DOWNTOWN BALDWIN INTERSECTION TAKES SHAPE WITH MAPLE LEAF BRICK DESIGN
A bold new detail is coming to the heart of downtown Baldwin City. Crews from Heartstone, Inc. have been hard at work at the intersection of 8th and High streets, where a decorative maple leaf brick pattern is being laid as part of the city’s Intersection Renovation Plan.
The project began on September 3 with the removal of existing pavers. Construction crews reinforced the street’s subbase before carefully placing a mix of new and salvaged brick into the maple leaf design that will serve as a visual centerpiece in the intersection.
A photo taken October 1 by Bob Thompson shows the work in progress, with the outline of the maple leaf already taking shape in the street. The detail will be a permanent marker of Baldwin’s identity, connecting its historic brickwork to its most recognizable symbol and annual festival.
Keeping Downtown Open
While the intersection itself is closed to traffic during construction, pedestrian crosswalks on all four sides remain open as much as possible. Parking continues to be available throughout downtown, though navigation in the blocks surrounding 8th and High is more challenging than usual.
City officials emphasized that the goal of the project is to maintain access for businesses and visitors while improving the strength and longevity of the downtown streetscape.
A Lasting Landmark
Once completed, the maple leaf design will offer both function and flair. The reinforced street will better handle the heavy traffic of events like Maple Leaf Festival, while the distinctive pattern in the pavement will stand as a new landmark in Baldwin City’s downtown.
With progress visible each day, residents are already stopping to take photos and admire the transformation. For many, the maple leaf in brick represents the perfect way to celebrate Baldwin’s character — rooted in tradition, yet always finding new ways to shine.
DOUGLAS COUNTY COMMISSION APPROVES AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE BLACK JACK BATTLEFIELD PROPERTY
Story by Mackenzie Clark, lawrencekstimes.com
“The Battle of Black Jack played a central role in the events of ‘Bleeding Kansas’ and is widely recognized as a precursor to the Civil War,” the meeting agenda summarizes. “In addition to the historic Robert Hall Pearson farmhouse, the site includes a 40-acre nature park, public trails, and open green space.”
The trust was at risk of defaulting on its mortgage, and it informed the county of this in April 2024, according to the meeting agenda. “In response, County staff and local stakeholders formed the Black Jack Battlefield and Nature Park Preservation Committee,” according to the agenda. The group ultimately recommended that the property would be better suited for public ownership.
Under the approved agreement, Baldwin City and the county will enter a joint ownership structure for the property, and the county will provide Baldwin City $250,000 of open space funding to support it in acquiring the property.
The county has invested more than $466,000 into the battlefield and nature park since 2011.
County Administrator Sarah Plinsky said the agreement has a number of positives that county staff members felt were important, and the site should remain accessible to the public.
Kerry Altenbernd, vice president of the Black Jack Battlefield Trust, spoke during
public comment. He said three minutes — the amount of time all members of the public are given to comment on agenda items — was nowhere near enough to tell the whole story.
“We’ve been treated as if we are somehow untrustworthy, even though we’ve kept that place going for 20-some years, and we feel that we were misused by the county,” he said, but did not have time to elaborate.
Commissioner Karen Willey said it seemed the next step would be for the trust and Baldwin City to continue conversations and work out agreements. She said she was supportive of the county’s open space funds being used in that way “if all other parties that work on it from here on out can come to agreement.”
Commissioner Shannon Reid said she believed there had been a series of conversations that had involved all relevant parties to come to the set of recommendations. She said she believed this was a positive solution and that there are opportunities to figure out the particulars to make sure the move is successful going forward.
“There’s nothing in here (the agreements) that tells me that there’s no going back at this point” if challenges should arise, Commission Chair Patrick Kelly said. He said he was comfortable with moving forward.
Douglas County commissioners approved the agreements 5-0. Baldwin City approved them last week, according to the agenda.
THE WILLOW DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CENTER MARKS DOMESTIC AWARENESS MONTH WITH COMMUNITY EVENTS THROUGHOUT OCTOBER
LAWRENCE, Kan. — October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and The Willow Domestic Violence Center is partnering with community organizations across Lawrence, Douglas County, and beyond to raise awareness, provide education, and connect with supporters. A wide range of events will offer opportunities for learning, reflection, action, and solidarity with survivors.
