author-image Patrice Lewis About | Email
Patrice Lewis is a freelance writer whose latest book is "The Simplicity Primer: 365 Ideas for Making Life more Livable." She is co-founder (with her husband) of a home woodcraft business. The Lewises live on 20 acres in north Idaho with their two homeschooled children, assorted livestock, and a shop that overflows into the house with depressing regularity. Visit her blog at www.rural-revolution.com.
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The death of common sense

by Patrice Lewis -- When I was growing up, my mother often lamented how uncommon common sense was. For years she hammered into my head that education or beauty or intelligence or more…

Taxing Atlas

by Patrice Lewis -- The following column can officially be termed a "rant." Sometimes I just need to vent, and this is one of those times. Taxes have been on my mind more…

Moments of peace in a world of strife

by Patrice Lewis -- I was milking the cow the other day. The morning sun was warm against my back, a welcome respite from the winter's chill. I leaned my forehead against more…

I'm so sick of being right

by Patrice Lewis -- There's a scene in the movie "Galaxy Quest" in which actors on a distant planet are spying on cute alien creatures that resemble children. The cynical Guy says, more…

What was God thinking?

by Patrice Lewis -- I'm going to do something I've never before done in my columns: ask for help. No, not for me; but for some people we know. When tragedy strikes, more…

Why I reject the government's 'help'

by Patrice Lewis -- Fourteen years ago, within a day or two of bringing our newborn first daughter home from the hospital, I received a scary phone call. As with any new more…

I wanted to be a scientist

by Patrice Lewis -- All I ever wanted to be when I grew up was a scientist. While other girls my age dreamed of becoming singers or actresses, I dreamed of being more…

Free ice cream for all!

by Patrice Lewis -- There's a story that circulated the Internet in 2008 about a third-grade class that held a mock presidential election to teach the children about the real election. Two more…

Hating humans

by Patrice Lewis -- A few weeks ago, I clicked on an online article for what seemed like an interesting but innocuous subject: human parasites. The slide show led me through tapeworms, more…