“Watch out for the patch of poison ivy near the vegetable garden,” said my husband as he wiped his brow with the back of his hand. “You do know what poison ivy looks like, right?” “Leaves of three…let it be,” I recited with solemnity. I resisted holding my hand to my heart. Poison Ivy. Back again. Whyyyyyyyy? When we bought… Read More

When I realized what was on my plate it was all I could do not to run to the bathroom and throw-up my lunch. I wanted to slap my tongue and sanitize my mouth, or visa versa, or both. Gross is NOT a big enough word. Allow me to explain… One of the joys of having a home garden is… Read More

  Booker trotted along side of me as we jumped mud puddles and dodged friendly neighbors driving cars too fast down the gravel road. They always wave as if saying “Hi,” but I’m never quite sure. Maybe it’s more of a “Get you next time!” gesture as they zoom around the corner. As I observed Ma Nature’s handiwork…a new and… Read More

I ate a light brunch in anticipation of the afternoon’s offerings. My daughter and her fiancé were in town to do a “tasting” at the caterers for their upcoming wedding. Back in my day—not quite horse and carriage, but not uber $$$, glitz and glamor either—I don’t recall ever hearing about food tastings for weddings. My parents hired the local… Read More

I juggled my purse, my laptop, and a disposable pan filled with my secret-recipe chocolate chip cookies all while praying I wouldn’t do a face-plant as I entered the car dealership. Ryan, my knowledgeable Audi service guy, greeted me with a wave and a smile. As I slid the pan over the counter he tilted his head. “You didn’t have… Read More

The lawnmower wheels barely missed the fungi shaped like small, deformed penises. I hit the brakes and stared down at the four growths, wanting to believe they were the hallowed and much-coveted morel mushrooms. But trust is a big issue when it comes to mushrooms. My mind raced. Why are they here this year when, in the 13 years we’ve… Read More

Booker, our Siberian Husky, perked up his ears and began trotting over to a quiet section of woods in Wild River State Park. Assuming an innocent, but targeted, squirrel was about to either have a heart attack or set a new land-speed record, we attempted to bring Booker back in on his retractable leash. In response, Booker took the stance…. Read More

My sister inhaled sharply, gave a little cough, and lit the cigarette dangling from her lips. She’s not a smoker, but Mom is. Or, more precisely, was. My sister put the cigarette on Mom’s grave like a little solemn column, and we stood back in contemplation. It was Mom’s 80th birthday celebration. We were doing our best to honor a… Read More

Most of us have looked in our musty dusty scrapbooks and winced at the hairstyles we sported in our youth. Or our clothing styles, make-up styles, prom dates (well, almost any dates come to think of it), and behaviors. “What were we thinking?” we ask ourselves. Truth be known, at the time, those styles were trendy and socially on cue… Read More

The hallway looked like one of those photos where the mirror reflects another mirror and another and another into infinity. Only this mental photo involved a lot more beige. And doors. Lots of doors. Okay, let’s just say it was a long hallway. My husband and I sorta knew where we were going…the community room, seventh floor, book signing. It… Read More

Grandma-isms. Is there such a word? There should be. My grandma tended to tell me stories of her youth, and spent as much time on her regrets as her successes. I don’t have too many one-liners from her, but the intent and messages linger within me to this day. A peppery and well timed, “Schweinhund!” was always a smile maker… Read More

“Sit!” Booker stands. I try again. “Sit!” He lays down and looks at me with hopeful eyes. I have to rough up his fur and tell him he’s a good boy for trying. To do otherwise breaks my heart. The other day I watched a pair of ducks swim in a pool of snowmelt. “Do you think they know this… Read More

Ah, the painful humor of seeing yourself mirrored in comic splendor. My husband loves the comic strip “Zits.” (As per “Google” –Created by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman, Zits is about the life of Jeremy Duncan, a 15-year-old aspiring rock musician.) I’m not sure if he loves it because Jeremy’s father is in dentistry, or because he secretly relates to… Read More

While on date night recently, my husband and I took in the Brave New Workshop’s production of A Snowplow Named Desire. We loved every moment of it’s wacky hilarity, self-depreciating Minnesota humor, and bits of naughtiness. (We attended the 5 p.m. show, so the naughtiness factor grows into the later hours. I’m told.) We had arrived a few minutes before… Read More

