What and Why When I was in Grade Five or so, my best friend’s mom imposed a rule on her that she could not take out “junk” books from the library. She was not allowed to read what the rest of us were furtively reading, which were the Sweet Valley High and Cheerleader series, and […]
Nicole’s Favourite Things: The Perimenopause Edition
August 27, 2026 by 73 Comments
It occurred to me recently that Gen X women are the first generation to really talk freely about perimenopause and menopause, just like we were the first generation to talk about the agony and ecstasy of parenting via “mommy blogs.” There were probably some exceptions but it seems to me that our mothers’ generation kept […]
Book Talk: To Finish or Not To Finish
August 24, 2026 by 78 Comments
I remember so clearly the moment it all changed for me. It was December 2022. I closed a book, realizing that I had just wasted several hours of my life that I would never get back again. The book in question took its title from one of my favourite poems by my very favourite poet; […]
Book Talk: Rereading
August 17, 2026 by 72 Comments
I was curled up on the couch when my younger son walked by and made a woof sound. You had some pretty rough reads, hey? he said. I looked at him, puzzled, and he nodded toward the copy of Commonwealth on the table beside me. You’re reading Ann Patchett, he said. You reread your favourites […]
I Just Called To Say I Love You
August 10, 2026 by 60 Comments
I had the most delightful, friend-filled week. It started with a visit from my friend Suzanne (HI SUZANNE). Suzanne is a very talented writer and a dear friend, and being able to see her in person, as opposed to on a screen, was wonderful. I can’t believe you’re HERE, I kept saying, and I couldn’t. […]
Midsummer Plant Murders
August 3, 2026 by 55 Comments
We have reached the point in the summer where, with the exception of a couple of rows of very hardy kale, all my greens have bolted in the heat, necessitating their removal from the garden. I am reduced to shopping at the farm market for all my leafy green needs; how they are keeping them […]
Nicole’s Favourite Things: The Summer Essentials Edition
July 30, 2026 by 51 Comments
I will confess that for many years, I thought the change of the seasons was highly overrated. In my defense, I was living in Calgary, where winter is endless, spring and fall are so short they could be considered almost nonexistent, and summer was marked by cold winds, thunderstorms, hail, and mosquitoes. I could really […]
