I love my stack of well-used mismatched cloth napkins. It’s not a neat pile though I sometimes wish it were. Some are worn down fabric squares, some thick and nearly like canvas, some simple bandanas, others embroidered artistic pieces. A few contain stains stubbornly penetrating the fabric dye. Many times I’ve thought that I should […]
All posts by: Helen
I’m surprised I can still eat them, still enjoy them. Their color is so vibrant, taste so pleasant and unassuming. However, an event concerning a bowl of peas almost ruined them for me. An embarrassing moment. But I have had so many subsequent gaffes and blunders that this one, while still remembered, pales in comparison […]
In 1978 I was assigned to Ox College “3 South” corridor. The all girls freshman dorm, located one mile from campus, was the dreaded dorm room assignment. Even my waitlisted high school girlfriend was relieved to be given commuter status rather than receive my dorm draw. I laugh at the tears my eighteen-year-old self […]
I’ve spent my entire adult life celebrating and embracing being a little different than normal. I hear the off beat of a different drummer, and have grown to love that sound. But recently I rejoiced upon receiving a letter declaring me normal. And, yes, the word “normal” was actually bolded in print, not just in […]
Maybe my title intrigued you. You may think I’m about to share a story about something great that happened recently. I’m not. Instead, I’m relating how our choice of words, our thoughts, our self speak determines how our life goes. Be positive is not just a blood type or a cliché. I reset my brain […]
Last night we flew cross country to Portland Oregon where our oldest son lives. It’s Thanksgiving week, airports are busy and our flight was completely full. For the second leg of the flight, a 4 hour 20 minute journey, I sat between two strangers, emphasis on the “strange.” The turbulence was not the worst I’ve […]
I love this picture, but not only for the reasons you may think. Who doesn’t love a rainbow with all its spectrum of hues, not to be outdone by the good karma and charming lore? How fortunate to capture this view of a complete rainbow, including its beginning and end. There’s even a hint through […]
It’s late October and the southwestern Ohio days are noticeably shorter and the temperatures cooler. This year, but not every, I’m still bringing in bouquets of cut flowers. The yield is not quite as abundant as last month but the color is just as vibrant. Do I appreciate these last bundles more than those collected in […]
Okay, I confess. I embraced the Empty Nest concept a little more readily than my husband. A little more joyfully than anyone I know for that matter. Empty Nesta Fiesta was my mantra! Taking back over the house, owning all my free time, and living without a need for a schedule around meals (cereal or […]