Lifestyles
How much is enough?
I’ve recently seen several versions of a funny story about how much garlic should be used in a ...
Lifestyles
Agricultural teamwork
Last spring, my husband and I decided to transform part of our side yard into a meadow-like collection ...
Lifestyles
Column – Wondering why
Why is the sky blue? This common question is one I know how to answer, although learning the ...
Lifestyles
We are not all OK
When I was in high school, I lost a classmate to suicide. His tragic story incorporated some of ...
Lifestyles
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 ...
Lifestyles
Anticipating better surprises
I dislike surprises. I prefer it when life’s events align with expectations. I’ve noticed that the most common ...
Lifestyles
Honoring a mothering mindset
Mother’s Day arrives in the U.S. Sunday as the year comes into full bloom. In all 50 states, ...
Lifestyles
The hummingbirds are coming
Many people view the approach of April 15 with trepidation as the typical IRS tax deadline looms. Mother ...
Lifestyles
Reflecting on a year of isolation
When the words “coronavirus” and “COVID” first began appearing in every day vocabulary, my husband and I were ...
Columns
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 ...
Lifestyles
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 ...
Lifestyles
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. ...
Lifestyles
Searching for signs of intelligent life
When I get an opportunity to let people look at the night sky through my binoculars, their first ...
Lifestyles
Spider webs add seasonal ambiance
Mother Nature has been decorating my yard for Halloween. Because of her exuberant placement of spiders and webs, ...
Lifestyles
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 ...
Lifestyles
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 ...
Lifestyles
Close encounters of the wild kind
During extra hours recently spent at home, I have turned my attention to working in the yard and ...
Lifestyles
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 ...
Lifestyles
Everyday magic in ordinary things
I love stories that include magic. My fascination stretches back to my growing-up years. As a young child, ...
Lifestyles
New time plan proposed
Take a look at your watch, your phone or a nearby clock. Some devices may run a bit ...
Lifestyles
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 ...
Columns
Festina Lente!
Rather than making resolutions, I adopted a motto for the new year — Festina Lente! I encountered the ...
Lifestyles
Nature’s light show
As winter approaches, the hours of night lengthen. People throughout our community take advantage of the darkness to ...
Lifestyles
A season for gratitude
It’s the season for giving thanks. You’ll probably be receiving advice delivered via social and other media suggesting ...
Lifestyles
Whistling past the graveyard
Boo! Did I scare you? Probably not, but as days get shorter and nights cooler, ghoulish expressions and ...
Lifestyles
Astronomy and astrology
When I tell people I’m interested in astronomy, I’m surprised to discover how many assume I mean astrology. ...
Lifestyles
Here comes trouble
Earlier this year, Cindy and Bill Bergen welcomed Trouble to their Farmville-area farm. That’s Trouble with a capital ...