Zinta Aistars's Blog, page 26
June 12, 2013
How My Garden Grows
by Zinta Aistars
Copyright 2013
Guinnez awaits me on deck
It's how Guinnez and I start every day: we head outside at Z Acres to wander the grounds and see what's new, what's growing, what catches our eye. With his increasing age, my old chow pup is starting to tag along at a slower pace, but whenever I look around, there he is, nearby, ever faithful.
In this growing season, my first path is almost always toward the garden. I've doubled last summer's garden, little by little turning over new groun...
Copyright 2013
Guinnez awaits me on deckIt's how Guinnez and I start every day: we head outside at Z Acres to wander the grounds and see what's new, what's growing, what catches our eye. With his increasing age, my old chow pup is starting to tag along at a slower pace, but whenever I look around, there he is, nearby, ever faithful.
In this growing season, my first path is almost always toward the garden. I've doubled last summer's garden, little by little turning over new groun...
June 7, 2013
The Father and Daughter Trash Team
by Zinta Aistars
Published in Southwest Michigan's Second Wave Media
June 6, 2013
WAYNE DEERING, RECYCLING ENTHUSIAST - ERIK HOLLADAY
Deerings get help to lighten the load of festival refuse that's landfill boundZINTA AISTARSTHURSDAY, JUNE 06, 2013Festival season is here. Find out how Wayne Deering and his daughter Emily are working to keep more festival trash out of the landfill. Zinta Aistars reports on their efforts.
It's a father and daughter date like none other. Wayne Deering and his daughte...
Published in Southwest Michigan's Second Wave Media
June 6, 2013
WAYNE DEERING, RECYCLING ENTHUSIAST - ERIK HOLLADAYDeerings get help to lighten the load of festival refuse that's landfill boundZINTA AISTARSTHURSDAY, JUNE 06, 2013Festival season is here. Find out how Wayne Deering and his daughter Emily are working to keep more festival trash out of the landfill. Zinta Aistars reports on their efforts.
It's a father and daughter date like none other. Wayne Deering and his daughte...
June 5, 2013
The Peony
Photos and text by Zinta Aistars
Copyright 2013
Z Acres framed by peonies
Every morning, in most any weather, I make my mug of hot coffee and go outside for my first stroll of the day, my old chow pup Guinnez tagging along. These days, my direct line seems to always be to the peonies before I see anything else. It's not the first time I have noticed this profuse flower. In fact, I remember being fascinated with them as a little girl, when my mama planted rows of peonies in her beautifully tended...
Copyright 2013
Z Acres framed by peoniesEvery morning, in most any weather, I make my mug of hot coffee and go outside for my first stroll of the day, my old chow pup Guinnez tagging along. These days, my direct line seems to always be to the peonies before I see anything else. It's not the first time I have noticed this profuse flower. In fact, I remember being fascinated with them as a little girl, when my mama planted rows of peonies in her beautifully tended...
June 4, 2013
Siblings Unrivaled and Family Bonds
by Zinta Aistars
Sisters
I always look forward to my sister's visits, especially when she comes out for a long weekend to Z Acres, and we can enjoy both time in the country and time exploring nearby places and events of interest. This time, however, my sister came out primarily to spend some time with our parents. It was more of an impulse, so I didn't have time to plan work around the weekend. Still, I couldn't let a chance to see her get by.
Days before the weekend, I worked especially hard to...
SistersI always look forward to my sister's visits, especially when she comes out for a long weekend to Z Acres, and we can enjoy both time in the country and time exploring nearby places and events of interest. This time, however, my sister came out primarily to spend some time with our parents. It was more of an impulse, so I didn't have time to plan work around the weekend. Still, I couldn't let a chance to see her get by.
Days before the weekend, I worked especially hard to...
June 2, 2013
Cottage on the Hill: Featured on The Owner Builder Network
by Zinta Aistars
for The Owner Builder Network
Published on June 2, 2013
The Cottage on the Hill
What could this odd-shaped and many-windowed little house in the woods have possibly housed? I stood in the woods on the top of the hill with my real estate agent, gazing in befuddlement—and increasingly also in delighted awe—at the little structure that reminded me a little of a Dr. Seuss house, a little of a Tim Burton mad creation.
It certainly wasn't the main house. Standing in those snowy woods i...
for The Owner Builder Network
Published on June 2, 2013
The Cottage on the Hill
What could this odd-shaped and many-windowed little house in the woods have possibly housed? I stood in the woods on the top of the hill with my real estate agent, gazing in befuddlement—and increasingly also in delighted awe—at the little structure that reminded me a little of a Dr. Seuss house, a little of a Tim Burton mad creation.
It certainly wasn't the main house. Standing in those snowy woods i...
