Every winter, by late afternoon, darkness claims victory over our daylight hours, motivating us to string multi-coloured Christmas lights that twinkle brightly from decorated houses. Some of us use LED lights that cast luminous patches of reflected colour across the … Read more

This year, the rabbits robbed my orderly rows of green beans. They nipped nearly every plant neatly off at the stem. All that hard work tilling, raking, planting, and weeding produced mere stubs of plants! The only remedy for the … Read more

Recently, a beagle wandered into our neighbourhood behaving like a lost dog. Doubtless, in his doggy mind, he was having an adventure. Trailing a chewed-off leash behind him, he was having the time of his doggy life. He saw absolutely … Read more

This year, watching the antics of the birds at the feeders in my yard has enthralled me. Birds swooped down to a branch, then hopped onto the feeder to peck away at succulent seeds. As the little birds darted to … Read more

Two years after we were married, my husband took a second job as a social worker. His main duty was to supervise teens and plan activities at a teen centre. Despite well-meaning programs, the teens still got into trouble. Sometimes, … Read more

Last fall, I failed to see a tool left on the ground by a workman. Why had I missed seeing that tool? Some time before, I had noticed straight lines becoming wavy. Before long, when I looked at a person, … Read more

In the winter, the cold and snow cause the attendance at our small church to dwindle to a handful, but in the summer, when the "snowbirds" return, so does our attendance. Nevertheless, our Congregational Life Committee has been searching for … Read more

When I was a "tween" (between childhood and adolescence), I was sweet on a boy in my class. Like many tween girls do, I found excuses to walk out of my way past his house. My hope was to catch … Read more

On Sunday, on my way to worship, I pass many different flags fluttering in the morning breeze. This weekend, I saw many of our nation's flags. During springtime, I occasionally saw a banner adorned with tulips or coloured eggs. Last … Read more

Amid the honking and clamour of a downtown Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, traffic jam, my car screeched to a halt. In front of me, bumper stickers plastered over the back of a battered red pickup shouted, "He who dies with the … Read more