Mike and I are both from small towns. He’s from Decorah, Iowa and I grew up on the North Shore of Lake Superior. When we had kids we decided to find a place that was similar to our roots…welcome to Annandale! There are people who don’t understand the small town life. They think we are always overly involved in each... READ MORE >
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the I Love Lucy Christopher Radko ornament you gave me this year! It is right up there with the bone china tea set you left for me in 1973 and the stereo with 8 track you sent in 1980! You always seem to know that special gift that will bring me joy all... READ MORE >
I recently read an article called How 936 Pennies Can Change the Way You Parent. I highly recommend all parents to take 10 minutes to read this. It really touched my heart as I am the mom to three great kids ages 21, 16 and 15. The article suggests we all fill a jar with 936 pennies at the birth... READ MORE >
When our family sits down to dinner with guests we like to play a game called “Family Dinner.” I bought it at Judy’s Cottage in Annandale a few years ago. The game has 82 questions; we each draw one question and take turns going around the table answering all the questions. Recently we had the question about the “greatest invention... READ MORE >
As we rush through everyday life sometimes we see so many people we never really think about the fragility of it all. We assume that there will always be one more hello and one more goodbye. Then a tragedy hits and we realize it only takes a moment for it all to become final, there will be no more hellos... READ MORE >
Today I mailed a thank you card that should have been given personally to a teacher in 1979. That teacher made a split second decision that changed the course of my life—he didn’t rat me out. It started as a plan on the school bus… one of those plans you make in the eighth grade and can’t wait to carry... READ MORE >
Today I had a Thelma and Louise morning in Annandale. Of course there wasn’t any drinking, or smoking, or shooting men, or fleeing for the Mexican border… so I guess the only REAL resemblance was two good friends riding around in a convertible. For the record I was Thelma, because she was the one to “kiss” Brad Pitt in the... READ MORE >
My family has a wide variety of interests….one is collecting…nothing big or serious like gold statues or Faberge eggs. They collect fun, inexpensive items that remind them of special people and places. My Grandma Isabelle liked to collect thimbles. When I traveled for business I would find her a thimble with pictures of the city I was in and send... READ MORE >
My Great Uncle Duane died on August 24. I stopped saying “passed away” two years ago when my brother died. It might seem harsh, but I find it more truthful. After all we all will die at some point so why sugar coat it? I am not sure what “passed away” really means anyway. What did they pass? Many people... READ MORE >
I have always loved aprons. I have a few. I like the kind with a bib top to protect my blouse. One of mine is a reversible polka dot that reminds me of Lucille Ball. It was made by Mary Spike. I won it at the St. Ignatius silent auction. I have a batik apron that was made by Mary... READ MORE >
