It's usually the sound of a large furry body hitting the patio door in frustration that tips me off to the gopher on the porch.  This is the first year we've had him for a visitor.  The usual suspects that raid the bird feeders are racoons and a...

Hi everyone!  I just made this for lunch today and realized it's great for sharing, too.  I got this recipe years ago while working at a group home.  It's easy, colorful, and tastes great! Calico Rice (Minute Rice works best, as it...

There was no end in sight to the household details to get to after my daughter's recent wedding, but as I stepped up to the kitchen sink, through the window I could see dozens of like-sized birds silhouetted against the light grey sky in a dead tree...

To begin with, I was writing this blog right after Friday the 13th.  I thought I posted it, but apparently I didn't hit the submit button or was interrupted.  Anyway, on Friday the 13th I was washing dishes and was rinsing my last pot when the...

You know how a smell can trigger a memory? For me … Earl Grey tea is one of the most powerful smells around. Not because of the delicate herbs and spices -- but because Earl Grey smells like summer afternoons with my grandmother. Grandma Kathy was...

One of the many advantages to having an empty nest is the freedom to swap your nest with other adventurous types. We decided that before we sold our house, we would try using it as bait for a cheap month in New York City. Being in the habit of Googling at...

I don't know if it's Murphy's Law or just my luck, but whenever I cut into a lemon, some of the juice will squirt into one of my eyes and cause excruciating pain. Big time. What synergy causes that liquid to always find a path leading directly to one...

Nothing is normal at our home when it comes to celebrations. Yesterday it was our 13yr old daughter' s birthday. As is the custom here, you get to choose what the family cooks for your birthday meal. Everybody kicks in and it's a great party. Of...

Hey ya'll! If you look at your calendar or your cell phone or the sign outside the bank as you travel around your environs today, you'll see that last Friday was Friday the 13th! To quote SCTV character, Count Floyd: "Very Scary, Kids! Ow-Ooooo!" Or is...

Go ahead, make my bed   I can tolerate most household chores, with the exception of one or two tasks, but am I really alone?? When my children were mere tiny-tots, the daily routine never bothered me nor interfered with my lifestyle. I...

Ciji Ware didn't exactly have a normal upbringing, but she hasn't complained one bit. Her father, Harlan Ware was one of two main writers for the longest running non-interrupted serial drama in radio history, "One Man's Family." Harlan died exactly 40...