As I come up on the fifth anniversary of my brother Gary’s death I think about how fragile life can be and how quickly it can change. I used to think it would be like it is in the movies; there will be a warning that something bad is about to happen. Like Jaws, the music is a telltale sign... READ MORE >
I recently took a road trip with my Mom and Aunt Marcia to North Carolina. We went to visit my mom’s youngest sister, Donna. The beginning of April is a perfect time to head south. The flowers are all in bloom, and the grass is a charming green. It’s a hint of what will come to our cold Minnesota ground.... READ MORE >
When I was in fifth grade I had two first loves. John Denver and Matt Crawford. Oddly enough they looked a lot alike. I saved my baby-sitting money for several weekends to buy my first record album back in the day when the Grand Marais Holiday sold records. It was John Denver Windsong. I played it over and over. I... READ MORE >
My favorite thing to do on a Sunday morning is bake. I think of it as a gift to my family that they wake up to the smell of an egg bake for fresh muffins. Sometimes though there just isn’t time to plan ahead. That’s when I pull out the yellow box of Bisquick and the small Bisquick recipe book... READ MORE >
I started reading mysteries in third grade. I can prove it as I now own the original library books from Birch Grove Elementary and the library cards have “Sandy A. 3rd grade” written in my best cursive. The Box Car Children Series. I read everything Gertrude Chandler Warner ever wrote. And then I read them again. These were my favorite... READ MORE >
I have been writing a column for more than 10 years about everything that “tastes” like home. But without the sense of smell, we would truly have no sense of taste. I recently read that 75 percent of our emotions are triggered by smell. If you want to remember your childhood, open up a box of crayons; 85 percent of... READ MORE >
I found the word Hygge on a Grand Marais website. I was attracted to it before I knew what it was. Y paired with GG looked like waves when I wrote it in cursive. I just had to Google the meaning. “Hygge (pronounced hue-gah) is a Danish word that is a feeling or mood that comes from taking genuine pleasure... READ MORE >
When I was young my brother and I looked forward to snowstorms. First, it was pretty outside. Second, it could lead to a snow day and sledding, and third, it meant a day for soup. I remember the first soup that I ever made was barley beef vegetable in my mom’s new crockpot. I still have the cookbook with the... READ MORE >
Ah….finally 2017! Who would have thought it would be here so soon? Just three years away is 2020, and we’ll be out of our teens. I think it’s time to put it down on paper, a resolution letter. What is it we “resolve” to do in the next three years to make ourselves, our lives and our world a better... READ MORE >
There comes a time that every child questions the validity of Santa Claus. There are some children who enjoy being “in the know” and declaring that Santa is not real. Personally I have always believed in Santa Claus….I cry whenever Santa comes to Mass to pray over baby Jesus in the manger. My friend shared this story of Grandma and... READ MORE >
