Setting myself a measurable goal of writing one blog a month has been helpful for keeping me accountable. (Thanks, SMART goals!) The problem is I’m not sure if I’ll ever stop being a procrastinator.

My body knew the grief before my brain knew. Monday morning as I was spreading peach preserves on toast, I started tearing up. The jam reminded me of the orange marmalade my grandpa used to put on his toast and grandma’s homemade brown bread at their kitchen table in Niles, Illinois.

This post was originally sent as an email to subscribers on January 23, 2025.

Hello, friends! How is everyone doing? The state of the country… er, world?… has been bleak lately. What have you been doing to find peace?