HAPPY TO BE HERE
Ladybug, ladybug
A couple weeks ago, I stepped out of my house on a warm, Indian summer day. A ladybug landed on my glasses. I waved a ...
Karen Bellenir, Author at Farmville - Page 2 of 4
HAPPY TO BE HERE
How much is enough?
I’ve recently seen several versions of a funny story about how much garlic should be used in a recipe. The instructions start with a clove ...
by Karen Bellenir, Friday, November 5, 2021 6:00 am
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Agricultural teamwork
Last spring, my husband and I decided to transform part of our side yard into a meadow-like collection of wildflowers. We had a vision of ...
by Karen Bellenir, Friday, October 1, 2021 6:00 am
HAPPY TO BE HERE
Column – Wondering why
Why is the sky blue? This common question is one I know how to answer, although learning the truth required that I set aside a ...
by Karen Bellenir, Friday, September 3, 2021 6:00 am
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We are not all OK
When I was in high school, I lost a classmate to suicide. His tragic story incorporated some of the same fatal elements Shakespeare mentioned in ...
by Karen Bellenir, Friday, August 6, 2021 6:00 am
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Despite our heritage, we are all people of the United States
In normal times, the Fourth of July is marked with family gatherings, barbecued feasts and fireworks. The subdued tone of last year’s pandemic-inspired quiet may ...
by Karen Bellenir, Friday, July 2, 2021 6:00 am
LIFESTYLES
Anticipating better surprises
I dislike surprises. I prefer it when life’s events align with expectations. I’ve noticed that the most common surprises seem to feature unpleasant consequences. An ...
by Karen Bellenir, Friday, June 4, 2021 6:00 am
HAPPY TO BE HERE
Honoring a mothering mindset
Mother’s Day arrives in the U.S. Sunday as the year comes into full bloom. In all 50 states, the occasion has been recognized on the ...
by Karen Bellenir, Friday, May 7, 2021 6:00 am
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The hummingbirds are coming
Many people view the approach of April 15 with trepidation as the typical IRS tax deadline looms. Mother Nature has provided a more pleasant association ...
by Karen Bellenir, Friday, April 2, 2021 6:00 am
HAPPY TO BE HERE
Reflecting on a year of isolation
When the words “coronavirus” and “COVID” first began appearing in every day vocabulary, my husband and I were visiting relatives on a beach in Florida. ...
by Karen Bellenir, Friday, March 5, 2021 6:00 am
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Books can provide a break from reality
A couple Christmases ago, my husband gave me a coffee mug that declares, “A book a day keeps reality away.” Are you ready to join ...
by Karen Bellenir, Friday, February 5, 2021 6:00 am
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COLUMN — Waking up to a New Year
I am not a morning person. My husband can go from asleep to awake in an instant, but my journey between those two states involves ...
by Karen Bellenir, Thursday, December 31, 2020 11:14 am
HAPPY TO BE HERE
COLUMN — Let there be peace on Earth
Decorations have sprouted all around town, trees are erected indoors and colorful lights sparkle through the long nights. Once again, it’s time to tell the ...
by Karen Bellenir, Friday, December 4, 2020 6:00 am
HAPPY TO BE HERE
Searching for signs of intelligent life
When I get an opportunity to let people look at the night sky through my binoculars, their first reaction is often surprise at how much ...
by Karen Bellenir, Tuesday, November 10, 2020 6:00 am
HAPPY TO BE HERE
Spider webs add seasonal ambiance
Mother Nature has been decorating my yard for Halloween. Because of her exuberant placement of spiders and webs, I’m feeling more prepared for the annual ...
by Karen Bellenir, Friday, October 2, 2020 6:46 am
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Journeying into the future means taking steps into the unknown
Barbara Kingsolver’s novel, Unsheltered, includes the story of a mother who suffers from fear and anxiety. The author writes, “Willa believed in the power of ...
by Karen Bellenir, Friday, September 4, 2020 6:30 am
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Look to the sky for a show full of stars
I don’t know what’s on television tonight, but I do know this month is a prime time for stargazing. As the world slips toward autumn, ...
by Karen Bellenir, Friday, August 7, 2020 6:00 am
HAPPY TO BE HERE
Close encounters of the wild kind
During extra hours recently spent at home, I have turned my attention to working in the yard and the garden, wandering in the woods and ...
by Karen Bellenir, Friday, June 5, 2020 6:00 am
HAPPY TO BE HERE
Finding enjoyment during this time of staying home
Everyone I know has felt the impact of non-essential business closures, stay-at-home edicts, and social distancing guidelines. For some, these rules have presented challenges, and ...
by Karen Bellenir, Friday, May 1, 2020 6:00 am
HAPPY TO BE HERE
Everyday magic in ordinary things
I love stories that include magic. My fascination stretches back to my growing-up years. As a young child, I fancied a story by the Brothers ...
by Karen Bellenir, Friday, April 3, 2020 6:00 am
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New time plan proposed
Take a look at your watch, your phone or a nearby clock. Some devices may run a bit fast or slow, but if you adjust ...
by Karen Bellenir, Friday, March 6, 2020 6:00 am
HAPPY TO BE HERE
Being active helps battle winter’s dreary days
One recent morning, I woke up after a restless night. I hadn’t slept well. I was cold. My left hip hurt. My right shoulder ached, ...
by Karen Bellenir, Friday, February 7, 2020 6:30 pm
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Festina Lente!
Rather than making resolutions, I adopted a motto for the new year — Festina Lente! I encountered the expression in a delightful novel by Robin ...
by Karen Bellenir, Friday, January 3, 2020 11:14 am
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Nature’s light show
As winter approaches, the hours of night lengthen. People throughout our community take advantage of the darkness to display seasonal lights. Nature is planning to ...
by Karen Bellenir, Thursday, December 5, 2019 10:19 am
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A season for gratitude
It’s the season for giving thanks. You’ll probably be receiving advice delivered via social and other media suggesting that you express gratitude for friends and ...
by Karen Bellenir, Thursday, October 31, 2019 1:46 pm
HAPPY TO BE HERE
Whistling past the graveyard
Boo! Did I scare you? Probably not, but as days get shorter and nights cooler, ghoulish expressions and macabre symbols abound. People’s thoughts and decorations ...
by Karen Bellenir, Thursday, October 3, 2019 2:06 pm
HAPPY TO BE HERE
Astronomy and astrology
When I tell people I’m interested in astronomy, I’m surprised to discover how many assume I mean astrology. Reactions fall into two categories. Some try ...