I see myself as an intelligent person, so when husband and I decided to adopt a rescue dog, I figured I knew what I was doing. Wrong. My latest canine experience has taught me many lessons. All of the dogs we’ve adopted in the past had a loving human in their lives. They simply needed a home for a various... READ MORE >
Many years ago, my sister in-law and I traveled to Scotland. Although we were different as night and day, we got along fine as we traversed the length and width of this lovely country. She was a collector and could have been an interior decorator. I was not a decorator and the decor in my house could best be described... READ MORE >
Now that winter has unmistakably and irrevocably arrived, my bird feeding addiction has completely taken over my life. I scatter tons of sunflower seeds on the ground beneath my deck. I order roasted peanuts from Amazon and spread them liberally on the deck railing. I cut up small pieces of suet for my “little” birds and bigger pieces for the... READ MORE >
I have a confession to make. As of this writing I haven’t put up my Christmas decorations. No tree, no garlands atop the bookcase, not even a “Welcome Santa” door mat. It isn’t that I lack the Christmas spirit, it’s just that dang dining room table. Yes, I’m blaming a table for my lack of performance, and some of you... READ MORE >
We met on a blustery We met on a blustery November Sunday in the parking lot of Hermantown’s Wal-Mart. Through a series of twists and bends in life’s road, he’d traveled from South Carolina to northern Minnesota. Through a series of Internet searches and numerous phone calls, we had driven from Grand Marais to Duluth. Standing there on the asphalt... READ MORE >
Do Americans still have freedom of speech as a basic right? Are we citizens still able to express our beliefs? If I write a column stating a political stance, will my editor receive angry letters denouncing me as well as my writing skills and my views? This column may be the litmus test. Over the past 22 years I have... READ MORE >
The day is a perfect example of late October; cold, cloudy and misty. I’m inside my cozy house, looking out the window, sipping a cup of coffee and looking over the remnants of this year’s garden. The year began with some problems. The first planting of carrots was a flop. Hardly any seeds germinated, and I found myself planting carrots... READ MORE >
(A recent gift of wild mushrooms brought back the following memory of 1969 and the year I spent on Tucker Lake.) Dick and I were crossing the portage on a sunny autumn day with Al, the eccentric bachelor from Gunflint Lake, on our way to the cabin. Suddenly Al, dropped to his knees and peered into the yellow underbrush. “Look... READ MORE >
The day was sunny with a nice autumn feel to it. Great day to sit on the deck and relax. But as my husband and I settled in our comfortable deck chairs, the local critters decided to join us. It’s not our charming company that attracted them, but the peanuts Dick carried in a small bag, A small flock of... READ MORE >
The rain fell gently earlier in the day, which was a good thing in this year of drought. Gardening season is coming to an end, I tell myself as I thin out the row of carrots. This year’s garden has been quirky. The potato crop is pitifully small. The kale plants barely grew all summer. I scored a bonanza with... READ MORE >
