A Taste of Nostalgia: Pickle Mango Memories
There’s something magical about the flavors that linger in our memories. Over three decades ago, I stumbled upon a delightful find at a...
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Diana Hansen-Young
Dec 11 min read
Smudge and Jaws Guard A Tomato In Brooklyn
The same two rescue cats, Smudge and Jaws, were fierce protectors and guardians of home and hearth. In Brooklyn, I managed to grow one...
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Diana Hansen-Young
Nov 241 min read
The Gift
One thing about cats is that they are quite generous with gifts. Before my pair of white rescue cats (age 16 and 17) passed away a couple...
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Diana Hansen-Young
Nov 171 min read
Canning Strawberries Day
Growing up, one of the great rituals of summer was CANNING. Having been raised in a Swedish Mormon farming family, CANNING was required....
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Diana Hansen-Young
Nov 101 min read
Affirmation #5: Never Get In A Pissing Match With A Skunk
Another one of Grandpa Safsten's“sayings” is “Never Get in a Pissing Match With A Skunk.” Of course, being the gentleman that he was –...
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Diana Hansen-Young
Nov 11 min read
Affirmation #4: Always Be Kind To The Cook
This affirmation comes from my dad. He said that it became clear to him as a soldier in WW I and the Korean War that one of the most...
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Diana Hansen-Young
Oct 271 min read
Affirmation #3: Let Your Voice
We’re sponges. We find inspiration in everything around us. We look at other art and think our work isn’t good enough because it’s...
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Diana Hansen-Young
Oct 251 min read
When it's time to go. . .
. . . and your cats won't get on the broomstick. Happy Halloween!
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Diana Hansen-Young
Oct 221 min read
A praying mantis paid a call today. . .
He/she landed on my living room window, and I was treated to a half-hour closeup of the beautiful green underside of this incredible bug....
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Diana Hansen-Young
Oct 201 min read
Affirmation #2: When Your Horse Dies, Get Off
"When Your Horse Dies, Get Off" My grandfather was Oscar Johannes Safsten, who emigrated to the United States from Sweden as a young...
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Diana Hansen-Young
Oct 181 min read
Time for silly(bad) Halloween jokes
So here's a (bad) Halloween joke from the Ohana Cats on Mango Hill! (As told by a 4-year-old): "Knock knock." "Who's there?" "Orange...
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Diana Hansen-Young
Oct 131 min read
Affirmation #1: Nothing's Worth a Damn Unless You Finish
This affirmation, a line from the musical “Mimi Le Duck,” has become a personal mantra for me. It serves as a constant reminder to...
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Diana Hansen-Young
Oct 61 min read
Raindrops at S'nice
In Brooklyn’s rain, where dreams align, A coffee shop, a moment in time. With raindrops dancing, a gentle embrace, A memory painted, a...
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Diana Hansen-Young
Oct 31 min read
Threads of Time: My Family’s Journey
As a grandmother to five wonderful grandchildren, my family history is a tapestry woven with rich stories and cherished memories. On my...
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Diana Hansen-Young
Sep 301 min read
Keep Your Eye On The Prize
As I sit in my kitchen turned studio, I am reminded to “Keep your eye on the prize!” This simple yet powerful phrase encourages me to...
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Diana Hansen-Young
Sep 111 min read
Reflections on the Last Flowers of Summer: A Tribute to September 11
On this September 11, 2024, I gather the last summer offerings from my garden and think of the lines from "The Last Rose of Summer" by...
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Diana Hansen-Young
Sep 81 min read
Happy Grandparent's Day
Celebrating Grandparent's Day As a proud grandmother of five wonderful grandchildren, ranging from ages 1 to 10 years old, I would like...
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Diana Hansen-Young
Sep 11 min read
You Are Beautiful.
Painted in 1986 , this rarely-seen artwork captures a tender moment between a mother and her daughter in Hawaii. They were modeling for...
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Diana Hansen-Young
Aug 241 min read
Alice's Malt Shop
A Slice of History This painting, titled “Alice Malt Shop,” captures a cherished piece of family history. It features my husband’s...
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Diana Hansen-Young
Aug 171 min read
The Joys of Impromptu Babysitting: A Grandmother’s Tale
No matter the age of my children, my motherly instincts never end; they simply transform into Nana duties. One such adventure began when...
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