By Steve Galea I try to shop locally, believe me I do. But there comes a point when I have no choice but to shop online. Buying pants immediately comes to mind. You see, when…
Lovin’ my real stuffed animals, don’tcha know
By Jerelyn CradenWhy if ‘ol Maybelle doesn’t love stuffed animals. Yes, dear reader, I’m speaking of MY stuffed animals: Sarah, the terribly feminine teddy bear who sleeps on my pillow in a pink tutu, Tillie…
Heroes wear pyjamas
The “nightmares” that I remember are often very vivid because they are real-life scenarios; missing a deadline for work, making a big mistake, embarrassing myself in public, etc.While I’m asleep and dreaming, it usually feels…
Something fishy
By Sharon Lynch Mark wondered why he cared so much. Standing beside the aquarium in his den, he watched the fish struggling. He had been doing the same thing every evening for almost a week.…
Cover boy
By Steve Galea If you notice me walking down the street this week wearing a ball cap, dark sunglasses and looking presentable and clean-shaven, it’s because I am trying to be unrecognizable for a while…
A dream playground
By Vivian Collings It’s been a couple of months since writing about poverty in the Highlands in one of my editorials.With the launch of the fundraising campaign to build a new playground in Head Lake…
Pura Vida
By Lynda Shadbolt I recently listened to a podcast by Tara Brach, a well known psychologist, teacher, meditator and author.She does weekly talks on mindfulness, Buddhism and psychology. In this talk she had just returned…
Pie in the sky
By Steve Galea On Sunday, Jenn and I decided to have some pie for dessert.“Ah, there’s nothing like a nice piece of pie and some intelligent conversation,” Jenn said.I took that as my cue.“You know,…
The kids are alright
By Vivian Collings You may have noticed, but we feature kids and youth a lot in the Echo and the Times.Our papers are usually full of smiling young faces and success stories to go with…
Adverse conditions
By Lynda Shadbolt We’ve all got to do things that make us happy.We are all different, and we are all evolving. I think we are all happiest when we are doing something we love and…
It behoofs us all
By Steve Galea A week or so ago, my best buddy Tom called me and spoke with more enthusiasm than I have heard him exude in a long time.“I have seen the light,” he finally…
Ahead by a century
By Vivian Collings Although what we see outside our windows right now is similar to looking through a monochromatic filter, Haliburton’s recently been going green in another way. We have some really refreshing environmental initiatives…
A different perspective
By Sharon Lynch Appearances, they say, can be deceiving. So while Simon appeared to be snoozing by the window, he was in fact listening to what was going on in the other room. Jim was…
AI, oh my
By Steve Galea Full disclosure: I’m not a person who is fully up to date on the latest tech trends – if I recall correctly, I got as far as the abacus. So, you’ll have…
Love
By Lynda Shadbolt This is a love story. Sort of. It’s Valentine’s Day. I’ve been reading a book by Robert Holden called Higher Purpose. To sum it up, he says we all share the same…
A little hot air
By Steve Galea "Jenn,” I said, “do we have any more of these extra-large garbage bags?” ‘Main floor closet,” she said, without even raising her eyes from the book she was reading. “What about duct…
An aging population of volunteers
By Vivian Collings St. George’s Anglican Church has decided to end their Shrove Tuesday pancake dinner after hosting it for almost a decade. For the past two years, it was cancelled due to COVID-19 health…
Heat
By Sharon Lynch The smoke started billowing into the living room. Clouds and clouds of thick grey was rapidly filling the corner of Mark’s living room where the wood stove sat. He tried not to…
Going mobile
By Steve Galea I bought a cell phone later than most. If the truth were to be told, I thought they were going to be just a passing trend. I was certain the old phone…
A troubled bridge over water
By Vivian Collings I’m sure many people living on the east side of Koshlong Lake Road past the bridge have been “weary and feeling small” for the past couple of months.The sentiment is there in…
Haliburton Framing and Photo
By Lynda Shadbolt “Every moment is made glorious by the light of love,” said Rumi. I really do love living in Haliburton County. It is a special place on this wondrous and precious planet that…