Columns

As a small child and living with my elderly uncle and aunt, I gave little thought to my absent father until it was time to celebrate Father’s Day at our small school in Aberdeen, Wash. Crayons of various colors were given out and most of...

Once upon a time when our area was under water there were no parks or trails or trees or gardens. I'm thankful that our mountains rose from an ancient ocean so we could enjoy this beautiful place we call home.  I'm thankful for the Big-Leaf maples that shower me...

The Persimmon tree first caught my eye many years ago as I turned onto Highway 9 near my Ben Lomond home. Only minutes earlier I had been pondering about my choice of dessert for our annual Winter Solstice celebratory dinner. This tree seems to magically...

“The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson Eighteen years ago my sweet Hubby Norm and I, after months of soul-searching to determine if that was the right time to downsize and be nearer to our children, we made...

We all enjoy privacy around our homes. Even if you’re best friends with your neighbor, you don’t always want to wave at them each morning. Whether you have a property tucked way back in the forest with a next-door neighbor that looks right down...

We are all drawn to different colors in a garden. Some of us like soft, pastel shades while others like strong, jewel tones. They are all great in my book. This year Pantone has chosen Magenta as the 2023 Color of the Year and...

While waiting at a stoplight on Glen Arbor Road in Ben Lomond I glanced over at the long row of lovely golden yellow daffodils gracing the side of the road. Those daffodils have appeared each of the 18 years I have lived here announcing that...

It was one of those almost too bright sunny mornings. You know the kind: Where you have to stop and wait until your eyes adjust to the light when coming back inside. Grabbing the ringing telephone, I heard my stepfather’s voice shouting “come quick.” ...

In the movie Independence Day, we heard “….We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We’re going to live on! We're going to survive! So today, we celebrate our Independence Day!”  We did fight, we did struggle, and we...

Seems like 2020 lasted for longer than just one year. I, for one, am hoping for a less eventful year in 2021. As the calendar turns to a new year these are some of my thoughts for 2020. Well maybe they’re the same thoughts...