“Domestic violence impacts every corner of our community,” said Jessica Beeson, Executive Director of The Willow. “This month is about coming together to learn, to stand in support of survivors, and to work toward a future free from violence.”
Community members are invited to participate in the following events:
● Saturday, October 4 — Personal Care Items Donation Drive Walmart, 550 Congressional Dr., 12:00–4:00 p.m.
● Tuesday, October 7 — BeMoreLikeClaire
Candlelight Vigil & Clothesline Project South Park, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Join Claire’s Community for its fifth annual event honoring those lost to relationship violence and celebrating a vision of a kinder, safer world.
● Wednesday, October 8 — “In Their Shoes” Interactive Workshop Lawrence Public Library Auditorium, 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Explore healthy relationship dynamics and learn tools to prevent, recognize, and intervene in intimate partner violence. This program is particularly relevant to parents, teachers, counselors, and other individuals who support teenagers.
Throughout October, The Willow will also share resources, survivor stories, and awareness campaigns on its social media channels.
For more information on events, resources, or ways to get involved, visit www. willowdvcenter.org.
THE FAIRGROUNDS ARE NOT JUST FOR THE COUNTY FAIR!
K-State Extension, LiveWell Douglas County, and the Douglas County Heritage Conservation Council invite residents to explore the rich history, natural beauty, and community spirit of the Douglas County Fairgrounds at Past, Plants & Pathways, a free public event held on October 11th at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. This engaging experience is designed to showcase the Fairgrounds as a year-round vibrant recreational and educational space for all.
The event will include information on Douglas County Extension programming, LiveWell and SafeKids activities, and the Douglas County Heritage Conservation Council.
Order of Events
9:00 AM: Discover the History of the Means House – Step back in time to learn the history of Judge Hugh Means and the Fairgrounds
9:30 AM: Tours of the Fairgrounds Arboretum and Gardens – Enjoy guided walks through beautifully curated gardens and the Fairgrounds Arboretum.
10:00 AM: Guided Walks in Honor of Breast Cancer Awareness – Join guided walks that celebrate mental and physical wellness all year round.
COMMUNITY
BALDWIN CITY UTILITIES NOTICE : SEWER LINE REPAIR & UPGRADE
Baldwin City Utilities will be performing a sewer line repair and replacement upgrade in the alley between Fremont, Grove, 9th, and 10th Streets.
Schedule of Work:
Dates: October 6 – October 11
Time: 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily Traffic & Access Impacts:
• The alley will be closed to through traffic during construction.
• The 600 block of 10th Street will be temporarily closed while
work is underway.
• Please use alternate routes during this time.
• Work areas will be marked, and crews will assist with local access as needed.
• We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we complete these essential upgrades to Baldwin City’s sewer system. For more information, please contact the Baldwin City Wastewater Department at 785-594-2959.
A MESSAGE FROM MR. DODGE
Dear Baldwin Families, I cannot believe we have two weeks remaining in the first quarter. Time has definitely flown by. I’m incredibly proud of our students for their work this quarter. Students in all four buildings have been working hard in the classroom and making a difference in their community.
I want to give you a brief update on our construction projects. The parking lot work has been completed, with the exception of signage. While our traffic flow is moving properly during arrival and dismissal, we still have a few patrons attempting to enter the lot by the PAC, which is now an exit only, even for our evening events. Please help us share the word if you have guests joining us during afterschool events, to enter from 6th Street or at the north end of Eisenhower. The restroom/concession stand relocation is moving nicely and will be completed by the end of the month, putting us in good shape for spring soccer. Sitework for the new CTE facility is underway, and we should have a timeline to share with you in the coming weeks. Thank you for your flexibility during this time of construction.
State assessment results have been shared with districts. Soon, information will be shared by the schools with families on how to view their students’ performance. As a reminder, the test in the spring of 2025 was a brand-new test with allnew cut scores reflecting grade-level
abilities. The results are not intended to reflect an above or below grade level score. Rather, the scores will represent your student’s grade level ability as limited, basic, proficient, and advanced.
