• A New Approach to New Year’s Resolutions

    Reality never matches the ambition of New Year’s resolutions. Each January 1st I channel my inner optimist and set goals for improving myself in the coming year. In reality, my New Year’s resolutions become a To Do list for the…

  • Recipe rebel

    The Recipe Rebel

    There are two types of people in the world: those who read the directions, and those who should have.   I am usually a rule follower. I don’t drink milk beyond its sell-by date. I launder my whites and darks…

  • Christmas traditions

    The Handbook of Christmas Traditions

    For my tradition-loving family, Christmas is our favorite time of year. We love every aspect of the Christmas holiday. Our family has traditions for everything from worship services to decorations to food and entertainment. You might say we are wrapped…

  • Flame headshot

    Becoming A Celebrity Canine Agent

    Dog’s Stage Debut Makes Him a Canine Celebrity Our daughter’s dog Flame just made his stage debut in the fall musical at her college. At her request I brought him to the auditions, where he impressed the director and won…

  • Too Old to be Outdated

    You are as old and as young as the words you speak. I try not to be lured into clicking those outrageous headlines in my browser’s sidebar. But as a slightly compulsive wordsmith, once in a while a great grammatical…

  • The Dog Spoon

    The Dog Spoon

    Don’t judge me by the utensils I use. The first time I met my prospective in-laws I really wanted to make a good impression. Instead, I scandalized them by using the wrong spoon. It wasn’t a breach of etiquette. I’m…