I have a new bike. Well, new to me. I purchased it because my grandson is learning to ride without training wheels and I have dreams of the two of us cruising the neighborhood on summer mornings once he is proficient. His bike is new, dark blue and very cool looking. Mine is vintage. Very. […]

The weather on Easter Sunday was glorious, the kind of perfectly beautiful day my mother calls “top ten.” It was so gorgeous it almost made you forget you were under shelter-in-place. Almost. Except that not being allowed to gather in church on Easter just felt wrong, like I was missing out. Because I was. I’m […]

These are strange days. I don’t like them. And I am coming to loathe the terms coronavirus, Covid-19, shelter-in-place, lockdown, social distancing, no longer in business, projected death rate. I know we must each do all we can to stay well and respect the authorities. But while I comply with new rules and try to […]

It’s not square. And my corners are crooked. But it’s fine. It’s a goal reached, a project finished, a dream achieved. A pretty, handmade quilt, assembled and stitched by me. I’ve always wanted one. Bed-sized, not too thick but warm and cozy, with a history. Grandmother was famous for her quilts – her prize-winning embroidered […]

Unloading the dishwasher this time is almost a sacrament. Plastic Rudolph and Santa dishes are handled with the same care as the Christmas china and crystal. I put each piece away slowly, remembering the precious hands that held them, loving the fact that items reserved for the season are used and not just put on […]

Noel: an expression of joy used at Christmas My brother wears the 1982 model. Red felt vest, white felt pocket strips on both sides; white felt snowman on the right with beaded eyes and hat and scarf; green felt Christmas tree on the left with ornaments and gold star; three green holly leaves with red […]

Antique: old; ancient; old-fashioned; obsolete; archaic; a piece of furniture made in a former period. I looked at the beautiful piece one more time, amazed again at how the Weiman Lemon Oil had worked its magic over every inch. The keys were yellowed, cracked and worn, as you would expect from something that began its […]

I sat at the piano to start practicing Christmas songs and immediately thought of Grandmother. I can still see her clearly in my mind’s eye. Sitting at the organ next to the fireplace, head of graying black curled hair thrown back as she sang tunes so familiar she hardly needed to look at the music, […]

I’d been thinking about it since yesterday. When to go visit Ted, our dear church friend who had been moved to hospice care on Friday; the prognosis was 6 months at best. It was Saturday, nice weather for the first time in months. There was a lot on my To Do list, in particular a […]

There are turtles in my bathtub. Also frogs, sharks, a variety of fish, some snakes, even a dolphin and a whale. An amazing assortment of creatures. They are plastic, very colorful, and one of the best garage sale finds ever. When not in the bath hiding under bubbles for a grandchild to find they live […]

As a child I loved it when Grandmother got in the swimming pool with us. It was special because she left the adults who were gathered poolside to visit and watch the kids to come be with us in the water. She watched us dive and do flips and swim, giving us the gift of […]

Last year the world recognized the passing of Barbara Bush, an American Great Lady- a label with which most folks seem to agree. In an interview before her death Mrs. Bush remarked that her legacy was her family. Family meant everything to her, and everybody knew it. But this blog isn’t about that lady. It’s […]

Lately I’ve been roaming the halls of kindergarten.  Actually I roamed only the first day; now I know which turn to take for classroom, library, cafeteria or office.  I didn’t return for remedial reasons, I am simply blessed with the opportunity to take my 6 year old grandson to school each day.  My other grands […]

A friend remarked recently that grief can be subtle.  I had not considered that; most of my personal experiences have involved shock and suddenness – nothing subtle about it.  But recently Grief made its uninvited, unwelcome appearance, disturbing the Christmas season and putting on hold my desire to blog until now.  I’m still reflecting on […]

Yes, you read right and you are at the right blog site. This one is for the dog lovers. Those who know me know I am not a dog lover. I love other dog lovers, but I’ve only liked two dogs in my life – one was very old and the other was exceptional. When […]

“Of course you realize, THIS means war.” It’s Bugs Bunny’s famous line from the old Looney Tunes cartoons when his enemy has pushed him to the breaking point and he is forced to retaliate. It was my line several weeks ago when I saw a cockroach on his way to the kitchen. Only that morning […]

It’s not just the name of my favorite local bookstore. It’s who we are in my family, who we have always been. I remember my grandmother reading the newspaper with her morning coffee. I sat quietly beside her at the table with my ‘coffee’ and longed for the day when I could read like a […]

That’s what Casey called it earlier this year at a meeting with support staff when I announced my pending retirement. At the time she was referring to my attitude and demeanor at work, the way I walked and smiled more easily, my face starting to look less like a roadmap as the stress lines began […]

The “For Sale” sign stood prominently near the edge of the lawn as we pulled into the driveway of the house on Wall Street for an annual family spring gathering we call Maymus. The day we celebrate all birthdays in May and surrounding months with so many presents on the hearth it reminds us of […]

In honor of my wonderful experience at the Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop I am posting the piece I wrote for the writers competition in my blog. I didn’t win the contest but I still like this piece and think it’s a fun read. Enjoy! “Honey, how do I … ?” came the all too familiar […]