This Little Light of Mine

March 6, 2026March 6, 2026 by holly@hollyonthelake.com

You may have seen my little letter on my January 23rd Facebook post among so many postings by concerned (or outraged, to be honest) MInnesotans. The pictures there and the first six here are from the memorial space where I sang with a small group in remembrance of Renee Good, a peaceful protester shot multiple times and killed by ICE while in her car. On January 24th, Alex Pretti, another innocent citizen, was shot ten times while face down on the street. The next 15 photos show you some of the thousands of signs carried in the January30th march against ICE. The energy there was positive and exhilarating. As marches, small and large, continue to speak to the world, I encourage you to find a friend or 10 and join in. We are stronger, better, wiser, safer together.

The inhumane tactics of ICE agents and the abundance of powerfully creative yet peaceful resistance captured the attention of the nation and beyond. Marches, words, songs, and videos effectively demanded the withdrawal of most of the troops. But because we must not be silent in the face of continuing lies, lawlessness, and inhumanity, I’m posting my words again with just a few of the thousands of voices raised in protest at January 30th’s march against ICE. Who knows how long my blog will exist, but I want it to reflect how I feel about this troubling time in our history before I post a more fun birthday essay.

This Little Light of Mine

I’d planned to write myself a birthday blog to celebrate and share the joys of getting older. Stay tuned for that. But I’m compelled to shine some light on the darkness that has invaded the bright snowy land of Minnesota. I can’t be silent with my friends, neighbors, and country suffering and in grave danger.

Let me start by saying how proud I am of my fellow Minnesotans. While thousands are marching peacefully in the streets, others are bringing food, diapers, and other necessities to folks legitimately afraid to leave their homes. Many are speaking truth and singing hope, even as the federal government has shown how dangerous that can be. I have been hurting, but also lifted up by the little lights of others – the smiles of strangers and hugs from friends and like-minded acquaintances. Minnesota Nice is real.

I feel I owe this to my friends around the country and world, since it’s likely you are getting lies, or at least not getting the whole story. There is no justification for what ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is doing here in Minneapolis. The video accounts we’ve seen and stories we’ve heard from trusted friends are too numerous and heartbreaking to recount, but they prove this surge of 3,000 federal agents is committing more crime than it’s preventing.

ICE is not going after the worst of the worst, (most of whom were already in prison) but anyone of color, with or without papers. Masked and armed with guns and chemicals, they are breaking windows and doors, assaulting and detaining even citizens and children, without the required warrants, dragging people to detainment centers here or in Texas and Florida, where their civil rights continue to be denied. The failure of agents to offer identification enables them and imposters to commit crimes like theft, physical and sexual assault, and abduction. Our bodies, hearts, and economy are suffering as ICE’s cruel tactics force people to hide in their homes, quiet and dark, afraid to go to work, school, medical appointments, or stores, much less seeking the social balm we all need. Teachers and caregivers strive to comfort children living with the kind of fear that leaves lasting wounds.

If this lawlessness and cruelty is not enough to make you worry for yourself, please consider the administration’s wanton threats to sovereign nations in the Americas and Europe, including our allies, Canada and Greenland. By abandoning the rule of law and separation of powers that has sustained our democracy and peace they are upsetting the rules-based international order and destroying trust in the United States. Face it. We are no longer respected or believed. For a much deeper analysis with verified sources I strongly encourage you to read and listen to the knowledge and wisdom put forth daily by political historian Heather Cox Richardson.

You may feel your little light is not important, but let it shine, friends. It’s not too late to be on the right side of history. Followers might be forgiven for believing the lies that put him in office, but for ignoring his dangerously diminishing moral, mental, and emotional state? The present crisis rises above any political affiliation and demands that we work together as Americans to save us all from tyranny and the natural world from devastation.

I believe with my whole heart and mind that Jesus weeps, along with every sincere person of every faith or no faith who has a compassionate, unselfish heart. Let our tears clear our eyes and strengthen our resolve. We can do this, for love is stronger than hate.

