Author Archives: audreycadyscanlan

There is a saying in the hiking community: “You pack your fears.” I fear that I will not have enough water when I hike. I fear that the springs will run dry. I fear that my 5-inch water filter will jam up and not work. This filter that stops 99.9999% of bacteria- salmonella, cholera, E.Continue reading “gift”

five days on the Appalachian Trail August 2022 Note: the title of this blog and some references in its body have been changed since its first release on Aug. 19th. A friend wrote to enlighten me about the term “gypsy” (The original title of the blog post was “psalms, gypsies and rain,” ) and inContinue reading “psalms, rogues and rain”

I. old love You came through the door from a walk in the woods, right hand cupped in front of you,  your eyes trained on its freight. Gently, you spilled out five ruby red berries onto the counter where I was working. “For you,” you said, and walked away. II. childhood summer Flashlight in oneContinue reading “two poems in process”

nearing the six month mark of living a vegan life and why I sleep outside I sat down yesterday with a stack of my “weekly sheets” to review the menus from almost six months of vegan living. Every week (when I am home and not traveling) I make up a menu on Monday morning, headContinue reading “catching up”

There is a sweet 3.75 mile loop around our neighborhood that I like to walk in the early mornings. It is not my only route, but it is a good length and on pleasant roads with some pretty views. This morning I walked it for the last time for a while. Back Story When IContinue reading “close call”

Hubby, in the car on the way home from the Easter Vigil: “So, what are we having for Easter dinner tomorrow?” Me: Mujadara (lentils and rice with crispy onions). Hubby: Yum! Me: Also: pita bread, hummus, fattoush with mint dressing. Hubby: Sounds great! mic drop

The Day my Face fell. It was March 2, 2022.  If you know me and have been watching, you might give this event an earlier date, but I first noticed that my face fell on the same day as the big hunks of ice on the side of the driveway slid down its ample incline, finally giving wayContinue reading “The Day my Face Fell and the Buddha broke- but not in that order.”

airports, conference center dining halls, missing my kitchen I’ve been traveling. For the first time since before Covid, the “House of Bishops” gathered in person for our semi-annual meeting.  The “House” is made up of all the bishops in the church who are currently serving and those who are retired (“resigned”).  Twice a year, all those whoContinue reading “vegan weeks 10, 11, 12”

and vegan adventures week 9 I was in my forties when I started running. Oh, I’d done a few laps around the campus in college (on my way to buy a fresh pack of Marlboros, no doubt) and during the Jane Fonda exercise craze of the early 8os I think I bought some leg warmersContinue reading “my love-hate affair with running”

revelation It’s occurred to me how much I’ve been gravitating towards “ethnic” foods as we’ve adopted a vegan or “plant based” diet. The map above (and the interesting blog that accompanies it- see below) feature a whole lot of foods that are not especially good for you. Oh, they’re tasty, but not great for heartContinue reading “vegan week 8”