the hustle and bustle of travel, preparing and cooking, stress often gets […]
As winter approaches and the days get shorter, a perfect way to brighten your landscape is by adding a low voltage (LV) lighting system.
Though outdoor lighting is also very practical for security reasons, it’s also a great way to create an ambience that enhances your property and creates definition. By […]
I enjoy observing and learning from parents of all ages and stages. I’m fascinated as I study the unique ways they organize, educate, and inspire their families. After years of doing this, I’ve identified some distinct stages of parenting and some very clear difference between rookie and veteran moms you may […]
The world is changing and once reasonable expectations for the next generation are now pretty much off the table. For twenty-five years we’ve called Southern Oregon home, raised our kids and built a life upon the foundations of what is now so familiar. Change is in the air, though, […]
“Sometimes I go about in pity for myself, and all the while a great wind is bearing me across the sky.” ~Ojibwa saying
It all began with Madame Stacy at the Sunday Farmer’s Market. Sitting inside the Full Moon Woo tent, I stared at the […]
We’ve been asked why we don’t include restaurant reviews in our ramblings on all things “entertainment.” The simple answer is that we know better. The servers and chefs of Jacksonville’s dozen eating establishments are almost like family—and we wouldn’t want to create sibling rivalries by touting the efforts of one over another. Acclaimed food critic […]
He doesn’t make a big noise in this town. Maybe you’ve seen him riding his recumbent bike, or playing his banjo, or sipping coffee at Pony Espresso. Maybe you go to church with him. He is just one of those friendly guys you see around town. But Fred von […]
Traditional Holiday Dinners evoke many emotions because of the traditions we try to keep, the family members we celebrate with, the family members who are missed or missing, the friends we include, and the items we employ to create the desired effect at the dining table.
Many of us begin our […]
At the moment, I can only wait patiently and repeat my heart-felt goodbyes to my 91 year old mom as she lies in a semi coma on her 10th day of hospice. Although I am so sad to lose my mother, I am at the same time so grateful for the time I have had […]
The following scenario has not happened, but with all things possible is certainly worth contemplating…
It took months, but the sale of the old courthouse to the We Operate Efficiently Corporation finally went through. WOE had worked at obtaining the building even before the citizens of Jacksonville became […]
The annual October events at Hanley Farm thrilled hundreds of local families and provided a festive starting point for the holiday season. Hayrides touring the farm captivated visitors with valley views and Hanley highlights at this year’s Scarecrow Festival! The Crater Renaissance Academy Drama transformed the farm into a full-featured theatrical production that awed and […]
As we enter the 2014 Holiday Season, the words that come to mind are “thank you for an amazing year.” We embarked on transformative changes to the Britt Hill, hosted a powerful and innovative Classical Festival season, and gained many new community partners.
We simply could not have done any of this without the community of […]
Contemporary autumn gardens are greatly brightened by the sundry colors of cultivated chrysanthemums (C. X morifolium); however, their name comes from the Greek words ‘chrysos’ (gold) and ‘anthos’ (flower) because native species in China were just yellow. For a time, only the nobility in Old China were allowed to grow the sacred chrysanthemum, and the […]
“No tree, it is said, can grow to heaven unless its roots reach down to hell.” C.G. Jung
I don’t know if it’s the time of year, phase of life, or just my peculiar vantage point, but almost everyone I know is going through some serious suffering. I’m not talking about the […]
October 4th starts a retrograde cycle for the planet Mercury that will last until the 24th. Retrograde is when a planet slows down, stops and appears to move backwards. This is an illusion caused by the Earth passing the slower moving outer planets. This can affect us in different ways depending […]
Having had a background in Fundraising and Major Gifts, I quickly became acquainted with the process of Estate Planning. When meeting with donors, I’d inevitably discover a household full of treasured purchases, either bought by the residents or inherited. Oftentimes, parents would ask me how to plan ahead and who […]
We are four weeks into the school year. The wave of emotions that came with those first weeks are now fading into a sea of monotony, and we are getting into the groove of schedules and carpools. The teachers are teaching and kids are learning; meanwhile, parents are making sure the […]
Jacksonville is a wonderful place to enjoy fall colors! If you’ve lived here very long, you’ve probably identified your favorite tree for fall color, whether in your own yard or somewhere in town.
