A Third Birthday!
Several weeks ago, my older granddaughter announced to me, with grammatical precision if not ideal diction, “I like pizza very much.” It wasn’t offered as an opinion so much as a statement of fact. So, for her third birthday earlier this week, her parents invited me to join them for a pizza dinner. I, too, […]
This Year’s Thanksgiving: Family, Food, and Cherished Moments
Remembering last week’s Thanksgiving celebration brings a smile to my face. I think the memories of our holiday gatherings will stay with me for a long time. Our son and daughter-in-law visited from New York, making this the first Thanksgiving my husband and I have had with both our children, their spouses, our granddaughters, as […]
Reviewing Old Photographs: More Treasures, Not Much Trash
Before we moved into our current home in 2019, I did a lot of cleaning and sorting, which revealed many treasures and trash. But there were many boxes I moved from one house to the next without any review. Some of those were boxes of things from my parents, and I thought I had reviewed […]
First Wednesday Sirens and Tornado Preparations
Today is a first Wednesday, which means that at 11:00am, sirens will blare. At least they will blare in the Kansas City area. Most municipalities and other jurisdictions near us test their tornado sirens monthly. I don’t know how broadly this emergency broadcasting system operates, but I think it extends throughout much of the Midwest. […]
January Is National Oatmeal Month
I was surprised to learn there is such a thing as National Oatmeal Month. But then, with eaters like my husband and children, maybe I shouldn’t be surprised. My husband is a huge fan of hot cereal in the morning. He makes it from scratch—none of that instant stuff for him unless he is in […]
Did My Younger Siblings Ever See Santa?
I’ve written before about how my brother and I got to see Santa Claus when he visited our home one evening just before Christmas. I’ve also written about when my children got to see Santa at their grandparents’ home. My son took the experience in stride, but it took my daughter some time to get […]
My Mother’s Dish Towels
Before I married in November 1977, my mother gave me six dish towels. “Here,” she said. “I received a dozen of these when I was married, and I want you to have some.” She and my father married in June 1955. The towels had had some use, but I think my mother mostly kept them […]
Back to School . . . Or Not . . . That Is the Question
Today is Labor Day, the traditional last day of summer vacation. Though in recent years, as school seemed to begin earlier and earlier in August, the significance of Labor Day has diminished. We all have “back to school” memories. Maybe of our own first days of school—kindergarten, junior high, high school, or some other memorable […]
Random Photos: A Summer Trip with the Grandparents in Simpler Times
This set of random photos came from an envelope my father labeled “Cannon Beach.” Most of the pictures in the envelope were of a trip my parents took with my kids to Cannon Beach, Oregon. I’ve written before about other trips to Cannon Beach—most recently we were there for a family reunion with my husband’s […]
Selling Cookies and Other Fun Fundraisers
The Kansas City Star has a column called “Snarky in the Suburbs” by Sherry Kuehl, which I enjoy. Last week, her piece was titled “Sure they’re nondescript, but the Thin Mint has a mighty allure”. She described her decades-long addiction to Girl Scout Thin Mints. That reminded me of my own relationship with Thin Mints […]