Recycle. Refurbish, Repurpose. Reuse.
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 Ancestors
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 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
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
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
Photo by Edwin Hooper on Unsplash I was surprised to realize it has been more than 18 months since my last Parkinson’s update. Where did the time go? It wasn't that I couldn't have written a blog post. With the pandemic keeping us at home for more than a year, I can't claim that I… Continue reading Parkinson’s During Days of Covid
Last week, I discovered that we have a feral cat living in our yard. When we moved here, 23 years ago, we had lots of feral cats. Often a half dozen or more would squeeze beneath the door and take shelter inside our barn each winter. We haven’t had one for a couple of years.… Continue reading Keeping Cats
Home at the WhackyShack 