It’s hard to believe, but summer is almost over. Some of the trees and shrubs in my backyard have already started to shed their leaves. And soon, kids will be returning to school. I knew it was coming. I just haven’t wanted to accept it. Another season in my life has too quickly gone. AlthoughContinue reading “The Sounds of Summer”
Category Archives: Blog
To Bee or Not to Bee
When I was young, my parents owned a vacant lot next to our home. My brothers and I, along with other neighborhood children, used the space as our private park. There, we played kickball, baseball, and chased fireflies. When my brothers were older, they raced go-carts around the perimeter. Our neighbor, “Jim,” told my dadContinue reading “To Bee or Not to Bee”
Wonder Lake
Last weekend at a family fish fry, I was cozied up next to my granddaughter, hearing about her summer camp exploits. Her fun times in water– swimming and kayaking kept popping up in the conversation. She reminded me so much of her mother about the same age and all the fun she once had inContinue reading “Wonder Lake”
Burning Wishes
This 4th of July weekend, I had an incredibly proud parent moment or day, actually. My daughter Kate never ceases to amaze me. She is a very busy and focused woman raising my beautiful granddaughter, being a health department nurse overseeing infectious disease care (including COVID), working part-time as a prison nurse, and running aContinue reading “Burning Wishes”
Sticks, Stones, Dirt, and Bones Are All the Things You Need
When I was a child, my brothers and I had plenty of lovely toys to play with, yet we weren’t overwhelmed by too many playthings. What we had was beloved and became well-worn. But just as much as we loved our toys, we loved natural things that we used in outdoor play and perhaps usedContinue reading “Sticks, Stones, Dirt, and Bones Are All the Things You Need”
In Praise of Childlike Abandon
Last weekend I had the great pleasure of going on a 3 day getaway to St. Louis, MO, with my daughter and granddaughter. We only live a couple of hours from St. Louis, and the city has much to offer in the way of museums, shopping, art, and history. We got to visit St. LouisContinue reading “In Praise of Childlike Abandon”
Grandma’s Gifts
This week my book review (under Recommended Reads) is When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree by Jamie L.B. Deenihan. I really loved this book, which got me thinking about my own grandmothers and what they gave me. While I received many material gifts from them that I enjoyed throughout my time with them, itContinue reading “Grandma’s Gifts”
Sacred Seconds
Well, it’s official. School is out. And at our house, that means our precious granddaughter, Jaycie, comes to stay for her first week of summer vacation. We really live for this time because there are so few opportunities for her to stay over during the school year. While she only lives an hour away, itContinue reading “Sacred Seconds”
No Place Like Home
A little over a year ago, my husband and I left our sweet little country home to move to the city of Macomb, IL. While it has been quite an adjustment moving from a wide-open space and constant companionship with wildlife, we are adapting reasonably well to our new house and urban environment. We areContinue reading “No Place Like Home”
The Magic Hour
For as long as I can remember, I have been an early morning riser. I’m not sure what makes a person wake early. Neither my husband nor daughter are morning people. Both tend to come more alive at night and have no problem sleeping late into the mornings with the sun blazing through the windowsContinue reading “The Magic Hour”
Little Seeds Read 