Not the Dancing Fairy Kind ’Tis the season for me, once again, to wonder what sugar plums are, except this year I did some research. As it often is, Wikipedia is most helpful in my search. It says A sugar plum can be a piece of hard candy made of…

Inner light shining to welcome what’s good — Buddha’s birthday is already past When it is the shortest day; We celebrate the Light of the sun, The Light of the Spirit within and without. We light the menorah every night And know we are never alone. We tell sacred stories and pray for peace, We give thanks and…

2020 Yule frogs’ visit brings laughter and cheer — Hooray! It’s time for Yule Frogs (Created by a magician’s mistake In the magic word for yule logs). Our favorite amphibians make us laugh As they smooch beneath the mistletoe And crack Santa’s cookies all in half, Stuffing one half in their hats to go. They visit the Browns and…

Hindu Festival Celebrated Around the World — Today or tomorrow, depending on which calendar you use, the most important nine-night festival of the Goddess takes place in Hinduism around the world. In each season, people celebrate Navarati. MahaNavaratri, starting October 7 this year, happens at the beginning of winter, rainy season, in India. Thus people wear colorful…

Low maintenance colorful plants for your home — All these years I’ve admired Christmas cactus plants with their dark leaves and bright red flowers. Right now I have one with big rosy buds on it. But wait? Is it a Christmas cactus? Apparently not! There are three similar popular houseplants: Christmas cactus, Thanksgiving cactus, and Easter cactus. The…

Please come and bring the light you are and chase away the dark — Hanukkah began the 28th, Celebrating faith and vision, Committed to light the temple lamp And see its brightness had no end, In faith they lit the one day’s oil And marveled as it burned for eight. Enjoy the latkes, play the dreidel, And cherish the source of Light within. And…

He never made art for our home except at Christmas — Before photography took over advertising, artists created illustrations for ads in newspapers and magazines. In the late ’40s, that’s what my father did for a living. It made him a working artist in a community of them in New York City. …