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So You’d Like Me to Hitch Hike

“Mom, can I take the train in to Boston to go to a Red Sox game with Dan?”

“Just you and Dan?”

(Both kids are only 16. Dan is one of Cait’s many guy friends.)

“Yep.”

“How come he’s inviting you and not one of his buddies?”

“They’re all Yankees fans. I’m the only Red Sox fan he knows.”

(What my daughter also fails to mention is that she lives for adventure!)

“Where does the train get in? How far … Read More

How to Prevent Dog Urine From Creating Burn Spots in Your Lawn

There are three types of calls I routinely get from my family:

  1. All medical related concerns thanks to my EMT background.
  2. All vegetable gardening questions thanks to more than a couple of decades of dirt under my fingernails.
  3. Last but not least…  Dogs of course!

It ensures that I regularly get to hear from most of my family fairly often.  The most recent call I fielded was from one of my nephews who has a delightful female Golden Retriever. As … Read More

The Time Has Come…

… the Walrus said, to talk of other things. Of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings…

Anything but how time is starting to catch up with my beloved girl…

Kiera is closing in on 13 years old. Her recent visit to the vet confirmed what I had been observing. Kiera is now 90% blind.

So we make changes. And we adjust. And we now use baby gates to prevent her from getting stuck on the stairs … Read More

I’m Thinking Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

The garden is lush with all the rain and warming temps. It looks like it’s going to be a bountiful season. We already have lots of lettuce and herbs, peas and beans, kale and broccoli, and of course all the June berries.

Looking for a quick something for dessert this evening, I came back with these. I was thinking a nice strawberry rhubarb crisp would be refreshing.

strawberries in a basket

But Graidy was thinking fresh strawberries… … Read More

What’s In a Name?

Cait was doing her homework at the kitchen table while I was getting dinner ready.

Out of nowhere, she started, “Mom, Shanley is a funny name. It’s kind of hard and soft sounding at the same time. And I always have to spell it because no one ever gets it right.”

“I don’t even wait for people to ask me to spell it anymore, I just automatically do now,” I said in agreement.

“And I always end up toward the … Read More

The Best Presents…

The presents I love most always come free and unattached to any Hallmark holiday. This little gift of peonies are fresh cut from my garden and the smell is heavenly. Which is interesting. Because I’m allergic to perfume. But not to the incredible scent of these beauties. But this bouquet is especially special to me because it carries a secret message.

peonies in vase

Did you spot it?


Cait is always leaving me little notes expressing her love for me. I’ll often sit … Read More

Outstanding in the Corn Fields — Odyssey of the Mind World Finals 2012 Ames, Iowa

ootm 2012 logoCait and I’ve spent the last several days in Ames, Iowa at Iowa State University. She and her Odyssey of the Mind team won 1st at Regionals and 2nd at States, which qualified them to compete at Worlds. Which is sort of like the Olympics for creative mind types.  Here’s as good as any explanation I can find on what Odyssey is, if you’re not familiar with it:

Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides creative

Read More
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