It was my first sleepover in sixth grade and I had an epiphany, my family’s diet wasn’t normal, we ate a lot of mushrooms and olives. Spaghetti was served for dinner by my friend, Karen’s, mom. It was a simple red sauce and spaghetti noodles, no chunks of tomato, no olives, onions, or mushrooms. There wasn’t any garlic bread or salad… and I loved it.

At Karen’s house I came to learn the joy of Campbell’s tomato soup, powdered chicken noodle soup, and Kraft macaroni and cheese. I felt as if I had finally come home, I didn’t have to carefully maneuver my fork through the battlefield of veggies in the food like at my house. I delighted in the bland, season-less dishes, not a bay leaf, sprig of rosemary, or clove of garlic in sight.

Eventually I came to appreciate my Dad’s love of cooking everything from scratch, especially the vegetables. For Christmas when I was fifteen, I asked for a copy of Julia Child’s Joy of Cooking. My Dad and I made omelets and Coq au Vin using Julia’s recipes. Some of my happiest memories are the times spent with my Dad in the kitchen, he was in his element. His attention to aesthetics was incomparable, he would deftly place a rosemary sprig on top of a fish filet being poached.

The kitchen was his domain, rows of herbs in bottles on the wall, copper pans hanging over the stove, drawers full of knives, slotted spoons, and whisks. Our kitchen on the weekend always smelled of bacon, nutmeg, and cinnamon in the morning and sautéed onions and garlic with rosemary and sage in the afternoon. Without knowing, my Dad cooked his post traumatic stress from World War Two away, standing over pans of sautéed herbs was his mood enhancer. Studies have shown that incorporating herbs into your diet is a simple way to boost your mood and support your mental health.

Rosemary has quite an interesting and varied history; from witches and fairies to weddings and burials – this herb is truly a story full of folklore. Many of the historical references and legends surrounding rosemary have grown vague with time.

Rosemary enhances spiritual connection and intuition. It also signifies love and remembrance. According to data gathered by PubMed, rosemary has positive effects on mood, learning, memory, pain, anxiety, and sleep. Greek scholars were known to twine rosemary in their hair when studying for exams in the hope of aiding their memories. In Spain, rosemary was used as protection against witchcraft and menaces on the road. One legend says that the rosemary plant can grow to six feet in thirty three years, the height and life of Jesus Christ.

Rosemary was as popular a Christmas plant as mistletoe and holly until the twentieth century. It’s making a big comeback this year for the holidays, you will find rosemary topiaries and wreaths at garden centers. The attractive foliage makes rosemary a wonderful holiday plant to give and grow. Folklore says that if you smell rosemary on Christmas Eve, you’ll have good luck in the coming year.

Mushrooms hold a prominent place in my culinary life. Cream of mushroom soup, spinach-mushroom soufflé, mushroom gravy, and sour cream-mushroom casserole were in my childhood weekly dinner rotation along with mushrooms in pastas and curries. In my vegetarian life, Lion’s Mane mushrooms have replaced steak, marinated and roasted to its “meaty’ perfection, served with potatoes and asparagus.

In ancient Egypt, mushrooms were a delicacy reserved for the highest royalty. They were often associated with immortality and buried with the pharaoh upon death to support his reign in the afterlife. Mushrooms have a long and fascinating history in folklore and mythology. Often seen as mysterious due to their magical overnight growth, mushrooms play significant roles in the stories and beliefs of various cultures worldwide.

Mushrooms are a common decoration at Christmas time because that is the time of the year that they are foraged in the wild. Known in German as the gluckspilz ( which literally means “lucky mushroom”), the red and white speckled fungi grow deep in the forest. This specific mushroom can only grow beneath certain types of trees, which happen to be those we generally think of as Christmas trees. Besides being found at the base of pine trees, this mushroom is the favorite food of reindeer. Reindeer herders use the mushrooms as treats to keep the herd together and avoid losing any strays.

Originally, the figure of Santa Claus came from Nordic countries. In this region, Arctic shamans doled out psychedelic mushrooms as part of their solstice celebrations. These shamans dressed in red wool clothing with white flecks of fur, similar to Amanita mushrooms. People enjoyed a magical experience and communed with nature on the night of the solstice. Just like Santa enters homes through the chimney, Arctic shamans entered snow-blocked homes through an opening in the roof.

Nordic shamans had a deep connection with reindeer, they were recognized as the spirit animals for the shamans. Under the influence of magic mushrooms, it’s easy to see how someone could hallucinate flying reindeer beneath a beautiful night sky in December.

Chinese medicine has long prized medicinal mushrooms like reishi for their ability to boost immune function. A USDA study in 2021 looked at common white button mushrooms, which were shown to also enhance the activity of critical cells in the body’s immune system. If there’s a multi-purpose medicine cupboard substance on this planet, it may be the mighty mushroom. The benefits of mushrooms read like a checklist for optimal health from boosting immunity to reducing stress.