Their Faces Say It All

December 24, 2025December 24, 2025 by holly@hollyonthelake.com

3 beautiful children in Tanzania — Innocence, love, joy, along a dirt road in Tanzania

I Wish You

Sun on your face, stars in your eyes
Friends to embrace, in gray or blue skies
May Nature abound in this and all seasons
She gives us the reasons 
To seek unbreakable joys
More than diamonds and toys
To make room in our hearts
For every being, domestic and wild
For every elder, grown-up, and child
No matter the place, religion or race
For we are all here on Earth by grace
                                                                                     HJ

Happy Holidays, Dear Friends, Family, and Neighbors Around the World

My 2025 started with a second trip to Africa. I loved every minute of almost three weeks in Kenya and Tanzania. Seriously. So many magnificent animals, fantastic museums, stunning landscapes, and beautiful people. From ultra urban to indigenous communities, we were greeted with smiles and grace. What a privilege to be welcomed into Maasai, Datoga, and Hadzabe villages where they have maintained the cultures they have treasured for centuries, living lightly on the Earth. While they learn from us, we have much to learn from them.

I have finally framed twenty-four of my thousands of photos and hung them at Burnhaven Library, where I also shared videos and insights, (despite my power point crashing ☹.) Stop in or let me know if you’d like me to meet you there to chat before I take the exhibit down on January 3rd. Being in a society so much less materialistic than ours only reinforced my life-long lack of enthusiasm for buying or selling. Yet I am truly honored when people connect with an image that also touched me and want to own it! So yes, my photos, calendars, and cards are for sale. I’ve recently been reminded that my book, Enchanted: Reflections from a Joyfully Green and Frugally Rich Life, is even more relevant and important now. (You can order it on my website or read it from the library.) I’m happy when people connect with my creations in any way. I’m sure I will continue to share online and by exhibiting and speaking when asked. How can I not, in a world in need of understanding, compassion, beauty, and joy?

Do I want to go back to Africa? Yes! But I am determined to focus on getting Greenie’s book out into the world. Have you heard? Greenie was here for an incredible tenth summer with me, and his mate Slimetta for a sixth. They really are miracle fishes whose story must be told. Since my submission to Lerner did not get a response, I’ll now read it with fresh eyes, make any changes that feel right, and start submitting to multiple publishers. Greenie and the Girl: The True Story of a Sunfish and his Human is a chapter book in his voice and mine covering our first nine years together. Since writing it, I realize I have several special stories that would make great follow-up picture books. I always have more ideas than time, but we’ll see what happens in this increasingly (and sadly) unpredictable world.

What is for sure is that I will continue to love connecting with the Earth’s waters, woods, and wildlife, wherever I am, as well as with her people. I will strive to speak truth and show beauty and be sustained by how blessed I feel, despite the weight of fear as unhealthy and irrational forces threaten people, the natural world, the gifts of science, the civility required for peace, the justice that democracy demands, and our precious democracy itself.

You, dear friends, and all people who believe that love is the greatest power and most worthy goal, are my joy and my hope. I wish an abundance of the same to you and all.

Holly

Can You Find Yourself at the Rally?

April 9, 2025April 9, 2025 by holly@hollyonthelake.com

I forgot to take a selfie. That didn’t matter. I found myself in other determined and bright faces. I will remember standing there on the Capitol steps, as I remember standing against the Vietnam war and for civil rights. Flags of all kinds waved bravely in the cool, crisp wind and warm sun. The numbers were too vast to take in with my camera, eyes, mind or heart, but somehow putting all those words on all those signs seemed to loosen their grips on our aching souls. In bold and clever paint, blunt reality replaced promising lies. Creativity built camaraderie. Terrifying boogeymen became hilarious. Profound and profane words worked together for good. Scribbles on cardboard and works of art danced on sticks held high above 25,000 heads. Heads dizzied with cognitive dissonance, anger, and fear were welcomed into a community of kindness, clarity, action, and hope. They – WE – four million people across America and overseas – called out cruelty, corruption, and corporate control and called for compassion and rule of law.