Amazing Christmas folklores (Part Deux): Who’s Krampus, you ask? He’s the half-man, half-goat who comes around every year to chase naughty children and maybe even drag them to hell. European versions of St. Nicholas have long had scary counterparts who dole out punishment. Krampus is one such character who comes from folklore in Austria’s Alpine […]
Krampus, St. Nick, and really funky spiders Read More »
The Pear Tree Project has reached its 100th newsletter! Whenever we hear about this milestone, most people get excited because it is a significant landmark. And, many times there are lists that accompany the occasion. Why? Our species loves lists – shopping, to-dos, bucket, check, brainstorming, top one hundreds, twenty-fives, tens – well you get
Tyrannosaurus rex relatives and eliminating olives Read More »
What did the turkey say to the farmer? Why isn’t there anything on my calendar after November? Welcome to Thanksgiving – the 2025 edition! “Is that your pop-up timer or are you just happy to see me?” Below are links and suggestions to assist you with helping others during this holiday season: https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank https://lustgarten.org https://www.heart.org
Turkey for me and Turkey for you Read More »
“I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity.” Mental Health is defined as a state of mind characterized by emotional well-being, good behavioral adjustment, relative freedom from anxiety and disabling symptoms, and a capacity to establish constructive relationships and cope with the ordinary demands and stressors of life. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! I believe it is accurate,
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered Read More »
October in the U.S. sees celebrations like the Mid-Autumn Festival, (or Moon Festival), a Chinese tradition celebrating family and harvest. The history of the Mid-Autumn Festival dates back more than 3,000 years, with roots in China’s Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BCE). Ancient Chinese communities worshipped the moon to celebrate the end of the harvest season, offering
There is no dark side of the moon Read More »
Hail Victory! Braves on the Warpath! Fight for old D.C.! Fight on, fight on ‘Til you have won Sons of Wash-ing-ton. Rah!, Rah!, Rah! From Touchdown Jesus, (the “Word of Life” mural on the Hesburgh Library grounds at Notre Dame, with the depiction of Jesus with upraised arms, which resembles a referee signaling a touchdown),
Fight on, fight on ‘Til you have won Read More »
bird-watched; bird-watching; bird-watches (intransitive verb), is the observation of live birds in their natural habitat, a popular pastime and scientific sport that developed almost entirely in the 20th century. In the 19th century, almost all students of birds used guns and could identify an unfamiliar species only when its corpse was in their hands. Modern
Eagles and Owls and Hawks, Oh My! Read More »
Another one in the books! This past weekend The Pear Tree Project attended the Mystic Outdoor Art Festival. The Mystic Outdoor Art Festival was launched sixty-eight years ago when local business owners and art lovers proposed that downtown Mystic pattern a fair after the famous Washington Square Festival, in New York. And so they did.
Connecticut Town Truly Is A Slice of Heaven Read More »
And every time I’ve held a rose It seems I only felt the thorns And so it goes, and so it goes And so will you soon I suppose When someone departs this life, the first question is, “How old were they?” The answer, if they were older than 80 is always the same, “Oh,
Please Don’t Let Me Keep You Read More »
Yesterday all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they’re here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday. OR Summertime, and the livin’ is easy Fish are jumpin’ and the cotton is high Oh, your daddy’s rich and your ma is good-lookin’ So hush little baby, don’t you cry. OR Someday
Is It Just Another Tequila Sunrise Read More »