This month, we’ll have a show that lasts several weeks thanks to the large variety of deciduous trees […]
The real estate market in Jackson County continues its recovery this year with the median price of a home increasing by 15% from $195,000 in January, 2014 to $225,000 in August, 2014. The number of homes sold this year is about on par with last year with an average […]
This month I’m taking a break from the ongoing series of stories about 19th Century life in Jacksonville to pay tribute to a special person—Georgia Curran Scott Lind. On August 20, 2014, Jacksonville lost this 20th Century pioneer three weeks short of her 96th birthday. Georgia experienced almost all of the […]
The Britt season has come to an end, but that doesn’t mean our need for live music has ended. We love live music. In fact, as Woody Allen explained in (Terry’s favorite movie), Annie Hall, “Love is too weak a word.” Well, Woody invented some new ones for us: We […]
I am dedicating this entire column to the Britt Society, the unsung heroes of Britt Festivals. Did you know that the Britt Society is a separate non-profit 501c3 organization with their own Board of Directors and membership made up of 300 fantastic and active people? Established in 1964, its […]
The sweet-faced woman behind the counter turns to you and smiles a friendly welcome. This is Joelle Manning Graves, proprietor of Sterling Creek Antiques, located in the historic Orth Building on South Oregon Street in Jacksonville. Her kindly vibe and deep wealth of knowledge about the things she sells […]
The tapestry of a man’s life is woven with many living threads but only a rare few actually color the soul. True friendship is purified by heat and pressure. The rest is recycled in the wisdom of choosing carefully those with whom we share our time. We’ve heard that […]
As the cooler weather rolls in and the colorful change of autumn arrives, an impressive bounty is being harvested and processed for winter at Hanley Farm. Amidst the harvest, time is made for planting garlic and hardy winter greens, mulching garden beds, shearing sheep, collecting walnuts, and breeding the […]
With Oktoberfest beginning later this month, it seems an appropriate time to celebrate Southern Oregon’s pioneer community of German-speaking settlers. Although comprising only a quarter of the Rogue Valley’s population, first and second-generation immigrants from what are now Germany, Switzerland, and Austria were the dominant ethnic element, contributing significantly to the tenor and scope of […]
Prior to moving to Southern Oregon in 2002, I had just sold eBusiness Design, a web development company that specialized in helping large companies use the internet to market, improve customer service, distribute their product directly to consumers or just to inform their customers. When I arrived in Southern […]
By the time you read this, school will be back in session and I will be doing the happy dance, back in my bliss, working on the next book. But today it is early August, and I am trying to write while entertaining/mollifying/feeding my lovely children without benefit of an entertaining […]
Now there’s a word that can strike fear into the hearts and minds of otherwise stout-hearted men and women. How many times have we all heard someone say, “I wish they’d stop changing things all the time,” or “Why do we need to change… I like things […]
When Pattie Bakke looks customers in the eye at the Mustard Seed Café and asks “How’s breakfast?” she really wants to know, and when they respond, she really listens – looking for a way to lighten hearts and make people happy.
Pattie was born in Hermosa Beach, California in a […]
Farm dinners are one of the hottest dining experiences in Oregon this year, with Portland Monthly magazine devoting a full issue to them in April. Everything from dining in vineyards, to 30-mile bike rides ending at a long farm table, to river trips with farm-fresh meals served. Here in the Rogue Valley we are lucky […]
We can easily recognize something being beyond ordinary outside of ourselves but we often take for granted that our own body/mind system is exquisite. When we connect to the deeper part of ourselves, our higher self, we can feel that we are simply divine! When we experience a moment of beauty, […]
I’ll bet most of you reading this article will have at least one piece of graniteware in your possession. You may have a white dinner plate with red trim under one of your houseplants; perhaps you have a black speckled roasting pan in your garage waiting for Thanksgiving; a large […]
It’s a two-cup morning,” she said, and off for a refill she went. I followed, because indeed it was.
The mornings after those eternal nights of early parenthood can send us into a tailspin, where everything seems a blur and nothing seems easy. They are the mornings you decide all those mamas […]
This month, my “neighbor’s garden” is truly a celebration for me. Not only did I strike it rich with finding a “city chicken garden,” but the gardener, Cindi Hickey, purchased my Blue Door Garden Store on August 12th!
While discussing this column, I naturally thought it would be fun to feature […]
For Father’s Day I received a basket of gifts one of which is a trivia game called Chat Pack, a collection of conversation starters for around the dinner table. One of the questions asked what would be the most common word people use to describe you. Keep in mind […]
As I write this, we have just completed the final weekend of the 2014 Classical Festival. Wow! I do believe Teddy saved the best for last. On closing night, Mahler’s piece was simply breathtaking. I mean that literally; I had to remind myself to breath as I sat mesmerized by the powerfully-moving music.
What a whirlwind […]
The Unfettered Critic – September 2014
Watching TV has never been so easy. Or so hard.
Remember when three networks—CBS, NBC and ABC—scheduled our viewing for us? Today we download favorite shows to “devices” like smart phones, tablets, computers and (insert new tech here!) in order to view them whenever we want. Now dozens of cable networks, […]
On a recent trip to Greece, I was very surprised that everywhere we went we would see homes that were only half-built and looked abandoned. When I asked if the economy was really that bad to justify all these abandoned homes, the response shocked […]