Family History, Gardens, House and Home

Memories of Wetzel County: West Virginia Potatoes

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash As a toddler I called them "West Virginia potatoes." They could be red potatoes or common white ones, but whatever the variety, I would wolf down boiled potatoes whenever we visited Wetzel County. At home in Ohio however, I was a picky child. I loved potatoes mashed or fried,… Continue reading Memories of Wetzel County: West Virginia Potatoes

Travel, Travel Plans

Important Notes About my Travel Plans

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 am publishing some of these plans so that others might… Continue reading Important Notes About my Travel Plans

Our Aging Parents

Dealing With Dementia and Returning to Wetzel County

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

Gardens, House and Home

Coexisting with Critters In the Garden

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

desserts, Recipes: Family Favorites

Grandma’s Best Hot Chocolate

Modern conveniences make busy lives easier. But when it comes to hot chocolate, modern conveniences have let us down. Today’s “just add hot water and stir” hot chocolate mixes do not taste nearly as good as the steaming cups of rich deliciousness that Grandma served to us after an afternoon of sledding or making angels… Continue reading Grandma’s Best Hot Chocolate

Happy Holidays

Collecting Vintage Christmas

I guess it was only natural that my collecting of Christmas tree ornaments would expand into collecting other kinds of Christmas items. That, at least, is what other collectors have told me. A love of Christmas doesn't stop at the tree and I have gone on to collect other kinds of Christmas decor. Nothing I… Continue reading Collecting Vintage Christmas