Category Archives: Books

The Lady in the Van

Posted on October 16, 2017 by vanbytheriver

“And what I’ve learned, and maybe she taught me, is that you don’t put yourself into what you write. You find yourself there.” Alan Bennett . This brilliant insight comes from the British playwright, author, actor as he recounts the … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Education, Entertainment, Humor, Inspiration, Movies, News, Writing | Tagged , | 70 Comments

“Don’t Push the River…

Posted on September 21, 2017 by vanbytheriver

…It Flows by Itself.” Released by author and Gestalt therapist Barry Stevens, it was the self-help book of my generation. The pages are well worn, dog-eared, book-marked and highlighted in my copy of the 1970 book. I often recommended it … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Beauty, Books, Education, Entertainment, Nature, News, Photography, Writing Prompt | Tagged , , , | 67 Comments

Ice Cream and You

Posted on September 16, 2017 by vanbytheriver

“Rage, rage against the dying of the light”, or maybe, against the dying of summer, as in the case of ice cream giant Baskin-Robbins. * Late in August, they released the results of a study “What Your Ice Cream Eating … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Education, Entertainment, Family, Food, Humor, News, Technology | Tagged , , | 70 Comments

Ancient Trees

Posted on September 11, 2017 by vanbytheriver

  She took her camera to some of the darkest, most isolated places on earth, to photograph trees that have survived thousands of years. Beth Moon, famed photographer and  author of the 2014 book, Ancient Trees:Portraits of Time, studied the … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Beauty, Books, Education, Nature, News, Photography, Technology, Travel | Tagged , | 44 Comments

Summer Camp ?

Posted on August 7, 2017 by vanbytheriver

For $2300, you can send your kids to a 10 day session designed to improve their social media skills. Offered in London, Melbourne and here in California, the program includes instruction in lighting and camera work, writing, blogging, self-promotion, marketing, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Education, Entertainment, Family, Humor, Music, News, Sports, Technology | Tagged , , | 65 Comments

Tomato Sandwich

Posted on July 21, 2017 by vanbytheriver

It’s the perfect summer sandwich, with the simplest of ingredients. Garden-fresh tomatoes, mayo, store-bought white bread. I had the first of many this week. You might be tempted to modify it, toast the bread, add ingredients like cheese, bacon, avocado, … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Beauty, Books, Childhood, Education, Entertainment, Food, Gardening, Movies, Nature, News | Tagged , | 83 Comments

“Service Engine Soon”

Posted on June 20, 2017 by vanbytheriver

At first, they were called “idiot lights”. They indicate trouble within the engine. The light comes on, you access the code book, identify the issue, repair or replace parts. The light is extinguished and you move forward. It is simple … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Education, Entertainment, Family, News, Politics, Technology | Tagged , | 73 Comments

Easter

Posted on April 11, 2017 by vanbytheriver

It started as a typical Easter weekend. There was a new outfit, frilly dress, white patent leather shoes, white gloves and flowered hat. The Sunday meal was planned. Good Friday was mysterious. For reasons not yet clear to us, we … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Beauty, Books, Education, Entertainment, Family, Food | Tagged , , , , | 135 Comments

Breaking Fast

Posted on April 2, 2017 by vanbytheriver

Cold breakfast cereal, gone soggy in milk. It was the family breakfast of choice; convenient, mostly economical, but never appealing. The one exception for me was Grape-Nuts, which contains no grapes or nuts. The name came from Charles William Post, … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Education, Entertainment, Family, Food, Movies, News | Tagged , , , | 90 Comments

When Doves Cry

Posted on March 20, 2017 by vanbytheriver

Heading out on the first day of Spring, I came upon a pair of birds at an intersection near home. They would not budge. They almost stared into my windshield as I approached. I ended up going around them. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Education, Entertainment, Family, Home, Music, Nature, News, Photography | Tagged , , | 100 Comments