Blog
As a curious observer of life, I blog on writing, marketing, my prairie - anything that interests me in the moment. I like to have conversations with readers, so don’t hesitate to leave a comment. I'll respond.
Mom and I traditionally waited until Thanksgiving weekend to break out the candy thermometer and heavy pans for our annual candy-making extravaganza. But I start early. This year it was all I could do to…
Read More“If you do see me in a restaurant. Please, just let me eat my dinner.” That’s how Andy Rooney signed off his last CBS 60 Minutesessay. Some two decades ago, I was eating lunch with…
Read MoreNovember 2. Rain. Wind. 40 degrees. Snow in the forecast. Ah the beauty of Iowa weather. Wait one minute and it will change. Our pretty leaves only two days ago on the trees are rapidly…
Read MoreIt’s 72 degrees. On November 1. In Iowa. Can you believe it? Even though I have plenty of writing to do, I’m dawdling. I’ve been out for a walk. Out taking pictures. Out laying on…
Read MoreThe woman sat bent over a card table in the far corner of the room. When Kara Langsdon of the Iowa City Public Library(ICPL) introduced me, the woman never looked up. When I launched into…
Read More“O suns and skies and clouds of June, And flowers of June together, Ye cannot rival for one hour October’s bright blue weather” In eighth grade, I memorized Helen Hunt Jackson‘s poem, October’s Bright Blue…
Read MoreInspired by the movie “Julie and Julia,” our dinner group tackled Julia Child’s Boeuf Bourguignon. The five-hour preparation time encouraged us to cook the day ahead of our dinner. The instructions promised the dish would…
Read MoreOctober 16 was Blog Action Day. The topic this year: ‘Food.’ I wasn’t able to blog on the 16th, but I figure it’s never too late to talk about food. I am reminded of the…
Read MoreTexting while driving is a hazard. No exceptions. Texters may say they can text without looking. I don’t believe it. As we put 3,800 miles on our van over the last two weeks, we had…
Read MoreTraveling offers so many new sights and experiences. Most a delight, some a pain. We’ve been on the road the past two weeks. Sightseeing at Gettysburg, visiting family in Pennsylvania, attending a wedding in Massachusetts.…
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