Once upon a time I was the world’s expert builder of towers from dishes. I hated to stop to dry them, so I stacked them carefully and creatively as high as I could in the drain board, dish balanced precisely upon dish. This gift for dish balancing is apparently not genetic. Many years later my son […]
This is one of my favorite photos of one of my favorite stretches of my walk to work in the mornings. This quiet little stairway in the side of the hill is lovely, it’s true. More than that, I treasure this peaceful time and place for reflection and prayer in the morning. It’s a very […]
Gardening may be one of the most romanticized hard-labor activities in literature. There truly is something enchanting in the alchemy that combines soil and water and tiny little seeds to create marigolds, daisies and hollyhocks. And homegrown tomatoes. I used to think that the heady scents and delicious flavors of a garden were magical in spite […]
The world is such a beautiful place! Some lucky people explore as many nooks and crannies as they can – soaking up cultures and languages and adventures wherever they go. Homebodies (like me) may explore new places through photos and books and travel blogs. However we choose to experience the world, I think we often forget […]
Since the Decoration Days of the 1860s, Memorial Day in the United States has evolved from a day to honor those who fell in the Civil War, to a celebration of summer. Some purists want to strip away the traditions that have crept in to overshadow the original purpose, but I think we can do […]
One recent evening I found myself out underneath our apple tree, and was fortunate to capture a photograph of this delightful little visitor to our garden. The scent of the apple blossoms was so sweet, and the snowy white blossoms so beautiful, I couldn’t help thinking of one of my favorite Hans Christian Andersen stories, […]
Once upon a time our garden-smart neighbor taught my husband how to prune fruit trees. I cried the day he trimmed our overgrown orchard of four apple trees. Each snip saw a perfectly good branch fall to the earth below. I was sure that trimming had irreparably damaged the tree. It looked so odd and sparse. And […]
Recently, a friend and I were reminiscing about childhood winter days in Wyoming. We found slick roads and sidewalks charming, and hung our mittens to dry over growing puddles on the porch floor. The bitter cold was a minor inconvenience that was easily remedied by warm cocoa and a seat near the fireplace. If we were very fortunate the radio would announce […]
I honestly and truly love Christmas. I don’t love everything that happens this time of year. The chaos of the season is just too much to take sometimes. Several years ago, when I was sad that the magic had waned and Christmas had become a bit of a chore, I had an epiphany that saved […]
The summer is waning and autumn is finally tiptoeing in. The pleasant canyon breeze makes my morning walk to work so much cheerier. Is there anything quite as delightful as the scent of the ripening concord grapes hanging from the backyard pergola, or the flavor of sun-ripened garden tomatoes? Welcome, Autumn. I’ve missed you. Of course, […]
Hi! I’m Barbara Anne Williams, a designer and illustrator living in the Rocky Mountains of Northern Utah. I find inspiration in the beauty of nature, the scent of old books, and the kindness of everyday heroes.
