

December - A Sense of Quietude
This month creation beckons us to silence, inviting us to be still. Woodchucks and chipmunks sleep in underground dens, crickets have...


November - Oaks' Old Holy Ways
Last month was Oaktober in Illinois, a time for celebrating the beauty and importance of oaks, our state tree. Although there are many...


October - Giving One’s Gold Away
During fall the pollinator garden at La Vista brings to mind Mary Oliver’s delightful poem “Goldenrod”. She describes these ubiquitous...


September - Sacred Balance
When I observe sunsets, especially from the Crow’s Nest at La Vista, I am drawn into what Thomas Berry calls the great cosmic liturgy of...


August - Lavish Earth, Living Earth
It was toward the end of June, and I had just come home from the Urban Farm Tour which showcased unique farms in the city of Alton and...

July - Biophony and Mindful Listening
Early in June as I sat on the porch in the morning listening very carefully to the outdoor bird symphony, I heard an unusual sound,...


June - Restoring the Forest and Ourselves
RESTOR is a global restoration movement with an inspiring mission: “accelerating the conservation and restoration of nature for the...


May - Moss and Biomimicry
May - Moss and Biomimicry Recently I participated in a Biomimicry Retreat sponsored by Sisters of Earth. Our presenter Sister Gloria...

April - Glorious Spring!
When I turned the Natural Events Calendar to April, I was presented with a lovely photo of Greer Spring with a dogwood blooming on its...


March - Benign Presence
Since September La Vista has sponsored an online book discussion of Thomas Berry: Selected Writings on the Earth Community, and our...