In almost every room of our house we display butterflies my husband artistically framed in shadow boxes. Our kids have observed, heard about, and learned way more about butterflies than the average person because of my husband’s past related business. Once when the kids were young, we watched a caterpillar form its chrysalis. When hatching day …
During my early elementary school years my family lived in Arlington, VA, just outside Washington D.C.. We saved money shopping at the Commissary and Navy Exchange on the military base, and went to the Navy doctor when necessary. Our family of three didn’t live extravagantly but we had enough to enjoy cultural outings now and …
We often leave a puzzle sitting out on a table at our house. It’s fun being able to take a break now and then, stopping to fill in a few more pieces of the picture. My favorite puzzles are from paintings that include scenes with people milling about doing various tasks. Most of them are …
Whether or not we realize it, we become like those we hang around. It’s true spiritually and it’s true with yogurt! A few years ago I started making yogurt. People have done this for generations, but I’d never been taught. After reading various recipes and tips (and drumming up enough gumption), I finally tried my …
Years ago, we patronized a bakery outlet that sold day-old bread at a discount, and we’d stock our freezer with it, to feed our dozens of children. (OK, there were only six of them, but it seemed like a lot.) One day I got the mother of our hungry horde a bread-making machine. Which bread …
Last week JB and I hiked Deer Creek Canyon. We enjoy the trails in this park because of the lovely vistas and quiet solitude. Due to unmelted snow and ice on our “regular” trail, we chose a different route. And while hiking we came across an unexpected sight. The first thing we noticed were a …
Rules. There’s something about them that makes us want to break them. But if you’re an NFL player and you break a rule, it can cost you big bucks! For instance, physical contact with an official costs a player $35,096 for the first offense and $70,194 for the second! (It’s a lot cheaper to simply …
I walked in the kitchen recently and was greeted with a most unusual culinary sight: three encyclopedias precariously perched on an upside-down bowl atop a slow cooker. My wife is quite creative in the kitchen, but this cooking contraption was somewhat unprecedented. Turns out the turkey breast she had in the slow cooker was just …
When I see motorcyclists riding without helmets I wonder why they have such disregard for their brains. I assumed riding without a helmet was illegal, until I recently read that neither federal law nor the laws of 31 states require it. Leather pants and jackets, once popular biker protection, seem to have disappeared like the …
This time of year Americans are especially excited to see what’s in the mail, hoping for personal letters and gifts. In my elementary school years, my grandmother sometimes sent us a coffee can full of homemade Christmas cookies. I now love receiving Christmas cards and photos from longtime friends and family. And it’s a great time …
My dad passed away on Friday, December 6, 2019. We’re attending two memorial services for him, one military and one Lutheran, the day this is posted. And although this is twice the length of our normal posts, I thought I’d pass along what I will be sharing in hopes that it might encourage you in …
Peter once asked Jesus, “How many times must I forgive my brother? Seven times?” I thought this a funny question for Peter to ask, given his brash, bossy, driven ways– prone to put his foot in his mouth. That zealous personality probably helped his fishing business, enabling him to command his fishing crew and sell …
