Left again fails to find balance

March 15, 2025

In the 1990s President Bill Clinton laid off and or fired over 377,000 federal employees in an attempt to balance the budget (which he did) and to reduce government. He had bipartisan support and was not referred to as a dictator, a wanna be king, a racist and so on. The Republicans didn’t boohoo or bellyache because they didn’t get their way, they supported the president of the United States in what he was doing for the better of the country! In President Barack Obama’s time in office, he relieved 197 military officers in an attempt to align the Pentagon with his way of ...

View from Hickory Heights: Anxiously waiting

March 14, 2025

As March came in like a lion, I anxiously wait for the signs of Spring that are so familiar. When the grandchildren were young, we went outside as soon as it was comfortable. By comfortable I mean we had to wear jackets, but we could comfortably sit outside to eat our lunch. Many lunches were enjoyed by the little café table that sits on the upper side of my porch. There were only two chairs, but we could pull up extra ones depending on who was there. Yes, we ate with our jackets on, but it was so nice to be outdoors enjoying sandwiches and chips. First, we would have a snack out ...

Always running just a little bit behind

March 13, 2025

We finished undressing the Christmas tree on Friday. Today, Monday, a kind friend helped us take it apart and bag it. Yes, I know. It’s March 10th as I write this. I hear this echo in my head, “You’re just getting your Christmas tree down? It’s Lent already!” I was annoyed when I heard on January 6th that “today is ‘official’ tree-taking-down day.” Who decided this? OK, OK, I remember Epiphany, the 12th day of Christmas from my childhood. It is the church’s end of the Christmas season, a nice tradition. My mother and I always tried to get our tree down and out ...

A staple for meals

March 7, 2025

Rice is not only a whole grain but it is easily digested. I remember my grandmother who had stomach issues choosing rice to eat. It is not only inexpensive, but it is nutritious and tasty. For those of you who are watching your food budget, you can mix rice with many things to enhance the taste. When Dick and I were married he told me the only way to eat rice was as rice pudding or rice cooked with milk. We lived on a dairy farm so milk was plentiful. I often cooked rice with milk in a double boiler with a cinnamon stick and a little sugar. I also added some extra ground cinnamon. ...

Rounding Third: Movies supply magic in everyday life

March 6, 2025

We watched the 97th Academy Awards show on Sunday. Well, let’s say that I watched it and Dear Richard tolerated it. We’ve only been married for 12 years, and he didn’t realize early on that he had joined a family of dedicated film buffs. Whether you call it film, movies, or cinema, we are three generations who enjoy good flicks. It started early for me. As a kid, I went every Saturday afternoon. For years. It was so long ago that the ticket price was 12 cents! Candy bars were a nickel and both popcorn and those boxes of Good and Plenty, or Milk Duds were 10 cents. Back then I ...

View from Hickory Heights: A common invention

February 28, 2025

Do you know who Walter Hunt was? I am guessing you probably do not recognize the name, but he made a significant contribution that we all have used. In 1849 he invented the safety pin. He received his patent, but later sold it to satisfy a debt. He received $400 for his patent ending his claim to fame. The article I read had pictures. The safety pin from the time of his patent remained virtually the same as it looks today. I do remember some decorative safety pins from my diaper days. There were some that were bunnies, some ducks, and some that looked like other pets. I also ...