Columns

After our "Friends of Herbs" program Wednesday morning at Seven Ponds Nature Center, I drove south twenty-one miles to my favorite grocery store. I've learned the aisles in Fresh Thyme, where to find ginger root (more accurately a rhizome) in their produce section....

Today I am so happy that the sun is shining and I am alive. What a turbolic (made up word) world it has been so far this week, and it’s only Wednesday. Glad the sun is out, glad the snow is almost gone, glad the State of the Union message went out, and no serious...

Nothing thrilled me more than the adventure of sleeping in the back window of Dad's 1949 Chrysler on our trip to Granny's house. All it took was her phone call to Mom in July or August when Granny said, "Sadie, the garden's in. Come on down." The following Saturday...

Edward “Ed” James D’Arcy was born October 13, 1924 in Saginaw, Saginaw, Michigan to Joseph Melvin Miller D’Arcy (1901-1973) and Irene Jesse Francis D’Arcy (1903-1986). He was the third of four children – sister, Evelyn Irene (1921-1921), brother, J. D. Francis...

Gloriously, sunshine satisfied the weather forecast last Tuesday – perfect for pruning my dwarf apple and pear trees within Richardson Wright's recommended January timeline. The extended sunset allowed me to accomplish the day's work on my desk, plus the outdoor...

When I was little, we learned many songs in Sunday school. There was "Jesus Loves Me," "Jesus Loves the Little Children of the World," "The B I B L E," and "I'm in the Lord's Army," among many others. I'm not completely certain of this, but it seems to me that the...

You'd think a gardener could rest from yardwork in January. Not according to Richardson Wright, one of America's foremost garden historians, advisors, and authors (1887-1961). As you lean against your pillow, lamplight upon pages you hold open to "January 20" in a...

Norman Root Hamilton was born in May 8, 1925 in Almont, Lapeer, Michigan to Frank Ronald Hamilton (1893-1955) and Eunice Osea Root Hamilton (1897-1977). Frank had married Eunice in 1920 in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. Norm joined older brother Ronald William...

I celebrate Mom's January birthday with one of her favorite sweets. Her four younger brothers often decreed her apple pie undeniably the best of its kind. Especially served a la mode with her beautiful smile and cup of fresh-brewed coffee. She once said in her...

Have you ever taken a pottery class? I was privileged to do some pottery work in middle school. The first thing the teacher taught us was the importance of kneading the clay thoroughly to work out all the air bubbles. Only after this was completed could we begin...