Columns

Several weeks ago, while offering Mitty her morning backrub, I found a lump on her back, close to her curled, Siamese tail. Her beautiful, blue eyes objected to my tick inspection, yet I persisted until she growled and clawed my hand. "Sorry, Mitts." "Meeeooow!" she...

— PART 2 — Coming off an undefeated championship season (7 wins, no losses, and one tie), expectations for the 1957 Almont football team were high. Losses to graduation included three All-State performers: left tackle Lee Hartway, halfback Alex Iloncaie, and end Larry...

I never tire of birdsong, the Mourning Dove’s slow, low, melancholy notes in the chorus. The dove seems a patient creature, waiting its turn to sing. I miss the pair. For years they either found their place on the telephone wire along the driveway, or an oak and maple...

— part 1 — The 1956 Almont High School football team was one of the best in school history. They finished the season as co-champions of the Southern Thumb Association with a record of 7 wins, no losses and a tie–an undefeated season. The tie was with co-champion New...

I went to church on Sunday. Once home I always, well not always, but usually search my calendar as to what is coming up the next week. Not that I am a social butterfly, more like a homebound repeating rifle...you’re laughing right? Well to those of you who are not...

On July 1, 1890, R. E. Lee bought the foundry facility of the Henry Currier Agricultural Works from Mrs. H. P. Currier. Mrs. Currier, acting as the administrator of her husband’s estate, was liquidating assets. Mr. Lee manufactured the “Peerless” plow, land rollers,...

The year is more than half spent, time to return to my Appalachian birthplace. This visit, a triple portion awaits. Of all wonderful, loving gifts, my middle daughter, Kelly, offered to fly in from California to join me. As it's a challenge to navigate Ohio's knotted...

Franceska, Giselle, and I had not been OUT for awhile, as Franceska had to see her new great grandson and Giselle and I had huge gardens to attend to. Giselle and I both have our gardens hot wired for the beautiful but hungry interlopers (deer) with babies now, but it...

Something went wrong after I planted my coveted Kentucky Wonder green bean seeds. They sprouted but didn't reach for the sun with their usual zest for life. Then the leaves turned yellow due to what I suspect might be my husband's zealous watering. For, from what I've...

One of the highlights of each summer when I was growing up was going to church camp. It started when I was about nine with junior Bible camp and continued until I was 17 with teen camp. One week each summer was set apart for attendance at the camp. There we learned...