Cabinets and Clutter

Spring cleaning’s an excellent idea, but let’s face it; only the superior among us actually tackle this annual cleansing ritual. Consistent spring cleaners have my upmost admiration. Folks who move frequently needn’t bother. With each move comes a general purging, a realization that one definitely does not need that half packet of baking yeast at [...]

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Leather Love Seat

This story begins with an inherited, avocado green couch. It had started life decades ago with my aunt and uncle in “the house”, the old, family residence of my grandparents, circa 1895, depository of all things antique, familial, too sentimental to discard without indescribable anguish, soul-searching and indecision. When the couch was reupholstered in the [...]

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Do or Die

During the last decade, Zack and I have valiantly attempted to repair and rehabilitate things around here. (I was referring to the ranch, but there was certainly some rehabilitation on him too, after paralysis, come to think of it). We’ve worked on a wind mill, water towers, fences, cow lots, old houses, dilapidated barns and [...]

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Joys of the County-Wide Yard Sale

Ah, the joys of the county wide yard sale! This year it occurred as March ended and April began. Perhaps it’s sick, but as an enthusiastic (certainly not compulsive/ every weekend “yard sale-er”), I eagerly anticipate this annual event and try to enjoy it when I’m able. (I asked for time off from “the boss”. [...]

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Stuff

I wrote before about young women at the time of my “coming of age” who regularly did the whole bridal registry thing, ending up with multiple sets of china, silver, and crystal. Many of us prepared for a certain kind of expected social registry/junior league type of existence that never materialized exactly as we had [...]

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Different Strokes. . . .

Before Zack was paralyzed and forced into early retirement (which means he’s home every day now, 24/7), I believe I can remember occasionally having some time all to myself and actually controlling the TV remote for various odd hours during certain days. This usually happened when I sat down to eat. I discovered DIY, the [...]

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Oasis

It’s official. We’re too happy. Perhaps you know someone (usually “of a certain age”) who says things like, “Well, I’d like to [do this or that/ go here or there], but I think I’ll just stay home; I have so much to do”.  Well, I think we’re each becoming THAT GUY. I’ve always been a [...]

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Preconceived Notions

I was thinking about preconceived notions. I’ll give you an example. I always imagined by this age, I’d feel, act, and look REALLY OLD. I can’t do as much about the latter, but I don’t believe I act OR feel as old as I expected to by this point. My parents, their siblings, cousins and [...]

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Josh’s Visit, December 2010

My very tech savvy son Josh visited and updated electronics for us —things we’d never change on our own. We’re always EVENTUALLY grateful. Josh worked on both our computers as usual, and taught us new commands and programs we never realized we couldn’t live without. Zack picks up on these things more quickly than I [...]

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Serendipity

Talk about serendipity. I’ve always said that we never know what may fall upon us from the sky. Sometimes it’s good, and sometimes—-well, not so much. Often these surprises make us scratch our heads in wonder. Now that we’re in the middle of repairing the ceilings in the little farm house and painting the hideous [...]

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