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How a flower from Mexico became a symbol of Christmas
One of my most precious possessions is a round, painted ceramic cookie tray in the shape of a poinsettia that was given to me by my mother. Every Christmas, this vivid red tray with a yellow blossom in the center has held the sweet holiday treats and candies we’ve prepared to mark this season, so […]
There goes another perfectly good cornfield
Like many small communities in Iowa, my hometown of Huxley is surrounded on all four sides by farmland. Recently, as I was heading out on Highway 69 to go to work in Des Moines, something caught my eye in the middle of a field on the south edge of town: a convoy of pickups and […]
Welcome to the pumpkin spice industrial complex
Fall festivities are in full swing in the Midwest, with activities and spending underway on everything from candy and costumes to cornucopias. Leading the way all autumn long is the pumpkin, a humble fruit that has spawned an entire industry of its own. Remember the Great Pumpkin from the Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. […]
Corn mazes connect us to ancient rituals
At the beginning of the pandemic, my family started a weekly Sunday night Zoom call where we check in from across the country. Because my mother and I both live in Iowa, we frequently report in on what is happening here. Recently, our talk turned to corn — of course, because it was harvest season. […]
It’s camo season in the Midwest
I did not grow up in a serious hunting family, but I married into one. Early on, I learned that for hardcore hunters, the time between October and December is sacrosanct. And for true devotees, the rituals of the season start much earlier: getting licenses in order, target practice, and shopping for gear – all […]
Who knew the Crock-Pot had Midwestern — and feminist — roots?
On a recent morning walk with my dog Tango, I was talking on the phone to my friend Nicole, who lives in the Bronx. She observed that her husband seemed to be spending a lot of time in their new garage after a recent move. I chuckled and said, “Well, you better dust off your […]