My grandmother (nonna) crocheted constantly, making beautiful creations–shawls, baby booties and blankets, doilies, table cloths, slippers, bedspreads–for her children and sixteen grandchildren. Every year on our birthdays she’d send pillow cases to me and my sister with a delicate crocheted edging. They were for our “hope chests,” which during our teenage years my sister and […]
Tidings of Comfort and Joy
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, friends! This season is a time of reflection for me, so I’ll begin my post with a look to the past. On the left is Christmas 1949 with my mother and sister (on the left) with our much loved dolls Santa faithfully delivered every year. On the right are my […]
Halloween at Cornerstone
Welcome to Trunk or Treat at Cornerstone Church! Our church parking lot transforms into a paradise for trick or treaters and their families at Halloween. We decorate the trunks of our cars and hand out candy to costumed children from Overland Park, North Kansas City, Grandview and surrounding communities. There’s not enough space here to […]
Come Sail With Me
Have you ever been asked to look at someone’s pictures after they returned from what they claim was the best vacation ever? And you were bored to tears? I’ll try hard not to be that person but won’t guarantee it while I post photos from our Rhine River Cruise. Our wonderful excursion began in Amsterdam. […]
The Perfect Day
What would your perfect day look like? What would you choose to do? Yesterday was my birthday and it got me to thinking about how to spend the perfect day. First–Companions I’d love to have the whole family to share the perfect day, but since they are widely scattered I’m happy to spend the day […]
Pass the Torch this Memorial Day
Last Saturday I joined DAR members in placing flags on the graves of veterans at our Olathe cemetery. We share this responsibility with groups like the American Legion and together recognize veterans from the Mexican American War to our most recent conflicts. I noted with interest the Civil War veterans served in units from PA, […]
Madonna of the Trail and Other Delights
A steady drizzle fell as we pulled into Council Grove two weeks ago to visit once again this engaging town on the Santa Fe Trail. The gloomy sky suddenly brightened at the sight of a welcome sign in front of the Post Office Oak where our tour was to begin. Members from the Council Oak […]
We are the Champions!
February is the month of red roses and valentines. In Kansas City it’s become the month of Red Everywhere all the time. Wear it, drink it, decorate it, eat it, because in case you needed reminding, the Chiefs are Super Bowl Champions, and the city has gone nuts again. This is Union Station, filled with […]
Council Grove, Gem on the Santa Fe Trail
Road trip! Last Saturday was a perfect October day. My friend Vicki and I drove two hours to explore Council Grove, KS, the setting for my next novel which is the continuation of “Lila’s Song” my short story published last year. Our knowledgeable and entertaining host for the day was Kelley Judd, treasurer of the […]
Endings and Beginnings
We’ve been busy. No, we’re not opening a hardware store, but we just held a huge tool sale in our garage last Saturday. This is what a carpenter accumulates in 18 years when his wife isn’t paying attention. As you can see there were drills, saws, hand tools, more drills, more saws, heaters and lots […]