Additionally, while last year’s juniors did take the state science assessment, KSDE determined that the results did not provide the full range of scores needed to set the official cut scores. As a result, KSDE could not report results in the usual performance categories that help families and educators understand how students are doing in science. Essentially, the new science assessment did not perform as expected and will not provide an accurate measure of your student’s performance. Educators from across Kansas and assessment experts are working on the next steps to ensure this information can be reported accurately in the future. Rest assured that we are working to make sure your student participates in assessments that provide clear and meaningful information about their learning. In closing, I want to thank you for your continued support. As mentioned previously, this has been a great school year. I cannot wait to see what is in store during the next several months of the school year. Take care and have a wonderful weekend.
Mark Dodge, Superintendent Baldwin USD 348
OBITUARY
JOSEPH HARVEY
NOV. 19, 1951-SEPT. 30 2025
Joseph “Joe” Max Harvey, 73, of Baldwin City, Kansas died Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at his home surrounded by family. He was born
November 19, 1951 in Lincoln, Nebraska the son of Milroy Arch Harvey and Veona Marie (Appel) Harvey. He graduated from Lincoln Southeast High School with the class of 1970. He then attended the University of Nebraska, where he was a Regents Scholar. For the first three years, Joe was in the chemical engineering program before transferring to their dental school.
After college, Joe served his country in the United States Air Force for almost 14 years, earning the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He worked as an oral surgeon and a dental officer and earned the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with one Bronze Oak Leaf, Humanitarian Service Medal, Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with two Bronze Oak Leaf clusters, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, and the Air Force Training Ribbon.
On June 12, 1976, Joe was united in marriage to Mary Margaret Hansen at the Offutt Air Force Base SAC Memorial Chapel in Nebraska. They shared forty-nine years of loving marriage.
Joe worked as an Oral Surgeon at Oral Surgery Kansas, a business he owned. Joe retired
from his profession in 2020. He was a part of Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU), the National Dental Honor Society.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Rachel Hammers-Harvey; his parents, Milroy and Veona Harvey; and two brothers, Arch Jack Harvey and James Harvey.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Margaret Harvey of the home; five sons, Phillip James Harvey and his wife, Kimberly, of Baldwin City, KS, Caleb John Harvey of Lawrence, KS, Benjamin Fredrick Harvey and his wife, Erin, of Highland Park, CO, Andrew Jens Harvey of Southern Pines, NC, and Elijah Hans Harvey of Lawrence, KS; two daughters, Rebecca Marie Todd and her husband, Jared, of Baldwin City, KS and Anna Joyce Vinson and her husband, Stephen, of Overland Park, KS; a brother, Daniel Harvey of Aberdeen, SD; a sister, Roylynn Package of Potomac Falls, VA; and 20 grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at River City Church, 3001 Lawrence Ave., Lawrence, KS 66047. Interment with military honors followed at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lawrence, KS. To celebrate Joe’s life, a visitation took place from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 3, 2025, at Redemption Hill Church, 802 W. 22nd Terr., Lawrence, KS 66046. Memorial contributions were directed to Redemption Hill Church and sent c/o Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, P.O. Box 64, Baldwin City, KS 66006. Condolences could be sent to the family through www.lambroberts.com
PAWS PATROL DELIVERS BIG SURPRISES AND BIGGER IMPACT ACROSS BALDWIN SCHOOLS
The Baldwin Education Foundation’s Paws Patrol was on the move last Friday, September 26, bringing joy, balloons, and plenty of Bulldog spirit to classrooms across the district. The annual celebration marked the awarding of 45 Innovative Project Grants totaling $37,005.67 for the 2025–2026 school year.
Paws Patrol has become a beloved BEF tradition, surprising teachers in person with the announcement of their winning projects. This year’s grants will fund creative and meaningful opportunities that foster excellence, innovation, and belonging for Baldwin students from pre-K through 12th grade.
A Celebration of Innovation
Communities Through StudentCreated Historical Museum
This year’s summary identifies both the building winners and the full list of 45 projects and teachers selected for funding. From handson STEM activities and expanded arts programming to fitness, literacy, and community-building projects, the variety of ideas highlights the dedication and creativity of Baldwin’s educators.
