Over the years, inclement weather made it challenging to publish the paper on time on several occasions. Since I lived in town during those years, I would manage to get to work by sliding the few blocks over to Lincoln Street. Sometimes, I’d beg for a ride from my husband on his way to work. more

Valentine’s Day, coming up this Friday, Feb.14, has to be one of the most peculiar holidays we celebrate. more

It seems like it has been cloudy and dreary for days now. I am missing my sunshine. Vitamin D can be obtained through exposure to sunlight and is known as the “sunshine vitamin”. This very important vitamin is triggered by exposure to UV rays. more

I figured out what’s been wrong the past few weeks. I can’t sing. more

I like to have the television on when I'm puttering around the house. Silence is good sometimes, but I like the mirage of thinking I have company at the house, eavesdropping on their conversation if more fun. This week, I turned the television on to listen to 50 Years of SNL Music. more

Remember when a nickel would buy a bottle of Coca Cola? more

The first backyard skirmish between Charlie and Pete happened five years ago on a night with a full moon. Charlie is our beloved beagle mutt who is now 14 years old and missing a few teeth. Pete is a trespassing possum who’s been trying to drive Charlie crazy for years. more

They say that a dog is a man’s best friend. Well, they can be a woman’s best friend too. Katie Sue was mine. She’s been with me longer than half of my grandchildren have been alive. My oldest grandson Josh was only 15 when we got Katie, now he has 3 kids of his own and turns 30 this year. Katie turned 14 years old this past November. She was about 4 pounds and would hold off any dog with her fearless demeanor. She had nine lives. I guess she had a fascination with the Lily pond and she would always wander to it. She liked being a farm dog and being outside, but she didn’t like the cold. She would sit by the fire, on my lap or on a heat register when she came in from the outdoors or stay wrapped in her towel for an hour after a bath. more

Words are hard – much harder than they used to be. It's a symptom of middle age I hadn't heard about until it started happening to me. A few aches and pains? Sure. Crow's-feet and laugh lines? Okay, fine. more

Do you have trouble shutting off the brain? Are you a planner, do you rehash the day's events or do you worry about what "might" happen? Whatever it is keeping you awake is also robbing you of precious sleep to rejuvenate your body, hormones and positively impact your mood and focus. more

Adipose cells (aka fat cells) do they ever go away? Do we need them? The answer is NO, they do not ever go away. The only way to get rid of fat cells is liposuction. But they can shrink with diet and exercise. And YES, we do need a regulated amount of adipose cells. Fat cells, or adipocytes, are like balloons that store energy. When you have a surplus of calories, these cells expand in number and size. Adipose tissue increases in middle age and decreases when people get old according to some studies. more

Few sounds in winter are more unwelcome than that of a pitchfork scraping the hay loft floor. more

Once every five years or so, we get a new television. Sometimes it's because we actually need one – like that summer when a lightning strike electrocuted several of our appliances. But most of the time, it's because Tom starts reading about the incredible picture quality on the newest TV screens, and he just can't stand it anymore. He needs to see it for himself. more

I’ve always thought that the knowledge gathered over years of schooling, professional development and personal growth classes fills my toolbox with valuable tools I can use throughout my life. more

Are you hungry or thirsty? more

My favorite character of all time isn’t in a literary novel, a blockbuster movie or a TV show. He is, in fact, a cartoon beagle named Snoopy. I assume you know him, too, right? more

The reason it is called "common" cold is, because as their name implies, they're widespread. Adults catch two to three colds a year, while young children come down with four or more colds per year. I have first hand experience with a common cold this week. Sneezing, coughing and a runny nose. Thankfully I did not have a headache, fever or sore throat that can also go along with this irritating virus. Usually I will get a cold twice a year, spring and fall. Lucky me, I am an overachiever this year. more

I heard on the news some schools are banning cell phones. more

This morning, I stirred the white powder into a steaming mug of Earl Gray tea, watching it scatter and swirl like a freshly shaken snow globe until it melted from view. The powder is unflavored, but I added a generous dollop of honey so the tea would feel more like a treat and less like a treatment. more

There are so many factors that go along with Dementia, but Alzheimer's is the most common form and what I will concentrate on today. I will not get into all the scientific terms and findings. Words such as genetic mutations, beta-amyloid plaque, APOE gene, APOE-e4. This article does not have the space to explain all the facets of this disease. more

Do you remember the first record you bought as a teenager? Because music has changed over the years, the kids have difficulty. understanding the true pleasure of pulling out a record from its cover and gingerly placing the needle to listen to A side one more time. more

Dear Editor, more

I like January. I think most mothers do. Sure, it’s the dead of winter and it gets dark ridiculously early, but January has one big thing going for it. It’s the “cool down” period following the high-intensity workout of Christmas. more

As in seasons past, our home was a family gathering place for kids and kin this holiday season. Putting on the mantle of grandpa, I again cooked the turkey, dressing and sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving dinner, while our daughters provided desserts, salads and other fare. more

Not everyone makes New Year's Resolutions. According to Statista Consumer Insights, 43% of those polled said they were not making a New Year's Resolution. But for us die-hards we make the same resolutions or a variation of them every year. I found a New Year's Resolution list my husband and I made together from 3 years ago. I could actually use the same one every year. Eat healthy, drink more water, have a weekly date night, spend money wisely, spend more time camping, hiking, biking and kayaking, Get rid of "stuff" we do not use or need and don't bring more "stuff" in. more