It’s raining—again—as I write this. And I’ve just finished reading The Lost Boys of Montauk by Amanda Fairbanks, which means I’ve got water on the brain in more ways than one. 

There are two primary causes of hip dysplasia, genetics and diet.  The genes involved in hip dysplasia have not been conclusively identified, but it is believed to involve more than one gene.  Advances in nutritional research have shown that diet also plays an important role in the developme…

No shoveling or falling on ice. No scraping windshields covered with frost. No mittens, gloves, parkas, or boots. I, for one, LOVE it. Winter is a lot of work. For some, the season is irrelevant. Either livin' is easy, or it isn't. For most, it has nothing to do with the weather.

Over the past several years, I have experienced a growth in pets with health insurance.  Now more than ever, I highly recommend every pet to be covered with at least a major medical policy.

As we venture down memory lane, we feel a mixture of gratitude for what was and is, loss and longing for what is gone, and grounding in what stays the same.  We have the opportunity to revisit what this Fourth of July has meant to us, a holiday big or small, major or minor.  The passage of t…

Like any good Massachusetts native, I’ve spent a fair amount of time on Cape Cod.  Ever since moving to the North Shore eight years ago, though, I’ve visited less and less.  Why bother when we have better beaches in our own backyard?

As we approach the July 4th holiday weekend many people will be taking pets on trips in cars or be going to the beach.  There are several important details that must be observed to protect our pets from a dangerous medical condition called hyperthermia or heatstroke.

Anytime anybody told me to read something I instinctively loathed it.  I couldn't be told what to read, it was my prerogative to find the treasure on my own.  Not too bright, I must say.  But now I've gone back and re-read books from my high school curriculum (Hamilton-Wenham class of 1987.)…

It’s become popular vernacular, an everyday reference whose origins may be, “What I want to do before I kick the bucket.”  Like many things, it has new meaning since our introduction to COVID-19.  We’ve always known that life on the planet is finite.  We understand that some of us cross the …

Last weekend my husband and I took a quick getaway up the coast to Camden, Maine.  It’s an occupational hazard that I must stop into any bookstore that exists in any town we are visiting. On the one hand, I want to buy a book and show support for my fellow independent bookstores. On the othe…

A salmonella outbreak linked to backyard poultry has prompted U.S. health officials to issue a stern warning: Don’t kiss or snuggle your ducks and chickens.  

Books come through the store in a relentless tide, which is great.  And they are all good books, since I am the gatekeeper against lesser works.   But since everything is so interesting, I get caught up in reading instead of working (part of the job I say.)  This often leads to great rewards.

 I don’t have any “favorite” diseases, but my least “favorite” is Canine Heartworm Disease.  It is a very risky disease to treat and requires a very long period of inactivity and isolation. It can be prevented by using anti-microfilarial medicine such as Heartguard (Macrocyclic lactones) and…

While the official start of summer may be June 20, for me Memorial Day weekend has always signaled the start of the season.  With the upcoming long weekend in mind, here are a few books I’ve already read but am excited for you all to get to read on the beach, by the pool, and late into the l…

Hmmm.  It’s the million-dollar question, and the answer isn’t one-size-fits-all.  Part of it may depend on where we were before COVID.  We are all in a different place now, that’s for sure.

In the forward to Twin Lights Tonic, by Paul St. Germain and Devlin Sherlock, Philip Elliot Hopkins, Co-executor of the Twin Lights Trust, recalls a childhood trip to the Little Art Cinema in Rockport.  He was there watching a special screening of Cinema Paradiso, eating popcorn and sipping …

Does your dog’s bad breath keep the two of you from spending more time together?  Do you wish you could give your dog a breath mint? “doggy breath” is not normal.  In fact, it could be one of the first signs that your pet has dental disease.  Dental disease is a painful condition that occurs…

Most of the time I have a reading project.  Like when I read the Top Hundred 20th Century children's chapter books (according to Scholastic).  (What a great experience!)  Or, I'm reading within my ongoing unending project to read all the literary classics (a richly rewarding never ending sag…

Manchester native Sarah Beckmann’s Naiad Blood is a first collection of poems, published this month by Fishing Line Press.  It’s described as a “vibrant formal intelligence at once various in its embodiments and dexterous at every turn. With near mythic urgency, these poems evoke the pulse a…

Jennifer Dupee has released her first novel, The French Bridal Shop, which is already gaining traction and awards, including being named to Good Housekeeping magazine’s top Book Club pick last month.  Readers will find the setting of Dupee’s book very familiar. 

We use the word "germs" to refer to bacteria and viruses.  Bacteria is the proverbial "both…and" if there ever was one: lifesaving and life-altering.  We live in a world of "normal" bacteria – invisible, everywhere, and even inside of us.  It's our friend and enemy all at the same time.  The…

On Sunday, April 25, I had the pleasure of moderating a panel discussion with an exceptional group of writers who also own bookstores: Ann Patchett, author most recently of The Dutch House and owner of Parnassus Books in Nashville, TN; Kelly Link, author of short story collections like Get I…

We have come to view each other as potential vectors of disease, becoming suspicious of our neighbors, colleagues, closest friends, and family.  “How careful are you?”  “Have you been vaccinated?”  “Are you out in public yet?”  We are social creatures by design and have had to morph into a M…

People in my shop often ask, How do you get your books?  And I say, “There's this little old lady who lives deep in the woods and I go to her house at midnight on the full moon and she gives me piles of books.  The only catch is that she claims I will owe her something after I'm dead.  But I…

Your feline friend’s healthcare plan must continuously evolve to keep up with his growth and lifestyle. Your feline buddy might seem self-sufficient, but he needs you to help uncover any pain and discomfort that he could be hiding.  Your veterinarian is trained to spot clues to your cat’s he…

Acting FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel is asking you to help the FCC determine where broadband is "truly" available.  "To close the gap between digital haves and have nots, we are working to build a comprehensive, user-friendly dataset on broadband availability," she said. 

How did Newburyport put together such a prestigious festival each year?  After a friend connected me to one of the directors and I found myself joining monthly meetings to help plan the following year’s festival, the answer soon became clear: a small group of passionate and dedicated volunte…

We have withdrawn, retreated, and have lowered our expectations… drastically.  When someone asks what “we’ve been up to,” who knows how to respond?  The most popular answer by far is, “not much.”  Yet here we are.  The panic is fading.  Can you feel it to

The Manchester Historical Museum is now offering a free mobile tour of Manchester-by-the Sea to use on your mobile device or computer. Learn about the history of the town from its colonial farms and fishing times to the furniture making era and on to the Gilded Age.