There are so many varieties of mushrooms to choose from, all with different textures and profiles. Try a few and test out your culinary skills to reap the numerous benefits of these powerful nutrient sources.

Kate Emery General is a retired chef/restaurant owner that was born and raised in Casper, Wyoming. Kate loves her grandchildren, knitting and watercolor painting. Kate and her husband , Matt are longtime residents of Cambridge’s West End where they enjoy swimming and bicycling.

It only takes a few minutes in the Academy Art Museum’s main galleries to remind oneself of the extraordinary wealth of artistic talent that occupies the Mid-Shore. On the walls and in cases, some of the AAM’s best artists and photographers are taking center stage as the museum continues its annual Members Exhibition.

We sent a special agent to capture just a sample of what can be seen until November 26th.

This video is approximately two minutes in length. For more information about the Academy Art Museum please go here. 

Azaleas, Boston ferns, and coleus are house plants that thrive in the bright winter sun in Wyoming. Every table top and bookshelf in my college apartment had a plant sitting on it. I had several coleus and philodendron as they were easily propagated. I loved caring for my plants and I enjoyed sitting next to them while reading. What I didn’t know then was the health benefit of having plants in my living spaces.

According to The Farmer’s Almanac; not only do indoor plants make for beautiful home decor, they may also boost your health and wellbeing. Research suggested that we spend 85% of our lives indoors and houseplants are an easy way to bring nature into your home.

Plants replace carbon dioxide with fresh oxygen. According to a NASA study, houseplants can improve air quality by removing cancer-causing chemicals like formaldehyde and benzene from the air.

A couple of weeks ago as the overnight as temperatures started to drop, I brought the plants on my deck into my house. Living in our bedroom year round, we have a philodendron, a Christmas cactus, a money plant, a snake plant, and a spider plant. I added a hibiscus and a banana plant and my husband commented that he feels like his sleep has improved.

One of the greatest architects of all time, Frank Lloyd Wright, said: “Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.” He translated this philosophy into structures in harmony with humanity and its environment, something he called “organic architecture.”

Humans are hard wired to respond positively to nature; the crackling sound of burning logs in the fire, the smell of fresh rain on the soil, the color green, and being in proximity to animals.

This principle of organic and nature-inspired design grew slowly into a movement, and biophilic design was born. Biophilic design is a human centric approach to interior and building design that focuses on the human connection to the natural world. Biophilic design comes from an intuitive knowing that we are not separate from nature and when we put ourselves in spaces devoid of nature, we don’t feel well. Biophilic design promotes well-being by incorporating elements that establish a relationship between nature and human biology. This includes using natural materials, greenery, an abundance of natural light, and making room for natural ventilation.

Incorporating elements of nature in our home and work environments have been demonstrated through research to reduce stress, blood pressure levels and heart rates, while increasing productivity, creativity, and self reported rates of well-being. Our connection to plants is so strong that sometimes it takes only a few minutes of being in their presence to feel better. In one experiment, participants who spent even five to ten minutes in a room with a few houseplants felt happier.

College students in one study who spent a few minutes repotting and transplanting an indoor plant reported feeling a lot less stressed at the end of the task compared with peers engaged in computer-based activity. Houseplants and nature can help us feel recharged and grounded. In an indoor space, having any type of greens, including photographs of plants have a positive effect on our mood.

The catalysts influencing the adoption of Biophilic design are; the COVID pandemic, climate change, and focus on mental health. Biophilic design or green infrastructure can reduce CO2 emissions, boost the biodiversity of plants, and regulate the temperature of buildings. Sunlight is healthy and Biophilic design emphasizes light and space. Humans are genetically predisposed to be attracted to nature because of a deep, primordial connection.

Collecting and caring for houseplants boomed in popularity during the pandemic, especially among younger adults who don’t have abundant outdoor space. Vibrant communities blossomed on social media, like the #PlantTok corner of TikTok, uniting plant parents and making it easy to swap tips (and mail each other cuttings).

When you grow plants indoors you are connecting to nature no matter what the season and you will reap the positive psychological benefits that come with it. The more plants that we grow, the more oxygen we will have and the more carbon dioxide will be absorbed, combatting the effects of climate change. Nothing can replace the natural living beauty that indoor plants provide.

Kate Emery General is a retired chef/restaurant owner that was born and raised in Casper, Wyoming. Kate loves her grandchildren, knitting and watercolor painting. Kate and her husband , Matt are longtime residents of Cambridge’s West End where they enjoy swimming and bicycling.

When big events come to the Mid-Shore, the Spy tends to assign more than one agent to provide ample surveillance from both air and land to provide a more comprehensive overview. In this case, we asked Agent 89 on one of their first assignments, to produce reconnaissance photos using drone technology and ground support to provide this report.

This video is approximately one minute in length.

