Sandcastles Have Lots of Substance, Or Do They?
By Veronica MacDonald Ditko
An Accidental Anthropologist
Summer is here and sandcastles are on my mind. It seems natural to want to make something out of the immense stretches of sand down south. It’s like a huge sandbox! Put a pile of it in front of a baby and he/she [...]
The Fun of Kindergarten
By Veronica MacDonald Ditko
An Accidental Anthropologist
May is the month most college students run screaming from the hills that they are off for the summer. High school seniors have serious cases of Senioritis by now. And Kindergarteners, well, do they know what summer is yet?
It only recently occurred to me that all [...]
Zoning Out
By Veronica MacDonald Ditko
An Accidental Anthropologist
I truly get bitten by the daydreaming bug as soon as the weather gets warmer. Really it’s the sun that entrances me: the way the spring light dances and lingers during the day. And the smell of the thawing, melting earth – I just love it!
If I’m indoors, I [...]
“Then my heart with pleasure fills and dances with the daffodils…” - William Wordsworth
By Veronica MacDonald Ditko
An Accidental Anthropologist
Daffodils are truly one of the first signs of spring. Their bright and sunny heads pop out of the ground all at once, just when you think winter will last longer than Punxsutawney Phil says. And what [...]
Putting Your Best Face Forward
By Veronica MacDonald Ditko
An Accidental Anthropologist
I see it happen so many times on the road. People cross a street and never look back to see if, by chance, a car is turning onto the street they are crossing. This is not a comment on pedestrians or drivers really, but rather a [...]
Kooky Cookies
By Veronica MacDonald Ditko
An Accidental Anthropologist
The Holidays have passed but there is still one food that keeps on hanging around if you’re lucky – cookies. Or maybe the cookies are now hanging on your hips (admit it – isn’t that your new year’s resolution!?). Either way, they’ve made their annual appearance.
I’m guessing here, but [...]
My favorite part of the holidays is when we dim the lights at night and let the soft lights of the Christmas tree glow.
Since the start of agriculture many thousands of years ago, farmers have struggled with how demanding their neighbors can be. And by neighbors, I mean every insect, animal, and…
Human beings have been really resourceful throughout history. The truth of the matter is they had no choice. Whatever food was available, it had to be eaten during that time…
