As I said in my previous post, I love spiders and hate rats. Here’s the explanation. I grew up in a small house near a lake in Central Florida. There are pests by the millions in Florida, and one learns to live with them or pays exterminators lots of money. Early on, I understood the …
When I returned home from the store yesterday, I saw my husband descending a ladder from the attic. I cringed and ran the other direction. We have had problems with rats scurrying and scratching above our heads at night and disturbing our precious, well-earned sleep. If not for the daring exploits of Dad, the rat …
Punctuation of the English language is an exquisite, albeit confusing, tool with which to perfect one’s pithy, powerful, and adroit prose. I assert, with some satisfaction, that, when it comes to grammar and mechanics, I am of the “Old School.” Yes, I enjoyed diagramming, or parsing, sentences when I was in elementary school. I adored the picture: a …
“Mamma, I neeeed some collard greens and okra.” Yep. That’s what my children say, especially after a stint away from home or a busy time when we’ve had too much restaurant food. Even our foster daughter, who will assert that she hates cooked vegetables, devours greens and okra in massive quantities. Every time I place a …
The mat at the front door says it all. As much as we like people and enjoy visitors to our home, the front door mat does not say “welcome”. Instead, it is small brown rectangle with these ominous words: “‘Don’t Make Me Come Out there.’ The Dog” If anyone, and I mean anyone, dares approach our …
His eyelids are heavy, his ears droopy. He looks forlorn. Oh, why won’t these people go to bed? Why must a dog keep guard over this family of five? I want to sleep. He lies on a blanket on the couch and waits patiently for each of us, in turn, to hit the hay. He must ensure …
He knows words. He really does. The word “treat” just brings a perking up of the ears. He goes through the motions of sitting, trying to shake with anything close by, and lying down, waiting for the aforementioned treat to appear. He’ll leave it sitting next to his nose if he’s told to, and then …
I never chose to do this. I’m not one of those great people who seeks out ways to help others. I wish I were that person, but I’m not. My life revolves around my family and my church. I adore other people’s children as long as they don’t live with me. I’m most comfortable with my …
I’m like this every Tuesday. Go ahead: ask me a question. Will I understand you? Is my brain awake? The answer is a resounding NO! I’ve had three cups of coffe and a nap, but the fog persists. All my daughter’s fault. No, wait. I’ll blame it on my deceased mother. She can’t contradict me. …
In homage to Labor Day, I reviewed my use of child labor in my family’s once-a-week church cleaning chore. Here are the top ten things I’ve learned in two years of toilet swishing and vacuum pushing. 10) Never let them off the hook. Teenageers will use any excuse not to show up at the appointed time …