Building Winners for 2025–2026
Primary Center: Ready Bodies
Learning Minds: Cultivating the Complete Child — Kara Roland and Dr. Reagan Dodd
Intermediate Center: Crunching Into Creativity: The Michael Albert Cerealism Project — Michelle Harris
Junior High: Echoes of the Past: Bridging Generations and
Exhibits — Dr. Randi Dalton High School: Alebrijes: A Cultural Collaboration between Art and Spanish — Katie Marten, Berenice Applegate, and Becky Weaver
Dozens of additional grants will support projects such as robotics, cultural exchanges, music residencies, community collaboration, and health initiatives. These programs ensure that Baldwin students experience learning that is engaging, innovative, and memorable.
Continuing the Tradition
The Innovative Project Grant program remains BEF’s flagship initiative, empowering teachers to bring fresh ideas to life that go beyond the standard classroom
curriculum. Thanks to community donations, these grants open doors for students that would otherwise remain closed.
As BEF noted, “Paws Patrol was last Friday and we handed out awards for 45 Innovative Project Grants totaling $37,005.67!
The summary is attached which identifies innovative project grant building winners, as well as all 45 project names and teachers who are this year’s recipients! I also added some pix, thank you!”
With photos, cheers, and celebrations in every building, the 2025–2026 Paws Patrol once again reinforced the message that Baldwin City values its teachers, believes in its students, and proudly invests in the future.
2025–2026 BEF Innovative Project Grant Recipients
Primary Center Winner
Ready Bodies Learning Minds: Cultivating the Complete Child — Kara Roland, Dr. Reagan Dodd Intermediate Center Winner
Crunching Into Creativity: The Michael Albert Cerealism Project — Michelle Harris
Junior High Winner
Echoes of the Past: Bridging Generations and Communities Through Student-Created Historical Museum Exhibits — Dr. Randi Dalton
High School Winner
Alebrijes: A Cultural Collaboration between Art and Spanish — Katie Marten, Berenice Applegate, Becky Weaver
USD348
Additional Grant Recipients
Artists in the Classroom, Monthly Residency Program — Jackie Hostetler
Bringing it All Together: Culminating Activities Through Community Collaboration — Erin Scott, Kristen Schneider, Sarah Harris, Amy Anderson, Shanaye McBride, Erik Bailey
Building Math Fluency through Online Games — Ryan Cox
Building Strong Writers, One Sentence at a Time — Casey Wright
Community Based Learning and Application — Bari Deardorff
Completing the Circuit with Coding — Amanda Voth
Composing an Original: Working with a Local Composer to Debut an Original at State Choir! — Katrina Jacobsen
Cook Around the World by WorldStrides — Caylee Tannahill
DeltaMath: A Tool for Student Success — Thomas Broxterman
Dish it Up! — Becca Todd
Eighth Grade Campout — Crystal Engemann
Empowered Spaces — Jennifer Lewis
Empowering 2nd Graders Through Independent Learning — Erika Bench
Enhance the Experience: Building Stronger CDE Teams for Baldwin FFA — Macy Herrenbruck
Enhanced Physical Education Equipment — Emily Green
Expanding Minds Through Advanced Reading — Bailee Bones
Expanding the Robotics Class at BHS — Jim Aschcraft
From Whiteboard to Wipebook: Rethinking Classroom Learning — Erin Scott
Girls Night In — Kasey Bossard, Carlee Holloway
Girls Night Out — Cydney Novotney, Autumn Weiss
Jazz Band BHS Performance Trip — Stuart O’Neil
Kindergarten Science Trip — Becca Todd, Cybill Coates, Megan Delatorre, Fayth Lange, Anessa Parks
Learning Math Means Making Mistakes — Lori Lampe
Lifelong Healthy Foundational Fitness — Jon Collum
Light Up The Scene: New Tech for Studio 110 — Caitlin Beets
Little Taste Testers with Amazing Communication Skills — Stephanie Soden
Lizard Lounge: Mindful Moments Together — Andie Knowles
New Discoveries — BJHS Field Trip Club — Erik Bailey, Sarah Johnson
Outfitting the Old to Make it New! — Kelli Haeffner
PC Sensory Room — Kylie Fischer, Kaylyn Stout
Playful Pathways to Reading and Math — Catherine Maxon
Preschool Backpacks — Gina Dearing
Project S&C Upkeep — Jesse Austin
Rockin’ Readers — Jill Boyle
Rolling into Math and Science: HandsOn Learning with Sphero Robots — Jeremy Dalton, Randi Dalton
Sand Casting and Metal Enameling — Becky Weaver
Tools for Teaching Reading — Darci Lisher
Treasure Map to Your Interests — Wendy Swartz
Watch Us Grow! School Garden — Jill Boyle
Weight Room Fridge — Dayton Valentine
Wonderful Wonderbooks — Tamara Lamb
BEF HALL OF FAME NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN
The Baldwin Education Foundation (BEF) has announced the opening of nominations for its newly established BEF Hall of Fame, an honor designed to recognize outstanding individuals who have made a lasting impact within the Baldwin City school district and beyond.
