This week I met the cutest puppy ever. (And I have met some really adorable puppies in my day.) This little black and white pom pom covered my face with kisses and wiggled his way into my heart. I smelled like puppy breath the rest of the day but I didn’t mind one bit. Puppies are the best. They love... READ MORE >
Last year I wrote a column titled Gum is Sin about my Great Uncle Duane. He was married to my grandma’s sister Edna. Edna and Duane had an admirable ying and yang marriage. They worked together, she a librarian and he was a teacher. Duane was outgoing, boisterous and theatrical. Edna was friendly and warm yet had a quieter presence... READ MORE >
This Labor Day weekend we celebrated Mike’s parents being married 50 years by renting a house in Lutsen. I have always thought that it was ironic that his Mom and Dad traveled all the way from Decorah, Iowa in 1965 to honeymoon in my hometown, Grand Marais. They don’t remember the name of the hotel they stayed in but as... READ MORE >
I read that the average adult makes 35,000 choices each and every day. Thirty five thousand seems a bit much…I know I make several decisions every day. Should I get up? Should I make the bed or brush my teeth first? What’s on the breakfast menu and so on…a quick finger count and I would guess I make a couple... READ MORE >
For our family vacation this summer we rented a houseboat on Rainy Lake…. about five hours’ north in International Falls. I wasn’t sure what to expect. For example, are we on the boat 24 hours a day? What are the sleeping arrangements? And of course, how do I cook for eight people in a houseboat kitchen? Thankfully, the Internet has... READ MORE >
As my son and I were driving to town the other day we noticed three adorable children at the side of the road selling vegetables. My kids and I always stop and support young roadside entrepreneurs. (It is a joke in my family that I actually paid a dollar for a plain old rock while driving through Iowa—a young man... READ MORE >
I read an interesting article the other day. It gave ideas that are used by really organized people. (i.e., How to keep from going crazy.) I have let my organization slide a little this summer so I thought I could use a refresher course. I checked the Internet and it said it takes 21 days to form a new habit….that... READ MORE >
Thank you for being a friend…yes I am reminded of the Golden Girls and the theme song they made famous. It is my daughter’s ringtone on my cell phone but it is also one of those songs that just gets stuck in my head and won’t let go. Lately I have been thinking a lot about my friends. One in... READ MORE >
I have always had a sweet tooth. My grandma would make fresh bread and I would put butter and sugar on it until it was crunchy. Yum. Even my tea had several teaspoons of sugar to cut the taste of caffeine. My mom would buy sugarless cereal but when she wasn’t looking I would pour the sugar into the bowl... READ MORE >
I don’t know if it’s just me or does everyone have a memory bank that is triggered by mementoes? As soon as I see or touch an item I am immediately brought back to the who, what, where and when I obtained the item. It doesn’t matter if it’s a scrap of paper or a piece of large furniture. I... READ MORE >
