food

When our children were in school, I liked to think of September as the spring of a new school year. A time for new beginnings: new classrooms, teachers, classes, subjects, books and some years a new school. It's hard to believe that Tuesday is the start of a new school year already....

While attending graduation parties and shoppipng during the hot weather, I noticed people of all ages wearing summer sandles and flip flops. Most of them were those cute, fun sandals and only a few had any arch support. I thought of our trips to Mexico many years ago and the colorful...

This is our second official long weekend of the summer. Our days are getting shorter and we have only had a few days of spring or summer. It's been good for the electric or water bills, but taking it's toll on people who work outside or planned vacations. Many people were so ready...

Last year at this time their season was over and this year the buds are just beginning to appear. What a difference a year makes. The lilac bush is one of the most fragrant and beautiful signs of spring. Some years they are past their peak by Memorial Day, their flowers spent, and...

In 1918 Miss Moina Michael on impulse bought a boquet of poppies at New York's Wanamaker's Department Store. At the YMCA business meeting where she worked, she asked everyone to wear the poppy as a tribute to all our veterans who sacrificed their lives for our country. Later she led...

Sunday is Mother's Day and I think of my mother. Growing up, little things that both comforted and irritated her in our daily routines have now become automatic in my life. I recall her short frame swiftly moving from task to task with few of our modern conveniences. When we came...

Christians around the world will celebrate the Resurrection Festival of Jesus Christ on Sunday. The Easter celebration is the oldest and most elaborate celebration of the Christian church. During Lent, the 50 day period starts with Ash Wednesday and ends Sunday. People prepare for...

Last week I was looking forward to watching the Twins-Yankee game when I heard it would not be televised due to conflicts between cable companies. I channel surfed and all that was on was the earthquake in Japan, talk of a government shutdown, the budgets on state and national levels...

With the warmer April temperatures, our thoughts turn to barbecuing and outdoor cooking. Texans claim the barbecue was born in Texas and spread to other states while other sources give credit to our pioneers, the cowboys, hunters and early Spanish explorers who out of necessity cooked...

With the large amount of snow and rain during the winter and ground saturated from last fall, cities in the Midwest with in low lying areas have been preparing for spring floods. Slowed down by cooler temperatures, the weathermen are warning about slower rising waters with two...

I sent a birthday card to a special lady who turned 91 years old. She is more like a 40-year-old than 90. Ginny is always on the go. She enjoys camping, traveling, reading, gardening, taking photos, compiling a scrap book for each trip, walking and hiking to name a few of her many...

On March 17 hardly a person with Irish blood or those who wish they had some, forgets to wear the traditional Emerald Isle green honoring the patron saint of Ireland, St Patrick. The shamrock symbolizes the Trinity and is one of the best known symbols of St Patrick's Day today. Decades...

We all have days when we are stressed out and worry about something. It may be a sick child, or a student a term paper or speech. In our economy, it could be being laid off, work atmosphere or a legal problem. Some stress is healthy, but the other is harmful to people. The American...

It isn't very often I have problems falling asleep. Most of the time my eyes are closed before my head hits the pillow. However, several nights ago I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. I'm not much of a television watcher. I'd rather listen to the radio or read. Due to circumstances,...

It's been many years since I recall hearing the phrase, "It wasn't just a Midwestern, but rather an old fashioned blizard." Being raised on a prairie, the wind directions changed so fast. First it would be a gentle South wind. We would rush to get things done knowing the mild weather...