Elaine Ingalls Hogg

Trees have always fascinated me, especially their ability to put roots into the tiniest scrap of soil, to cling to the edge of a cliff, or to wrap themselves around a large boulder. I've noticed that, when a seed finds … Read more

A few years ago, I attended a family reunion held on Wood Island, a tiny island in the middle of the Bay of Fundy. Now abandoned, it was once a thriving fishing community, and it was here that my mother … Read more

Nighttime can be scary to a small child. I remember the time I woke up around midnight, and, in the dim light shining in from the hospital corridor, I was able to read the "No Breakfast" sign on the foot … Read more

Spring has been long-awaited in this area. According to the people who have lived in Cape Breton for years, this past winter has been one of the coldest and longest in their memory. But, in late March, things began to … Read more

Recently, a mother was listing all the gear she had to purchase for her son to play hockey. Her list of items included shoulder pads, shin guards, elbow pads, skates, a helmet, and, of course, a hockey stick. "Hockey is … Read more

A number of years ago the volunteer co-ordinator at our local hospital asked me if I could spend some time with "Anna" (name changed) — a palliative care patient. Shortly before my first visit, the doctor had told her that … Read more

Sometimes God teaches His lessons in the most interesting ways. Last year on the first day of spring, I went to the door and discovered spring had forgotten to come. "Br-rrr!" I said, "That's cold," and I put the dog … Read more

"I really need my telephone," my friend explained to the clerk. "I'd appreciate you connecting me up as soon as possible." "Of course! We should be able to do that within a day or two." "I appreciate your prompt service," … Read more

The call came at 9:07 am. It wasn't entirely unexpected. Perhaps what was unexpected was the grief that I felt when I learned that my great-aunt, Lila, now 102, was dying, and that the family would be gathering to sit … Read more

One of the schoolyard games I remember playing in my childhood was "Simon Says". In the game, one player was appointed Simon, the leader, and the object of the game was to catch a player following an instruction that wasn't … Read more