A lesson I learned from my garden

“Life sort of unfolds, and certain things, which you can’t plan, reveal themselves at the right time.” Goldie Hawn I love to grow heirloom tomatoes from seed because it’s a thrill to see the little plants burst out of the soil while it’s still grey and freezing outside. Plus, growing from seed gives you the …

Goldfinches love catnip flowers and zinnias

A few mornings ago when I looked down from my bedroom window I saw two male goldfinches clinging to the spikes of tiny, pale lavender flowers in the catnip patch below, daintily pecking at the blossoms. I grew the catnip plants from seed last year and they got a couple of feet tall. This year …

How to make low-sodium fried green tomatoes

One of the foods that Dad loves is fried green tomatoes, but he is on a sodium-restricted diet, so I have figured out a recipe for low-sodium fried green tomatoes. A four-ounce tomato has 11 grams of sodium. Corn meal does not have sodium — although corn meal mixes do, so check the package — …

Dear Attila

Dear Attila, I am delighted to learn that you have discussed a sleep study with a doctor — I hope, one who is a sleep specialist, since the study of sleep medicine is brand-new and even young general practitioners mostly only know enough about sleep medicine to be dangerous, that is, dismissive of real problems, …