Hearts and Flowers
Hello darlings, are you still pondering what token of love to give your significant other? The traditional gifts are so expected, candy, flowers, cards and a special dinner, let’s step out of the box this year and really bring a big smile and kisses from the love of your life. First, stop and think about […]
Swamp Tromp
As you are reading this I am knee deep in brackish water, surrounded by dwarf cypress trees, mangroves, and eighth graders. We’re all keeping a sharp eye out for Burmese pythons and alligators as we explore the Florida Everglades, conducting a field study of this fragile and magnificent ecosystem. The idea of a field study, […]
Means for Valuing Artifacts
All of us want to know what our stuff is worth, whether purchased, inherited or gifted. Those who have read previous columns know that I recommend using a professional appraiser in order to have the proper documentation for insuring collections and making the best decisions regarding selling certain collections. For clients who have tiny budgets […]
When Can I Plant?
Asked and Answered I am so over the cold weather and am ready for spring. Last year I started my first garden with plants that I bought at the nursery. This year I would like to grow my own from seed. When should I start planting seeds so that they are ready for the garden […]
Getting Through The Ice
Now that Winter has finally come, complete with snow and ice, my daughter is having some trouble making it to school on time because she is having to de ice her windshield in the morning. I saw that next month is going to be even colder than this month and was wondering if you have […]
Decorate Away the Winter Blues
After a couple of weeks of rain, snow and ice, it is so nice to see some sunshine. Staring at the same four walls, same furniture, same textiles, same old, same old, I’m definitely ready for a change. As soon as my family heads back to school, I will be off to the local antiques […]
Girl Talk
Hello my darling readers, in this dreary snow and ice things are going to heat up soon. Valentine’s Day, brings thoughts of sweet mysteries of love. Why are two people attracted to each other when millions of people roam the world? This rare and sought after splendor of love, the Eros type, has mystified people […]
Professionals Only
So, I was watching some sort of national ice skating championship last night. Mind you, this wasn’t by choice. Women seem to like this stuff for some reason, and after months of football season, how much complaining can a guy get away with anyway? First, I’d like to point out that the competition was in […]
Fetus Language
Did you know that a newborn infant can discriminate different sounds in virtually all languages? Infants are set up to learn language, and it doesn’t really matter which language. But, over the course of the first year, as they learn one language, it gets much more difficult to understand the sounds of other languages, thus, […]
Just When I Thought I’d Seen It All
A high school student slapped himself in the face right in the middle of my lecture. He later explained that he was “trying to wake up.” I suppose people of all ages and in all occupations do oddball things. Having spent most of my life in schools (which I believe are the perfect images of […]
Collecting Tools for Communication: Typewriter Ribbon Tins
One of my favorite college classes was Communication Technology and Culture. In twelve whirlwind weeks, we studied communication techniques from oral history all the way to the computer age. There were four main projects – an oral group presentation, a handwritten paper, a typewritten paper, and a computerized paper in which all the research was […]
Bangs! Spring Fashion Trend Hair Style
Hello, Darlings. The hot topic this week is adding a little, ba, ba, bang to your look. The trend is sizzling right now and everyone from the cute, twenty something at the cosmetic counter to the First Lady is jumping on board the bang wagon. Michelle Obama is current with the new trend with her […]
Flooded Basement
Like many people in the area, my basement flooded during the heavy rains last week. We worked very hard to get rid of all of the water but I am worried about odor from the flood. When this happened before it took a long time to get rid of the smell. I do not have […]
Secret Good Deeds
It takes enormous self discipline (and lots of practice) for many of us to do a good deed in secret. There is evidently great benefit in accomplishing such a thing, and philosophers and prophets and even Jesus himself urge us to do just that. The trick, of course, is keeping it a secret. Once the […]
Snow Day Activities
After a week of weather related days with the kids off from school, and the possibility of even more snow days, help in containing the wiggles may be in order. Snow days do not have to be restless mornings and afternoons spent locked indoors. There are many different and fun ways to pass the hours. […]
Grin and Bear It
Watching the snow fall on Wednesday was almost mesmerizing. It was so beautiful, with large flakes falling to the earth, in numbers too numerous to count. It reminded me of the snow globes of my youth. I loved to turn them over and over in my hands… slowly … watching the beautiful snow flakes fall […]
