Life is what you make it.
I love to do genealogy. I have traced my own family tree and those of friends interested in knowing. I search old newspapers looking for tidbits that might reveal something about my ancestors. Where did they come from? What were they like? Their history becomes a part of us. It determines where we are born… Continue reading Deep Roots and Gnarled Branches: Telling Tales of our Dead
I love thrift shops, antique shops, flea markets, etc. There’s no telling what you will find and there is most often a bargain to be had. I love “boutique” shopping districts filled with specialty stores and gift shops. And a Christmas shop is a win with me at any time of year. Finding these places… Continue reading Shopping Around Northeast Ohio: A list of thrift stores, antique shops, flea markets, and other interesting places.
Last year, I found myself the owner of a box of Barbie dolls. My sister and I turned them into a project. Julie made each doll a new wardrobe. I fashioned hats, handbags and necklaces and made each doll a cardboard box "cottage." We donated 40 doll sets to organizations that provide gifts for needy… Continue reading Why Your Vintage Barbie Isn’t
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash One of my earliest memories is of walking through the garden behind my grandmother. In Wetzel County in the 1960s, a vegetable garden was a common sight in every backyard. "Hack" and "Gertie" grew tomatoes and peppers, squash and corn, and always a large patch of "Half Runner" green… Continue reading Memories of Wetzel County: West Virginia Potatoes
Read notes about my travel plans here. ~This is a 7 day travel agenda that visits some of Pennsylvania's best botanical gardens and arboretums. ~This plan is designed to begin on a Saturday in order to accommodate the open/closed days of some establishments. ~This plan is intended to be traveled between May and September. ~Any… Continue reading A Plan For Touring Pennsylvania Gardens
Recycle. Remake. Reuse -- doesn’t only apply to physical objects. I create travel plans for my own use. I spend many hours researching, reading reviews, and comparing prices in order to make the best decisions about where and how I spend my travel dollars. I have opted to publish some of these plans so that… Continue reading Important Notes About my Travel Plans
Dementia is cruel joke that is played on those who suffer from it. For those who watch it happening it is sad and confusing. My mother's memory fades in and out so quickly that it is difficult to know what world she is living in at any moment in time. You can’t predict or prevent… Continue reading Dealing With Dementia and Returning to Wetzel County
My friends would tell you that I have a beautiful garden. I also have deer, rabbits, raccoons, field mice, skunks, squirrels, chipmunks, fox, possum, coyotes, mink, feral cats, birds, moles, voles, turkey, and dogs that a thoughtless neighbor turns loose each night before retiring to his bed. I started a garden as soon as I… Continue reading Coexisting with Critters In the Garden
