Post cataract surgery, the writer was dismayed to see the ‘dust-bunny’d, grimy, cobwebbed glory’ of her house. ( Illustration by Clint Erwin) Mine eyes have seen the dust motes I guess when it comes to matters of health, or lack thereof, I’m one of the lucky ones, having enjoyed doctor-free living... Home 02 Jun 2025 | 11:45
The author with her Googie. ( Evie Maxfield) Echoes of Googie Twelve years ago, my grandmother, the woman we all lovingly called Googie, shuffled off this mortal coil at the enviable... Nouveau Country 24 Mar 2025 | 11:54
‘We developed a bond, the beast and I, and together we swore to defend the house against villainous chills, to banish the scourge of chilblains and cold feet.’ ( Evie Maxfield) Wonder Girl, reignited When I was a kid, I lived in a six story walk-up in The Bronx. It was an arduous 72 steps from the street up to apartment... Nouveau Country 26 Jan 2024 | 09:29
Soup’s on Well, here we are, smack in the middle of yet another dark, depressing New York winter. As usual, I find myself fending off... Nouveau Country 09 Nov 2023 | 10:51
Love, loss and latkes Not that long ago it was Max and my 30th wedding anniversary, which was kind of a big deal, even for me. Typically, I’m not... Nouveau Country 26 Sep 2023 | 11:53
The writer and her mom, age 18, with Grandpa in the background. ( Photo provided) Finding my roots, losing my marbles? A couple years ago, during lockdown, I ordered one of those at-home DNA testing kits. Like thousands of other bored-stiff,... Nouveau Country 18 May 2023 | 02:22
An original 1950s Troll doll that my mom nicknamed Maxie after our long absent father is among the gems that constitute my inheritance. ( Evie Maxfield) The family jewels Now that spring is here, I am joyously getting rid of stuff, which is one of my favorite things to do. Be it recycling, donating,... Nouveau Country 31 Mar 2023 | 12:45
Old soles A couple of weeks ago, I did something I vowed never to do. I purchased a pair of used shoes. Now, I am all for thrifting.... Nouveau Country 29 Sep 2022 | 02:03
”Before I could raise a perfect forkful of turkey and gravy to my mouth, Max stayed my hand, and passed me a steaming bowl of something that looked, for all intents and purposes, like cottage cheese gone bad.” ( I, Elinord (Creative Commons)) Love in the time of bread sauce It’s hard to believe another summer has come and gone, and I find myself wistfully reflecting on the seasonal changes as... Nouveau Country 27 Sep 2022 | 02:35
The ruby-throated hummingbird that laid her eggs outside the writer’s kitchen window in blatant disregard of her long-held terms of engagement with Mother Nature. ( Graphic illustration by Zoe Maxfield) The two-ounce interloper One of my favorite things about living in the Warwick Valley is that I can enjoy nature, in all her boundless, magnificent... Habitat 06 May 2022 | 03:46
We have to use a key to let ourselves out, but those doorknobs are some of my favorite things about our 93-year-old farmhouse. ( Evie Maxfield) This old f-ing house When the time was right for me and my husband to purchase a house, we needed to have “the talk.” I told him how, since I... Habitat 16 Feb 2022 | 01:48
The syrup was forgotten about, until one morning, as I prepared my usual boring bowl of oatmeal, I happened to spot it behind a bottle of sriracha in the refrigerator door. ( Evie Maxfield) The last of the two-year-old syrup I hate to say it, but I guess I am a Foodie. I mean, we all have to eat, it’s just that some of us eat to live, and some... Griterati 07 Oct 2021 | 02:26
Maxfield chose the ogre-faced spider because of its “two huge front-facing eyes... I figured that people tend to connect better to animals that have big round eyes like that.” Insect declines are having knock-on effects up the food chain on animals like birds and spiders, whose webs have fewer bugs in them these days. ( Illustration by Zoe Maxfield) The good, the bad and the bugly I freely admit, when it comes to healthy living from the ground up, I am a newbie. One of the most difficult challenges I’ve... Features 20 Jul 2021 | 02:01
The sound and fury of peace and quiet Ah, Warwick! Sunkissed valleys, meandering country lanes, centuries old farmsteads nestled in bucolic pastures. I came here... Griterati 12 Apr 2021 | 03:06
On baking bread There are three things I could never understand: string theory, the rules of baseball, and why it is so hard to bake a decent... eARTh 12 Apr 2021 | 02:52