It was after lunch on Halloween in Mrs. Schweda’s second grade class. Everyone was at their desk in costume, everyone except my best friend, Andrea, she had gotten hives from her powdered wig. I was The Cat in the Hat. My Mom had made my costume, she bought a black sweatshirt and added a tail, ears, and a red and white stove pipe hat. I wore black pants and white gloves. With black greasepaint, my Mom had drawn whiskers and a button nose on my face. I loved my costume until I saw Andrea. Andrea was Marie Antoinette, her wig and face were powdered, she had the tiniest touch of red lipstick on her mouth and rouge high on her cheekbones. Her dress was a pastel blue with a bustle, lace neckline, and puffy, lace sleeves. She wore dainty black shoes in her feet. Andrea was a vision, I felt very cartoonish walking next to her to school. Andrea stopped abruptly a block from her house, she was breathing hard and had huge red splotches on her face and neck. We quickly turned around and ran back to her house. At the front door, her mother tore off Andrea’s wig and dragged her into the bathroom to wash the powder off. I was sent to school on my own.

Mrs. Schweda pretended not to know who we all were. Somehow, we had became mysterious strangers after going home for lunch, it was so exciting. Mrs. Schweda noticed that “someone” was absent, I raised my hand to tell of Andrea’s plight and in doing so, I revealed my true self to Mrs. Schweda. I was embarrassed and mad at myself for making such a dumb mistake. The costume parade buoyed my spirits, I was the only Cat in the Hat in the whole school.

My mother had sewn all our of Halloween costumes for us every year. My sister was in sixth grade, she was an artist’s interpretation of Cinderella. Half of her dress was dirty and torn, the other half was a beautiful white gown, with sequined trim. She carried a broom in one hand and a glass slipper in the other. My older brother was Paul Revere. His costume consisted of a white shirt, a waist coat, a suit coat, and breeches. The gold buttons on the suit coat lapels were my from my Dad’s Navy jacket. My younger brother was a New York Yankees baseball player.

My second grade class was obsessed with books, especially; The Cat in the Hat. We each wrote a fan letter to Dr. Seuss using our best penmanship, describing our favorite passage in the book. Mrs. Schweda put our letters in a Manila envelope and mailed them to Dr. Seuss. One morning, just before Halloween, Mrs. Schweda stood in front of the class with an envelope in her hand. We had received a handwritten reply from Dr. Suess. Dr. Suess thanked everyone for their letters and went on to compliment our handwriting and letter content. There were tiny colored drawings in the margins of the letter of Horton and The Cat in the Hat. Dr. Suess wrote that it was in second grade that he discovered his love of drawing. Mrs. Schweda framed the letter, it held a prominent place on the wall in the front of our classroom. Wherever that letter is today, I’m sure that it’s worth a fortune.

In May 1954, Life Magazine published an article about illiteracy in children in America. The report concluded that children weren’t learning to read because books were boring and outdated. William Spaulding, chairman of the education division of Houghton Mifflin compiled a list of 348 words that he felt were important for first-graders to recognize. He asked Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss) to cut the list to 250 words and write a book using only those words. Spaulding challenged Geisel to “bring back a book that children can’t put down.” Nine months later, Geisel completed The Cat in the Hat, using 236 of the words given to him. It retained all of the imaginative power of his earlier works but, because of its simplified vocabulary, it could be read by beginning readers.

The Cat in the Hat was one of the first books that I bought for my eldest child. He loved the book from a very young age, I quickly began to dread reading it. My youngest became obsessed with Marc Brown’s, Arthur books in second grade. She happily sent in her membership application and fee to Arthur’s book club. She waited months for the letter confirming her membership but it never arrived. Unlike, my story about Dr. Suess’s letter, Marc Brown disappointed my seven year old. She never read another Arthur book after that.

My Mom loved Halloween and continued the tradition of hand made costumes with my children. Princesses, Little Orphan Annie, clowns, Roger Rabbit, a gypsy, and witches, were a few that she carefully sewed. Not one of my children asked to be The Cat in the Hat.

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not. —Dr. Suess

Kate Emery General is a retired chef/restaurant owner that was born and raised in Casper, Wyoming. Kate loves her grandchildren, knitting and watercolor painting. Kate and her husband , Matt are longtime residents of Cambridge’s West End where they enjoy swimming and bicycling.

Even with the stiff competition of major events on the Mid-Shore, including Chestertown’s Downrigging, Easton’s AAM Craft Show, and CBMM’s Oysterfest in St. Michaels, if you polled anyone under five years old, the popular choice by a wide-margin would be Centreville Day.

While adults and teens have good reason to flow to the Big Three, toddlers, and their parents are increasingly finding Centreville Day to be their cup of tea. Scaled for young children, with not-too-scary Halloween figures, good storytelling and many options for painting, the pre-school crowd was out in force on Saturday where we had a spy on assignment.

Here is their report.

This video is approximately one minute in length.