¡°What a joy to have my feelings for these Islands authenticated so engagingly. In essays that are wistful, introspective, or laugh-outloud funny, Mary portrays the rhythms of life and the strength of friendship and community experienced here. Her thoughtful compilation reminds us that ¡®to everything there is indeed a time and a season¡¯ and wherever we may roam, there is nothing like returning to ¡®The Rock.¡¯¡±

¡°To read Kalbert¡¯s impressions of living on an Island in the Northwest is to view a life far removed from the hustle and bustle of the modern world, and reminds the reader of the time and values of Thoreau¡¯s Life in the Woods. Her subtly linked columns draw the reader into a gentle world marching with the seasons and convey to us the joys of observing life while living at a slower pace.¡±

¡°Mary Kalbert pays attention and has a natural instinct for the telling detail. Admirers of The New York Times¡¯ Verlyn Klinkenborg, an American master, will find a kindred voice in Kalbert¡¯s work. Accuracy, kindness, and compassion underlie these pieces like rocks in a streambed.¡±