The Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz needed oiled. Do your joints need to be oiled? more

I’m ashamed to admit this, but I spent Sunday afternoon wrapping Christmas presents. Although Halloween is this week, this old lady started wrapping presents. more

When I was a young girl, I was told I was stubborn. Looking back I think I just knew what I wanted and how I wanted to do things. Words like headstrong and independent were words I heard. My dad was not one for complements, but I heard him once tell someone. If Karen sets her mind to it, she will do it. That made me feel like he was proud of me and I could do anything. more

I’m not sure how it happened, but Tom and I raised three kids who love scary movies. It wasn’t genetic. more

While at cardiac rehab last week, the workers asked a patient why he had always worn a baseball cap. He explained he had worn a cap since he was a youngster. His wife also works out with him during his heart rehabilitation. She perks up and tells the room that once in a while, she walks into the living room and finds him sitting in his lounger in his underwear and baseball cap. more

I take pride in calling myself an Ozarker, and indeed I am. more

I have a problem. And if the first step is admitting it, here goes: I'm a snooze abuser. If there's a snooze to use, I'll do it. Again and again. more

October 22, 2019, I was biking on the Katy Trail with my sister and two good friends. I received a phone call that my oldest son had died. I was devastated to say the least. Numb for days. more

I’ve been struggling with an assignment from the Midnight Writers, a writing club I attend once a month, along with other Dallas County wordsmiths.  more

When I was a boy learning of life in the woods, my dad taught me to recognize animals by what they left behind — the contents of their scat. more

When I get up in the morning, the first thing I do – before caffeine and hygiene – is trick the dog and cat. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. But the attempt has become my morning ritual – an act of love and deception. more

Walnuts, pistachios, pecans, almonds, cashews, chestnuts. Also macadamia, brazil, and peanuts. There are over 20 different varieties of delectable nuts. I have not eaten a nut I did not like. more