Author Archives: Kit and Drew Coons

Low interest rates and inflation have forced some of us into the stock market trying to protect the purchasing value of our old-age-care savings. I prefer dull businesses like utility companies. I found one electricity-generating company with a twelve-year record … Continue reading →

Picking blackberries was a summertime passion of mine as a boy and has remained so until recently. Before moving to Washington, I cultivated commercial thorn-less blackberries. Washington’s abundance of robust wild blackberries surrounding our property, albeit with thorns, delighted me. … Continue reading →

I’ve taken another of The Great Courses. The premise is that the Middle Ages weren’t stagnant but had great technological advancements. This course is a thousand times better than History of Engineering a required course for my mechanical engineering degree. … Continue reading →

Before moving to Seattle, the only time I’ve lived in a state with a professional sports franchise was the Auckland Blues rugby team in New Zealand. Although I watch professional football on TV, I’ve never attended a game. Therefore the … Continue reading →

Recently I described an unidentified bird to other bird enthusiasts. “There’s an app for that,” they claimed. “You just take a picture and ask AI.” Kit downloaded the bird app to her phone. Later I saw a robin hopping on … Continue reading →

Kit and I have traveled to hundreds of places including many tropical climates but never to Hawaii. Last week we spent on Kaua’i with Kit’s family. Kaua’i is roughly circular and 26 miles across with about 75,000 residents living around … Continue reading →

I’m not advertising for a movie, but rather a type of movie. I’m tired of violence, graphic sex, and larger-than-life heroes or villains. Song Sung Blue, based on a true story, is about ordinary people with yearning hearts who find … Continue reading →

Chicken Soup for the Soul is known for publishing heart-warming true stories. These stories aren’t just for feeling good. Learning from the experiences of others can make peoples’ lives better. I feel honored to have one of my stories, Tennis … Continue reading →

You’ve probably heard about recent flooding in Washington State. Several wrote inquiring about our welfare. Thank you. Our home wasn’t threatened. But Kit and I had paid $250 (non-refundable) for a Christmas fair booth at a fairground in the heart … Continue reading →

I recently watched twelve hours of the documentary series The American Revolution by Ken Burns. As an amateur historian, I think I could pass a college-level final exam on this and some other historical topics. Very little surprised me in … Continue reading →