The Hall of Fame will highlight achievement in four areas of distinction: Academics, Arts, Athletics, and Service. Community members are encouraged to nominate deserving candidates who exemplify excellence in these fields and represent the spirit of USD 348.
Nominations will be accepted through
December 31, 2025. Selected recipients will be notified by January 31, 2026, and the inaugural class of inductees will be formally recognized at the BEF Spring Gala on Friday, March 27, 2026.
The nomination form is available on the BEF website at bef348.org and can also be accessed directly from the foundation’s communications.
The Hall of Fame represents an exciting new opportunity to celebrate USD 348 educational excellence in its many forms and to honor those who have contributed to Baldwin schools in meaningful ways.
COMMUNITY/EVENTS
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THE REC?
October Activities Calendar:
Our October Activities Calendar, full of FREE fun activities at the Community Center, will be released later this week. Make sure you check it out at our website or grab a physical copy from the Community Center!
Maple Leaf Festival Chill Zone:
Join us at the Baldwin City Community Center during the Maple Leaf Festival on Saturday, October 18, for a perfect spot to relax, refuel, and catch all the football action!
Stop by anytime between 10:00 AM-4:00 PM and grab some delicious BBQ, kick back, and watch your favorite games on the big screen. Whether you’re taking a break from the festival fun or just looking for a laidback spot to unwind, we’ve got you covered. See you there!
Maple Leaf Gravel Grind:
Registration for our annual Gravel Grind race is now OPEN! Join us Saturday, October 25, for the best gravel race around. Pick your course length (16, 40, or 70 miles) and take in the beautiful fall scenery around Baldwin City while tackling Signal Oak and the (in)famous Pork Chop Hill. Options for traditional and e-bike riders! Don’t just ride this fall—OWN it. Sign up today!
\ Maple Leaf Beer, Wine & Spirit Fest:
We’ve got spirit (and wine and beer), how about you?
Get ready, Baldwin City— the 5th annual Maple Leaf Beer, Wine and Spirit Festival is coming up on Saturday, October 25, from 2:00PM5:00PM! Sponsored by Maley and Sons Construction, this
adult-only event highlights some of the region’s best breweries, wineries, and distilleries. Tickets include 10 samples, plus light appetizers and a relaxing downtown atmosphere complete with live music. Don’t miss out—this event is capped, so purchase your tickets today and enjoy the best fall has to offer!
Adult Volleyball:
Looking for an active AND competitive fitness option this fall? We have two great adult volleyball options! Both leagues runs November through mid-December with a ten-game season guarantee. Check out the details below to see which option best fits you and your friend group.
Co-Ed 6v6 League:
Grab some friends and form a team to play Sunday evenings starting at 4:00PM. Just make sure you have the right ratio— teams must be able to maintain a minimum of 3 women and 2 men on the court at all times.
\Women’s 3v3 League:
NEW this year, we’re offering a 3-on-3 women’s league! Games will take place Sunday afternoons starting at 1:00PM.
Registration for Youth Basketball:
Dribble, shoot, score— registration for youth basketball is now open! We have Biddy Basketball (K/1st grade) and 2nd grade clinics for our younger residents and 3rd6th grade leagues for upperelementary players. No matter the level, we are committed to teaching the game of basketball in a fun, competitive, and instructional atmosphere. Keep those kiddos active during the cold winter months and sign them up today!
