Cozy: 1 a : enjoying or affording warmth and ease: SNUG b: marked by or providing contentment or comfort - - Merriam Webster Dictionary It’s the first of September and in Maryland that means high humidity, outrageous pollen counts, and a prediction of ninety degree weather. Still, that didn’t stop me from getting a bit excited when I saw this post from Columbia’s own indie bookstore Queen Takes Book. It’s a Cozy Fridays Events List which begins in October, so maybe the weather will be cooperating in a more seasonal way by then. Going down the list of activities sparked a yearning to have that seasonal cozy feeling even though I’m in an air-conditioned house drinking a glass of iced coffee. It’s funny how that works. Suddenly you’re envisioning being cuddled up under a blanket with a good book in your lap and a warm drink nearby. Speaking of warm drinks, Visit Howard County did a lovely roundup of cozy cafés last year. Do you have any you’d add to their list? Coz...
Trees. I’ve decided that trees are at the center of the HoCoLocal universe. The county runs an annual tree giveaway. Images from HoCo Rec and Parks social media And don’t forget how every new project in town must face the outcry over trees being removed. This includes false accusations that trees in Symhony Woods were decimated to build the Merriweather District. (The Merriweather District isn’t in Symphony Woods.) Of course trees are important. Much of our existence is intertwined with them. That’s why these two recent stories caught my eye. Human composter plans to spread soil on Eastern Shore site, Brian Shane, Baltimore Banner A funerary business that transforms human remains into compost as an alternative to burial and cremation says it's buying land on the Eastern Shore, where the loamy byproduct will be used to cultivate a forest of native trees. Columbia Wood-Processing Facility To Focus On Locally Grown Trees , Kristin Danley-Greiner, Columbia ...