Author: Karen

I am an RN, Author, Coach, and Speaker. I write novels about relationships to help people find insight into their own. I guide people to create comfort, clarity, and connection in their lives. By combining metaphysical tools with over twenty-five years of nursing experience, I infuse the 'art of nursing' into my practice by providing partnership and resources help people compassionately honor their health.

Rule #1

by Karen, posted in family, fitness, no fear, tweens

my daughter fell off her horse at her riding lesson last week. her instructor said something like, “is this your first time falling off a horse?” fortunately, her dad brought her to that lesson, not her mom, so there were no hysterics involved. when he asked her what happened, why she fell, she said, “I … Continue reading Rule #1

8 tips for shopping at the farmers market

by Karen, posted in (it's all about the) food, gardening, raising chickens, shopping

the farmers market is unofficially open in portland, maine (and maybe where you are too). here are some ideas to get you started off on the right foot: bring a bag! preferably a reusable shopping bag vs those plastic ones (although these are available from the farmers if you do forget your bag. which I … Continue reading 8 tips for shopping at the farmers market

(another) new restaurant in the old port

by Karen, posted in (it's all about the) food, restaurants

KAMASOUPTRA is the new restaurant, and they serve (you guessed it!) primarily soup. they have a cool tag line:  steamy. hot. soup.  i mean really; how could you go wrong? well, for one thing, that stupid construction vehicle that is blocking the entrance is ...bad feng shui. also, the stairway to the second floor where the … Continue reading (another) new restaurant in the old port

gardening

by Karen, posted in (it's all about the) food, gardening

are you gardeners out there getting excited thinking about your vegetable gardens for this year? the rain last year left my tomatoes (and me) in misery; there was so much mold that when i finally did get a tomato or two that were edible, i had no appetite for it...and i love tomatoes. fortunately, this  is … Continue reading gardening

10 things i’ve learned about roosters

by Karen, posted in family, raising chickens

It all started off innocently enough; 26 chicks in a small cardboard box arrived in the spring...we learned some things from books and friends in advance, but some things are learned by doing, through "on the job training".  1.when ordering new chicks from vendors, you often will not receive all female chicks . this is not good for … Continue reading 10 things i’ve learned about roosters

the terrible 10’s?

by Karen, posted in family, tweens

my thoughts are harkening back to my 10 year old daughter's toddler years this morning...they are not warm and fuzzy thoughts.  after her 5th "No! Don't talk to me! I don't want to talk about it!", all before breakfast, i was having deja vu...haven't we been here/done this before? seems like we've come full circle in her first decade of life; i remember … Continue reading the terrible 10’s?

bowling

by Karen, posted in family, fitness, tweens

recently i went bowling for the first time in more than a decade. i took my daughter and was immediately presented with a bowling dilemma: to add bumpers, or NOT to add bumpers? that is the question. with bumpers, will they ever learn to throw the ball properly so that they can one day bowl without them? … Continue reading bowling

trust your instincts

by Karen, posted in family, fitness, tweens

well. my daughter has been riding at the new barn (http://home.comcast.net/~goodrich-puffer/index.html) for a while now, and loves it here. she is learning things like "posting", "diagonals", and "emergency dismounts"...oh my! more importantly, i am not experiencing that vague feeling of uneasiness that never left me at the other barn...the "i can't put my finger on it, … Continue reading trust your instincts

happy easter

by Karen, posted in (it's all about the) food, family, good grief, tweens

one of my favorite holidays growing up was easter. my father loved easter, and always went out of his way to make it fun for us. we had the requisite easter baskets, usually one of the prepackaged, pre-filled ones from the closest department store (we were a family of 4 kids born in 6 years, … Continue reading happy easter

diary of a wimpy kid

by Karen, posted in books, family, tweens

whenever there is a movie that gets my child to request (and then to actually read) the book that spawned it, i am happy. this month it happened in reverse; the movie of which i speak is "The Diary of a Wimpy Kid". we are having my daughter's 11th birthday party at Smitty's (http://www.smittyscinema.com/) and … Continue reading diary of a wimpy kid