October 9
Baldwin City Chamber Luncheon
Baldwin City Community Center, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
October 10
Community
Appreciation Lunch
Kansas State Bank – Ottawa 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
October 10
Spoken Word
Lumberyard Arts Center, 7:00 p.m.
October 11
Citywide Cleanup
1015 Orange St. 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
October 11
Saturday Morning Farmer’s Market
near Sullivan Square
8:00 a.m. - 10:30/11:00 a.m. questions? contact hornbergerfarms@gmail. com
October 11
Discover the Douglas County Fairgrounds
Douglas County Fairgrounds 9:00 a.m.
October 11
Annual Pumpkin Give-Away
Baldwin City Library
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
EVENTS EVENTS
October 11
KU Field Station
Cedar Milling Field Day
Rice Woodland Trailhead 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
October 11
Walnut Ink Making
Vinland Valley Nursery 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
October 13-29
Rubber Ducky Costume Contest
Baldwin City Library
October 13
Not Your Typical Book Club
Baldwin City Library 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
October 13
Wills & Trust Baldwin City Library, 3-4 p.m.
October 14
2nd Tuesdays Are for BEF
Baldwin City Beer Co
October 15
BookTALK
Baldwin City Library, 7:00 p.m.
October 16
Bijoux
(annual fundraiser for The Willow Domestic Violence Center) Maceli’s, 6:00 p.m.
October 18-19 Maple Leaf Festival
downtown Baldwin City
October 25 Maple Leaf Gravel Grind
downtown Baldwin City 8:00 p.m.
October 25
Maple Leaf Beer, Wine, and Spirit Fest
downtown Baldwin City 2:00-5:00 p.m.
November 22 Bingo: A Masquerade Soiree Hosted by Rainbow Preschool Stony Point Hall
November 22
Baldwin City Trivia Night
Hosted by the Baldwin City Chamber of Commerce
Baldwin City Community Center
Details TBD
October 25
Festival of Lights Parade
Downtown Baldwin City 6:00 p.m.
Details TBD
COMMUNITY VOICES
SEASONAL KITCHEN RESET
By Cat Henry
I’m glad to live in a world where there are Octobers (a quote borrowed from Anne of Green Gables). It’s time for planning and looking forward to the upcoming three months of the last quarter of the year that are full of opportunities for family gatherings, entertaining, cooking, and, of course, simple decorating by bringing the outdoors in. Notice the change in seasonal energy rhythms. How shorter days call us to rest earlier and cook slower, heartier meals.
Perhaps in your last couple of months, you took advantage of grilling and eating outdoors. As it gets cooler, we transition back inside.
The homekeeper knows the heart of the home is usually the kitchen.
Do you cook differently during the autumn and winter months? More hearty soups and stews are on my menu, pot roasts and meat loaf, maximizing the seasonal produce of apples, pears, pumpkin, squash, cranberries, and pomegranates. If pumpkin spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, sage, cloves, rosemary, or allspice can be added, consider it done. It’s a time for more hot apple cider than apple juice, more warm spice blend herbal teas than iced tea, and cozy cups of hot chocolate and even vanilla milk (warm milk with vanilla and a pinch of nutmeg).
To set the cooking atmosphere for how I want to feel in the upcoming season, I make it a point to organize and deep clean the kitchen in anticipation of cooking different kinds of foods. It leaves me with a clean plate and counter (sorta speak), one that ready to use in the days ahead.
Now’s the time to check your basic food inventory. The best way to do this is by cleaning the fridge and pantry/ cupboards. This reboot helps locate expired items and creates the opportunity to clear away summer treats. Make room for the upcoming season’s treats, such as spiced nuts or candied pecans, warm soft pretzels with mustard or cheese dip, gingerbread cookies or snickerdoodles, or hard fruits like pears and apples with cheese. Try rezoning your fridge to feature
these items. Prep the fridge and freezer by clearing space for broths and pie crusts, while putting the last of summer’s fruits to use through freezing or preserving.
You might have seasonal mugs you can bring out. Set up a hot beverage bar for coffee, tea, and hot chocolate with all the trimmings.
