Happy To Be Here
Latest 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 ... Read more
4 weeks ago by Karen Bellenir.
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 ... Read more
2 months ago by Karen Bellenir.
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, ... Read more
3 months ago by Karen Bellenir.
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 ... Read more
5 months ago by Karen Bellenir.
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 ... Read more
6 months ago by Karen Bellenir.
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 ... Read more
7 months ago by Karen Bellenir.
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 ... Read more
8 months ago by Karen Bellenir.
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, ... Read more
9 months ago by Karen Bellenir.
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 ... Read more
10 months ago by Karen Bellenir.
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 ... Read more
11 months ago by Karen Bellenir.
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 ... Read more
12 months ago by Karen Bellenir.
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 ... Read more
1 year ago by Karen Bellenir.
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 ... Read more
1 year ago by Karen Bellenir.
Here comes trouble
Earlier this year, Cindy and Bill Bergen welcomed Trouble to their Farmville-area farm. That’s Trouble with a capital T. I chatted with the Bergens about ... Read more
1 year ago by Karen Bellenir.
Watching humanity’s giant leap
In 1969, my family moved to a small beachside community less than an hour’s drive south of Cape Kennedy in Florida. On the morning of ... Read more
1 year ago by Karen Bellenir.
Mail by any other name
I can recall a time when the daily arrival of mail created excitement. During my early elementary school days, my family lived on a “rural ... Read more
1 year ago by Karen Bellenir.
An open window
One of spring’s many joys is the renewed ability to open windows. All winter long, I’ve had my windows shut and the drapes drawn in ... Read more
1 year ago by Karen Bellenir.
Putting an end to war
Since moving to Farmville, I’ve learned that Civil War recollections take center stage every April. During my school years in various classrooms located on both ... Read more
2 years ago by Karen Bellenir.
A decade
The dictionary says a decade is something in a group of 10, often 10 years. Chunks of time comprising those years often develop their own ... Read more
2 years ago by Karen Bellenir.
Climbing the steps
I remember standing with my children waiting for the school bus to come. In mid-winter, the mornings were usually dark and cold. The bus would ... Read more
2 years ago by Karen Bellenir.
Bundle up and look up
The moon has a special surprise in store. On the night of Jan. 20, and sliding across midnight, North American sky watchers will be treated ... Read more
2 years ago by Karen Bellenir.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Season’s Greetings
“Merry Christmas!” is a traditional greeting heard on many lips this time of year. I, myself, offer it to family, friends, and even casual acquaintances ... Read more
2 years ago by Karen Bellenir.
Learning the wisdom of gratitude
One of my favorite hobbies is sleeping in on Saturday mornings, especially during those wee hours before the sun itself decides to rise. This stands ... Read more
2 years ago by Karen Bellenir.
Ghosts from my past
A couple of months ago, the Waterworks Players announced auditions for a forthcoming production of “Blithe Spirit,” a comedy by Noel Coward that was first ... Read more
2 years ago by Karen Bellenir.
The valuation game
A recent post making its rounds on social media was probably supposed to be motivational. I found its conclusions disturbing. According to the post, a ... Read more
2 years ago by Karen Bellenir.
Bipeds in a cage
Trees surround my home on three sides. A small yard serves to separate the walls from the wilds. I enjoy the setting because it lets ... Read more
2 years ago by Karen Bellenir.
Let me read your shirt
One of summer’s subtle joys is the unwrapping— losing the woolen shell required to combat winter’s chill—to reveal more of who we truly are underneath. ... Read more