"The naming of cats is a difficult matter." "It isn't just one of your holiday games. You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter, when I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES." I can't speak for everyone, but I have always loved "The Naming of Cats" by T.S. Eliot. …
Blog Material
One thing about it, there’s always blog material. Just like germs, (with thanks to the wisdom of a seventh grader from days gone by), there’s blog material everywhere. With that in mind, I went out in the back yard to check the plants. Since it had been raining the previous week, everything was nice and …
You’ve Been on “Ancestry” Too Long When . . .
Wait, is that even possible? I guess it's all a matter of what you consider "too long". But I have discovered that spending too much time on Ancestry in one sitting can get just a bit frustrating. I may be able to speak for most people of Scandinavian descent when I say this: "Everybody in …
Continue reading You’ve Been on “Ancestry” Too Long When . . .
Asleep in the Sewing Room, Part 2
So we got this box... Mom said it was a loveseat for the sewing room. I examined it from all angles, and I honestly didn't think she was right this time. Every now and then something gets delivered and she's forgotten what she ordered. I watched with interest as she started unpacking the box. I …
A Penny for Your Thoughts
Well, maybe more than one. . . I have mentioned before that my father was a man of many talents and many interests. If you've read "What the Doctor Ordered", you've seen (part of) his collection of antique bottles. As with the bottles, I have also become the custodian of his coin collection. Lest I …
A Trip to Cayucos, Part 2
"Who was that?" asked our new friend as the taxi sped away. Panda had run to the edge of the street to get a better look. "I know who I hope it wasn't," I said. "We had issues with some men in a taxi like that when we were in Tokyo for the Olympics." The …
A Trip to Cayucos
"Hey, is that Daddy?" Panda and I were looking at some old pictures on Mom's computer. We only know Daddy from pictures, but I was pretty sure Panda was right. "Yes, that's him," I replied. "You can tell by his happy smile and disposition." Panda nodded. "It looks like they were at Cayucos," he observed. …
Remembering My Family’s WW1 Veterans
There was a time when the students at Augustana College, in Rock Island, Illinois, were living the typical 1917 college life. As a seminary student, my grandfather, Emil Johnson, was highly involved in the college experience. In this photo of the Augustana football team, Emil is in the front row, second from right. Sports and …
Checkup and Shots, Year 5
So Mom had been telling me it was almost time for my yearly shots. But I had kind of forgotten about it, and was enjoying a nice nap in my red chair, when before I knew it. . . …I found myself in my cat carrier in the garage. This did not bode well. When …
The Stakes Are High
I'm sure you've seen these before. Known as plant stakes, fairy sticks, fairy wands, I knew I had to try making some as soon as I saw them. While I sincerely doubt there are any fairies in my garden, (or faeries, if you are keeping up with Chris Hall's latest story from Luna's Online), I …