My daughter is getting married in the fall. Lace is pretty. Satin is divine. Flowers, music, food, and a venue to hold it all as guests mingle and toast and dance. Goals and lists, expectations versus desires. Love is the glue that creates this collage of moments, and I’m the mom-of-the-bride witnessing it all. Some moms are extremely involved with… Read More

Our cat, Pudgy, is not trustworthy. Sure, she lurks. She invites people to pet her upturned belly and then bites them. She even rubs her head on my ankle before attacking me. I can live with those eccentricities. What I tend to worry more about is her litter box use. She’s been fighting a urinary infection due to a frustrating… Read More

Is there anything as pathetic and vulnerable looking as a soaking wet cat? I think not. And, is there anything as curious about, well, everything, as a kitten? I think not. Water + kitten + curiosity = NOT a good combination. Of late, whenever I take a bath, our kitten Giese comes to the ledge of the tub and watches…. Read More

Yoga pants, T-shirt, socks. Hair held hostage in a ponytail. My uniform of late. Is that bad? I wasn’t sure so I asked my husband. “Sweetie,” I said. “Do you find my attire boring? I mean, until I figure out what I’m doing career-wise, this is what you see me in everyday.” I swept my hand down the length of… Read More

The jungle curtain parts and there before you stands the remains of an ancient Mayan temple. It towers above the landscape and you wonder how you didn’t see it before that breathy moment of discovery. You feel the breeze on your face, hear the sounds of exotic birds, and are transported to another era. An era still surrounded in mystery… Read More

Booker ran down the path, blue eyes blazing and pink tongue flopping. He was on a mission to mow me down and we both knew it. My only warning? The gleam in his eyes. I gave out a little squeal and barely sidestepped his furry canon-ball assault. He zipped by, rounded the birdfeeder, and then came back at me from… Read More

Argh! The dilemma! I was shopping in Walmart with a rumpled list, a creaky cart, and a wandering husband. The layout of this particular store is different than the one I usually visit, so I was more than a little lost and distracted. The pet food was near the laundry soap; my husband was looking for hand lotion somewhere near… Read More

I love quotes. I love them even more when they are short and pithy. Mark Twain said, “If a man holds a cat by the tail, he learns things he cannot learn in any other way.” All I can say is amen to that. A good short quote is sometimes the kick in the butt needed to move forward. Or,… Read More

“I came to see if Crazy was here.” The man’s voice was thin and crackly and drew my attention. I was leaning on the counter of our local post office waiting for a manila envelope to be weighed, priced, and stamped. Needless to say, this was a welcome and intriguing interruption. Not that a visit to the post office lacks… Read More

When my dad, Alvin, passed away in October my siblings and I searched for ways to honor his memory, his humor, and his ongoing presence in our lives. Some of us asked for simple remembrances like his favorite sweater, or, in my case, his high school class ring. (Unfortunately it was not found among his things.) My sister, Leah, came… Read More

The combatants held each other’s gaze with fiery intent. The smaller of the two circled, took a soft swing, and rolled to the left. Feeling empowered while the little one was down, the larger one lurched upon the kitten’s exposed belly. Hissing, biting, and scratching, the two played out their roles. I watched, ready to step in if necessary, but… Read More

There’s something about a new kitten that shakes up a household. Beyond the worries of stepping on her, feeding her too much or too little, acclimating her to Pudgy’s sweeping mood changes, and finding her amongst the mysteries of the crawl space, bonding occurs. Every so often I look up with that “somebody is staring at me feeling” and catch… Read More

“I love that place!” I said as I handed my husband his Rx. He laughed. “Me too. If it ever shuts down I’ll go into mourning.” “That place” is one of our local drug stores. How it hangs on is a mystery, but I’m glad it does. It’s not the kind of drug store that ever had a fountain service… Read More

Today as I pumped gas into my car the nozzle bit at my skin with its frozen metal, and snow pellets pelted my eyes like the BB guns forewarned in my youth. It was windy, it was grey, and it was making me wish I had opted for a warmer coat as I left the house. The gas station, in… Read More

Parking lots stuffed with cars waiting to enter, park, and exit, billow exhaust and remind me of creatures struggling to breath in our frigid holiday air. People walk to and fro laden with grocery bags, overflowing carts, and distracted children. Their faces display mixed emotions. I see, or at least interpret, happiness, frustration, grumpiness, and calm. Many people are on… Read More