Grass getting tall? Buy some goats.

As some eco-conscious Americans are learning, hiring goats to clear their vegetation is an alternative to using power tools. Hiring a herd can be pricey, but, as Bulgarians learned centuries ago, having your own flock can be cost effective!

Handle With Care (Or With a Drying Rack)

Some would consider life in small-town Bulgaria reminiscent of American writer E.B. White’s words, “We should all do what, in the long run, gives us joy, even if it is only picking grapes or sorting the laundry.” Instead, I heeded American humorist Erma Bombeck’s less eloquent quote, “Housework–if you do it right, will kill you,” and [...]

A Blown Fuse = Homemade Booze

As I write this blog from my home in Dallas, watching ominous clouds move across the dark sky and lights flickering above my head, I can’t help but remember the first time my electricity went out in Bulgaria. It was late (probably past most people’s bedtime) when it happened. I had learned how to replace a fuse, [...]

Turn Out the Lights, the Party’s Over

During the ongoing economic crisis in the U.S., many Americans have been living on reduced budgets. In Bulgaria, I observed my friends and neighbors turning off lights when exiting rooms. Eventually, I started doing the same; however, not only did I turn off lights, I unplugged my laptop, TV, and lamps when they weren’t in use. [...]