My daughters live in Sacramento, Calif., and Madrid, Spain, so the highlight of Mother’s Day is a video call. I remember the days when it was predicted that in the future we’d be able to see the people were talking to on the phone. It’s so great when people live... Read more →
Photo: Wildlife Madagascar Recently, I was lucky to get to go to San Diego for book signing to raise money for Wildlife Madagascar. The organization was founded in 2023 by my niece Debra Erickson. I was the first member of Wildlife Madagascar. The speaker for the event was Keriann McGoogan,... Read more →
Photo: Wildlife Madagascar Did you know that chameleons can move their eyes separately? That’s one of the amazing facts you’ll find out about when you check Wildlife Madagascar’s website. Also, their tongues are so, so long. International Chameleon Day is dedicated to recognizing chameleons. It invites people to appreciate the... Read more →
Egg prices got you down? The high cost of eggs has been widely lamented and even was a factor in the 2024 presidential campaign. Donald Trump said he’d reduce the price of eggs – and groceries – on Day One. However, it didn’t happen. In fact, he walked-back his commitment... Read more →
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Friday that it would be placing a 30-month delay on the original January 20, 2026, compliance date for carrying out a rule that promotes greater traceability in the food system and will facilitate solving foodborne outbreaks. The traceability rule was first proposed by... Read more →
It’s fun on St. Patrick’s Day to think about my Irish ancestors and my trip to Ireland. The photo on the left is Laura Jane Baylee Slingsby, my paternal grandmother. Born in Canada, her father Alexander Baylee was born in County Clare, Ireland, and her grandfather Henry Thomas Baylee was... Read more →
In response to a reduction in workforce at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a coalition of consumer, industry, and public health stakeholder groups issues the following statement: “Ensuring the safety of our nation’s food supply is a shared responsibility,” the coalition stated. “Food companies are committed to producing safe... Read more →
Since I grew up in the Wenatchee, Washington, area, the Apple Capital of the World, I’ve always known the state was great for apple production. Apples have been the reigning agricultural industry in Washington for three reasons: soil, irrigation, and climate. First, apple trees prefer loamy soil, which the state... Read more →
Recently, I wrote about what prices might go up due to the tariffs President Trump is imposing. Among them are autos; laptops, tablets, and smartphones; furniture; appliances; shoes; books; carpet; and paper products. Also likely to increase in costs are fertilizer, cotton, wool, alcohol, bottled water, pet food, baby supplies,... Read more →
Some consumers have been stock piling food and other items for months in anticipation of prices going up due to Trump’s tariffs and other policies. With 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico and 10 percent on China, it will begin Saturday. When I went grocery shopping this week, I... Read more →