Author Archives: nancymugele

Write On

With all due respect to this month’s religious holidays and rain showers, to me April means National Poetry Month. I know I am a literary geek, but as an aspiring poet myself, I am inspired by this month dedicated to poets and their craft. National Poetry Month was established by the Academy of American PoetsContinue reading “Write On”

Waking Up

Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn. ~ Lewis Grizzard One more day until the Vernal Equinox, yet I feel the sun’s warmer kiss already. Springtime is the eternal optimist of the seasons. A time of hope, when the Earth awakens and the outdoors blooms right before our eyes. But,Continue reading “Waking Up”

Social Fitness

In 1938, Harvard researchers embarked on a decades-long study to find out: What makes us happy in life? 85 years later they found it. Contrary to what you might think, it’s not career achievement, money, exercise, or a healthy diet. It is positive relationships that keep us happier, healthier, and help us live longer.  HumansContinue reading “Social Fitness”

Follow the Crumbs

Everyone in my family knows that I believe the best Italian pastries come from Modern Pastry Shop on Hanover Street in the historic North End of Boston. My grandparents were married in the North End, my grandmother was born in her families’ apartment on Prince Street just around the corner from Modern Pastry, and IContinue reading “Follow the Crumbs”

Predetermined

I love November – the final act of autumn – on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Waking to the calls of migrating geese who fly our way in formation, nightfall brings crimson sunsets that brightly paint the sky along the Chester River. The air is cool and crisp, yet you can still feel the sun’s warm kissContinue reading “Predetermined”

Dog Days

Today is the official first day of summer, although some of us have been celebrating the season’s onset since its unofficial opening on Memorial Day. The lyric, Summertime, and the livin’ is easy, made famous in Porgy and Bess, is truth. These precious months do not include over-commercialized holidays to shop for, or major familyContinue reading “Dog Days”

Faces of Nature

One year ago yesterday, I caught my first fish on a fly. As you know, I have a great teacher, my son James, a fly fishing guide with Hubbard’s Lodge in Emigrant, Montana. We stayed in the home belonging to the Gignone family, owners of Sweetwater Fly Shop. This week the unyielding force of natureContinue reading “Faces of Nature”

Rebuilding the Muscles of Connection

Education is heart-centered work, and I am grateful every day to serve Kent School. These past two months, however, have unearthed a stamina issue which quite surprised me. In our school we have literally gone from 0 to 60mph in about 10 seconds as we fill the calendar with our traditional springtime community events afterContinue reading “Rebuilding the Muscles of Connection”

Family Tree

A tree is a plant with a tall structure comprised of a stem and branches to support leaves and a root system that anchors the stem as well as procures and stores essential growth elements, such as water and nutrients. Last week’s blog post mentioning a cottage in Marshfield motivated one of my nine Troiano cousins, Tim, toContinue reading “Family Tree”