My Irish Setter decided that eating bees was a good thing to do. As we had a swarm of them around our porch, she set to her task with a vengeance. An hour later, her hugely swollen face revealed the evidence of her folly. Benadryl brought … Read more

After four years, the time has come once again for the Olympic games! The wall-to-wall excitement this summer has already started with each nation's team selections in June and continues on with the opening ceremony along the Seine River … Read more

While my brother and I were growing up, birthday parties were a big event, a highlight of our childhood. When I was turning seven and my brother was turning four, since his birthday was in May and mine was in June, we had a combined … Read more

It was early one morning when the four kittens — two black and two calico — made their presence known to us. I was peeking outside the window that overlooks our side yard when I saw them. They were following a larger grey cat out from … Read more

In our new home, my job is to keep the grass mowed and trimmed. We have approximately six acres which need to be mowed once a week, and it takes me about three hours to do the mowing. Fortunately, my family bought a good riding mower that … Read more

I consider myself to be an avid reader. Though I like to read for information and enrichment, I also enjoy fiction and novels in good taste. So, when I recently came across a list of "must-read" literary classics, I decided to intersperse … Read more

Her smile seemed to envelop her from head to toe. Whenever I saw Abby, she seemed to radiate a smile that showed in her face, her eyes, and her body language. When she stood on the church platform to give announcements, read Scripture, or … Read more

Recently, I explored a long-abandoned rural shack, the early home of a friend's parents. Inside, beneath the dusty rubble, we discovered boxes of clothes untouched for 50 years, mostly well-protected from the elements. I giggled with … Read more

Have you ever wondered why God created us with two ears and two eyes but only one mouth? Do you think it could be that we should spend four times as much listening and observing as talking? When I told a member of the nursing staff where … Read more

Whenever my mouth ran unchecked in childhood, mom always quoted today's verse. Especially as a teenager, sassing, spouting off, and otherwise behaving in an obnoxious manner warranted multiple warning lectures from dad. He repeatedly … Read more

At the supermarket, I wheeled my three articles, precariously balanced on the front bar of my two-front-wheel, two-back-skids walker, into the last check-out aisle signed "Limit 12 Articles". The lady in front of me had just put a few … Read more

As the fall draws along, road construction is also in high gear to get roads completed before the winter season. For the past few weeks, on the road that I travel twice a day when I'm working, the paving company has been busy putting down … Read more

I wasn't at all happy when I discovered that I couldn't read the words on a page any more, no matter how long my arm was. I was even less happy when I had to purchase my first pair of reading glasses. And I was even more unhappy when I … Read more

There have been a number of tragic encounters of human beings with bears over the years. Consequently, there is a great fear among the populus about even getting close to these creatures. However, I found quite interesting a recent article … Read more

When I was a little girl, we headed to the Smokey Mountains in October to enjoy the beauty of the trees in their fall dresses. I quickly discovered how much fun it was to wave at the people who sat … Read more

During worship on Sundays, Zoë, my two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, plays with her friends off to the side — out of everyone's way, but still within my line of sight. She knows I keep an eye on her to play nicely. … Read more

The noise — a dim sound — continued to combine itself within the format of my dreams, until my subconscious gradually nudged me into wakefulness. Glancing at the bedside clock, I noted the hour: 4:15 a.m. The noise had now … Read more

Coloured silicone bracelets first became known and popularized by Lance Armstrong when he launched his yellow band inscribed with "Live Strong" as a fundraiser for cancer which he had battled and beaten. Since then, other colours have crept into the … Read more