May 26, 2013
Sunday Morning at Z Acres, Memorial Day Weekend 2013
by Zinta Aistars
Copyright 2013
The old chow pup woke me early, too early, a full moon still spilling across the lawn, but I found myself unable to return to sleep ... brewed a pot of coffee ... and by then, the sun had begun to come up. I opened the door to the cool early morning air, heard the first birds of the day, in the distance the faint mooing of a neighboring farmer's cattle as they went out to pasture ... and the sun seeping through the forest, that gentle light, drew me out to wander...
Copyright 2013
The old chow pup woke me early, too early, a full moon still spilling across the lawn, but I found myself unable to return to sleep ... brewed a pot of coffee ... and by then, the sun had begun to come up. I opened the door to the cool early morning air, heard the first birds of the day, in the distance the faint mooing of a neighboring farmer's cattle as they went out to pasture ... and the sun seeping through the forest, that gentle light, drew me out to wander...
May 23, 2013
Rambling Naturalists teach the secrets of nature and a good life
by Zinta Aistars
Published in Southwest Michigan's Second Wave Media
May 23, 2013
WILLIAM AND SARAH REDING RUN RENT A RAMBLING NATURALIST - ERIK HOLLADAY erikholladay.com
Whether in character or as themselves, Wil and Sarah Reding have a lot of wisdom to share about the natural world around us. Zinta Aistars talked to them about their business Rent A Rambling Naturalist that's more than telling a good yarn.
A friend of William and Sarah Reding leaned into the window of the truck, right across Wil,...
Published in Southwest Michigan's Second Wave Media
May 23, 2013
WILLIAM AND SARAH REDING RUN RENT A RAMBLING NATURALIST - ERIK HOLLADAY erikholladay.comWhether in character or as themselves, Wil and Sarah Reding have a lot of wisdom to share about the natural world around us. Zinta Aistars talked to them about their business Rent A Rambling Naturalist that's more than telling a good yarn.
A friend of William and Sarah Reding leaned into the window of the truck, right across Wil,...
May 16, 2013
Open Roads opens doors for young people
by Zinta Aistars
Published in Southwest Michigan's Second Wave Media
May 16, 2013
JASON ROON - HEAD MECHANIC/INSTRUCTOR OF OPEN ROADS - ERIK HOLLADAY | WWW.EHOLLADAY.COM
Ethan Alexander, founder and executive director of Open Roads, suspects his father's choice to get rid of the family car may have had something to do with Ethan's grandfather getting hit and killed by a car. Whatever his reasons, when Ethan and his brother were small boys, the car disappeared from the driveway and bicycles took i...
Published in Southwest Michigan's Second Wave Media
May 16, 2013
JASON ROON - HEAD MECHANIC/INSTRUCTOR OF OPEN ROADS - ERIK HOLLADAY | WWW.EHOLLADAY.COMEthan Alexander, founder and executive director of Open Roads, suspects his father's choice to get rid of the family car may have had something to do with Ethan's grandfather getting hit and killed by a car. Whatever his reasons, when Ethan and his brother were small boys, the car disappeared from the driveway and bicycles took i...
May 13, 2013
The Sisters Kalamazoo Take On New York, Part III
by Zinta Aistars
Read Part I
or
Read Part II
Meeting Stephen at the alumni event
It's been a while since that trip to the Big Apple with my sister, but I find myself reliving the experience again as I prepare to write the article that was, after all, the reason for the business trip. After our moving into a pleasant Brooklyn brownstone apartment for our stay (Part I), after our day of playing tourist and visiting the 9/11 Memorial (Part II), Daina and I took a taxi to Zio's Ristorante on Wes...
Read Part I
or
Read Part II
Meeting Stephen at the alumni eventIt's been a while since that trip to the Big Apple with my sister, but I find myself reliving the experience again as I prepare to write the article that was, after all, the reason for the business trip. After our moving into a pleasant Brooklyn brownstone apartment for our stay (Part I), after our day of playing tourist and visiting the 9/11 Memorial (Part II), Daina and I took a taxi to Zio's Ristorante on Wes...
May 2, 2013
Kalamazoo's bakeries put the frosting on the cake
by Zinta Aistars
Published in Southwest Michigan's Second Wave Media
May 2, 2013
Karel Boonzaaijer at his bakery (Photo by Erik Holladay, erikholladay.com)
You might say one thing three Kalamazoo-area bakeries have in common is tradition. One was started by a former European pastry chef, one by a third generation baker and the third by an Irish baker also using recipes from the Continent. Zinta Aistars talks with the bakers of Boonzaaijer's, MacKenzie's, and the Victorian Bakery.
S...
Published in Southwest Michigan's Second Wave Media
May 2, 2013
Karel Boonzaaijer at his bakery (Photo by Erik Holladay, erikholladay.com) You might say one thing three Kalamazoo-area bakeries have in common is tradition. One was started by a former European pastry chef, one by a third generation baker and the third by an Irish baker also using recipes from the Continent. Zinta Aistars talks with the bakers of Boonzaaijer's, MacKenzie's, and the Victorian Bakery.
S...
