Little Free Libraries

There are few things this world’s seven continents share, but a Little Free Library is among them. This statement wouldn't have been accurate before 2020, when Antarctica joined the other six by acquiring its first one. The southernmost Little Free Library happens to be a hand-crafted gift from a fellow Coloradan, Dr. Russell Schnell, an … Continue reading Little Free Libraries

Braiding Sweetgrass

I love to come across books that make me stop me in my tracks, make my jaw drop, and make me realize they have something profound to say. Braiding Sweetgrass is such a book. Originally published in 2013, it was republished in 2020 in a beautiful hardcover version by Milkweed Editions, an independent publisher. I … Continue reading Braiding Sweetgrass

Everybody Welcome

In honor of Black History Month, allow me to introduce you to a remarkable woman who once called Colorado Springs home. On October 26, 2019 our city welcomed a new sculpture in front of the Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts. The life-size figure depicts Fannie Mae Duncan (1918-2005) in her mid-30s, elegantly-attired, enthusiastic, … Continue reading Everybody Welcome

Maria Merian

One scientist, who would have taken issue with last week’s “ignorance is bliss” statement is Maria Sybilla Merian (1647-1717). This powerhouse of a woman, of whom I knew nothing until the recent fortuitous find of her 2018 biography The Girl Who Drew Butterflies  by Joyce Sidman, not only sought knowledge at every turn, it was … Continue reading Maria Merian