Does husband’s job-hopping point to ADHD?
Dear Carolyn: My husband just quit his job. Again. Third this year, sixth in four ...
See all in Ask CarolynColumnists
Cheers
No more for us. We’re good
In Greece, it’s considered impolite to let your party guest stand around with a nearly ...
See all in CheersGone Shopping
Handmade for the home
Main Street Ellsworth has a new boutique focused on handmade items. Sunshine & Dixie, at ...
See all in Gone ShoppingKitchen Garden
The time is now to eat what’s freshest
Some recipes seem perfectly written for the garden, but it’s the other way around. The ...
See all in Kitchen GardenMaine Dish
Pucker up!
The cucumber season is at full tilt, and friends have “gifted” me more than 60 ...
See all in Maine DishMore from our Columnists
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Should sister-in-law apologize for spilling the divorce beans?
Hey Carolyn: My sister is going through an amicable divorce. She moved out but it’s not final yet. I ran into my brother-in-law’s brother. We usually celebrated holidays with her soon-to-be ex and his family, so I blurted out that I hope he has a good holiday and I’ll miss seeing him. It was obvious …
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My spouse and our 6-year-old child do not get along
Hi Carolyn: My spouse and our 6-year-old do not get along at all. Much of their time together turns into the 6-year-old screaming and spouse withdrawing because they can’t stand being yelled at. I feel stuck in the middle. Is there a way I can help? — In the Middle Yes, by getting professional help …
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A feast of winter greens awaits gardeners
“The Green Leaves of Summer” was the theme from the 1960 film “The Alamo” and became a pop standard. Its nostalgic lyrics celebrate both the green time of the year and youth, the green time of life. They’re about abundance and green fields. But when it comes to salads, I’ll take the green leaves of …
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I’m not comfortable with my mom wanting me to lie to my grandfather
Dear Carolyn: My grandfather is in his 90s. He’s in great health overall, is mentally very sharp, and lives very close to family. My mother has taken to lying to him when she has something planned that my grandfather will not be participating in — a family portrait, for example, or a vacation, at least …
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Fire up your summer with tangy barbecued chicken
Since the Fourth of July, we’ve been enjoying warm sunny days, brilliant blue skies, and balmy, starry nights. For those of us who wait 10 months for its coming, summer is the easiest time of year to entertain. We surrender to the call of the wild and move all of our eating outdoors with barbecues …
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I’m not happy I decided to get pregnant
Dear Carolyn: I just found out I’m pregnant and I’m not happy about it. Quick backstory: I’m about to turn 40 and recently married my boyfriend of six years. We almost didn’t get married because he did not want to have kids and I was not prepared to say never. After many (many) conversations and …
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Having a party sure fix for garden havoc
“House proud” is a nice old-fashioned phrase. It describes the feeling you have when everything is reasonably clean and in order. It reflects the fact that while we all may befoul our nests to some degree, we like visitors to feel comfortable and welcomed when they walk through our door, not assaulted by our mess. …
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Should I tell my son, who is about to marry and have children, my ex could be a pedophile?
Adapted from a recent online discussion. Dear Carolyn: My son is getting married soon to a lovely woman. Since they are in their mid-30s they have told me they would like to start a family right away. My ex is bipolar, which my children know. However, they are not aware that he is a sex …
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Dangerously delicious!
It’s strawberry pickin’ season! There is nothing more delicious than a sun-ripened sweet strawberry just plucked from the vine. I’ve been out picking twice now, treating my family and friends to perfectly ripe, juicy red berries, served up with cream or yogurt, in smoothies, on pancakes, and in pies. The recipe for Strawberry Cream Pie …