Posts by Julia Schmeelk

How long does a person need to be established in a place before they are no longer considered a newcomer? In some jobs it only takes a short three months, in some states it takes two years to establish residency, in some countries you need to be born there. If the human race were to…

Not only do I include tea drinking in my stories as part of the culture in the Combined Territories, but I drink plenty of tea in real life. One of my favorite combinations is Constant Commet and lemon ginger teas mixed together with crystallized ginger and sugar. I either use a big quart tea pot…

To everyone who wished us luck and good fortune with our sewer issues, thanks a bunch. Everything is finished, all the water is running contained into the city sewer, so huge sigh of relief. 😅😅😅 We really appreciate everyone’s good thoughts and positive vibes as we fought to keep the sewer water contained and valuables…

Summer has always been the traditional time for visitors, and at my house, these visitors are always welcome. A wonderful friend and her daughter have come to spend a few days. To commemorate the visit we found the first ripe tomatoes in the yard. As summer comes to an end, schools are gearing up, and…

I have always had some pretty imaginative takes on the world. But like most people, I used to count on News to give me facts about what is happening. Yet more and more, I realize that facts are scarce or distorted, but opinion and fictionalized events are huge. It is difficult to know what is…

I have been struggling with writing this post for what feels like weeks, yet only a few days have passed. Mass shootings are terrible no matter where they occur and no matter who the targets are. It is gut wrenching to realize that one lone kook can break every social convention and open fire in…

I have never aspired to be a plumber, but I know how valuable those skills are. Indoor conveniences like running water have always been high on my priority list and greatly appreciated. Having the sewer back up into my laundry room and leave a trail of sewage run off through my storage area is not…

If you have ever grown squash you know that they have huge leaves and they defend their fruit and hide it well. It took a while but I finally found the first of the treasure hidden in the leaves. A few weeks and we’ll be cooking this along with fresh corn on a fire in…