Add some decorations to the kitchen, like an edible cornucopia of fruit, for a quick grab snack.
I saw a cute idea that doesn’t take premium counter space. Take a round curtain rod or even a pole from a short kitchen broom and decorate it with a seasonal garland of inexpensive accents like faux flowers, autumn leaves, or oven-baked orange slices that are strung together. You can add strings of Halloween-themed trimmings or autumn foliage, even a small strand of batteryoperated lights. Those upper cabinets that create a natural frame, leaving an open stretch of wall above the sink, are a great spot to hang garland. This swag can be swapped out for each of the holidays with signature trimmings throughout the rest of the year.
Sneak in an oven cleaning before the baking season is upon us. Move the pots and pans around so that the heavier ones and soup pots, Dutch ovens, and casserole dishes are readily within reach. Inexpensive wire risers (for the fridge and cabinets) and square fabric storage containers for nonperishable items not being used and stored on the top shelf.
Cold, juicy, and handheld treats give way to warm, spiced, and sometimes interactive ones like cookies to decorate, maybe popcorn balls to shape, even s’mores fixings brought indoors on a rainy day, cooked over the fireplace or a tabletop fire bowl. These shifts remind us about tending to the atmosphere as it is about food, and just as much about nurturing family rhythms as it is about preparing meals. Board games reappear on tables, stories are read under blankets, and hot drinks linger longer in mugs as evenings grow darker. In these small ways, family life takes on the seasonal memories.
With you in the keeping, Cathenry. ch@gmail.com
P.S. Freshening the home’s heart for the season ahead.
SHADOW WORK
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX
By Jeanine Ross
Do you remember when you were a kid, dancing with your shadow? It went everywhere you went, and you could see yourself making all your cool moves. Then just like that, you moved on to other things, and you forgot all about your shadow. But your shadow was still there, doing everything you were doing. Well, it still is, both physically and mentally. But did you know, your mental shadow is doing more than following you, it’s coloring everything you say, think, and do! It has recorded everything you’ve experienced, tucked it inside your subconscious, and colored the lenses of everything you think, say, and do. Whoa, that’s deep, Jeanine. Yes, it is very deep! In fact, it’s an internal recorder buried so deep inside you, you completely forget it’s there!
Carl Jung, a world-renowned Swiss psychiatrist, was the one who gave the subconscious the nickname “the shadow.”
According to Jung, the shadow records every thought we have, every experience we have, and how we react to it, and plays it back in the background of our lives nonstop!
So, if we’ve had a bad relationship, then we meet someone new who has the same habit as our ex, we are automatically suspicious. But it’s not automatic, it’s the shadow reminding you that you’ve experienced this before, and it brings back the emotions that were associated with it, along with the feeling that this experience is not to be trusted.
But the shadow doesn’t just remind us of things we’d rather forget, it also reminds us of things that keep us safe, like not touching a hot stove twice just because the
red coils seem pretty. In fact, the shadow is a good thing, but it requires attention and needs to be cleaned out once in a while.
That means when an automatic response happens, we need to sit with ourselves and figure out if it’s a legitimate response to what is actually happening now, or if it is an old memory that doesn’t apply to this new experience, because the shadow doesn’t know the difference between then and now. It only records the experience and reminds us of it. It’s up to us to decide if it is something we need to act on.
Automatic responses can be a death sentence when you are trying to build something new. Especially in a new relationship, or friendship, or even a new job experience with a boss who said something your old boss used to say. The shadow triggers an automatic response, but we are the only ones who get to decide if we react to that response. Unfortunately, most people don’t know about the shadow or how it works or that we have dominion over it. So, they run from relationships, end friendships, and get new jobs based on an old recording that no longer serves us.
But now you know better! Now you know that you and only you can make the conscious decision to move forward in the here and now with fresh eyes. Now you know that the shadow is only making suggestions, and it’s up to you if you follow them. No more automatic, knee-jerk reactions. Instead, now you can make an informed decision and breathe fresh air into the old memories that have been holding you back. Congratulations! You’re on your way out of reactionary bondage and into thinking it through, freedom!
So, if you really want your life to change for the better, it begins by “Thinking Outside the Box.”
DEAR HOMEKEEPER
