If you hail from West Tennessee, as I do, you’ve heard of Elvis, and you’ve eaten Ripley tomatoes. Around the first of July, many of you will have set out driving up Highway 51 looking for a sign on the side of the road advertising Ripley tomatoes. They’re beefsteak tomatoes, so some people may assume they’re nothing special. But, they’d be wrong. Folks will actually … Continue reading Red, white, and tomatoes
It’s been a pretty mild winter for us here in the U.P., so far. We’ll continue to have some snow through April, and it’s not at all unlikely that we’ll still have some chunks of ice floating in Lake Superior in June. I’m not complaining. The city keeps our streets ploughed. Our heating works well where we live. A few inches of fresh snow last … Continue reading When weather gets scary
Sometimes I’m pretty forgetful. I’m average smarts and only occasionally brilliant. But this week I remembered reading an article a couple of years ago by some woman who thought herself an expert on cozy mysteries. She started the article by mentioning Agatha Christie and “Mrs.” Marple. I skimmed through the article but could hardly take her seriously. I mean, really? If you’ve read anything by or … Continue reading It’s Miss Marple, not Mrs.
If I woke up one morning, let’s say it’s Feb. 2, and found myself living in an endless loop, what would I want to happen over and over? Would I relive a favorite day? My wedding day, for example? No. It was a lovely day. And back then my husband could, and did, actually pick me up and carry me over the threshold. But, we … Continue reading Let’s just do it — again
Like many people I start each January with a list of resolutions of all the things I’m going to accomplish during this calendar year. You know the list – ambitious, optimistic, unrealistic goals. Most people give up on their New Year’s resolutions by March and have forgotten all about them by April. Not me. I stop actively pursuing those goals by March, but I tell (lie to) … Continue reading Never too late to start writing
I Things I love about October: leaves changing color, widely available pumpkin spice options, and Halloween decorations and movies. Leaves are ablaze with color here in the Marquette area. The most spectacular fall displays in the Upper Peninsula are actually in the Keweenaw Peninsula, in case you’re planning a visit. It’s a couple of hours drive from our home to the middle of the Keweenaw. … Continue reading Pumpkin Spice and everything nice
I missed the Chicks last week when some of them were in Nashville. Not that I would’ve seen them in person anyway. But, because they were in Tennessee — and I wasn’t! I do get a bit homesick. Not because I’ve ever lived in Nashville. I lived in and around Memphis for most of my life. My brother and his wife lived in Nashville for … Continue reading I’d like to be on the road again
My calendar is pretty open these days. It’s summer, after all. And I’m waiting on a much-needed knee replacement surgery, so I try not to walk much. I’m obsessed with made-up holidays, so I decided to look up what’s on tap for August. I’m talking to the right crowd to let you guys know: Today (August 9) is Book Lovers Day! Start reading or writing … Continue reading Make up your own holiday
My husband and I will likely drag our camp chairs down the side of our block and stake out a spot to watch Marquette’s annual July 4th parade. I love a parade as much as the next guy. I especially love marching bands. It’s hard not to admire someone playing an instrument that weighs as much as a tuba. This year the city of Marquette is … Continue reading A 25 buck memory is priceless
May 15 would have been my dad’s birthday. I shed a few tears and I texted with my brother and sister— the only two people in the world who understand that loss and who share many of my sweet memories of our wonderful daddy. Little brother pointed out that Daddy would have been 90 this year. I had lost track of time. Our dad was … Continue reading Daddy knows the drill
It’s that time of year when “yard sale” and “garage sale” signs are a common sight. One man’s junk is another’s treasure, and I’ve bought my share of both junk and treasure over the years. We all have knickknacks and odd items scattered in our homes, neither beautiful nor particularly useful, which guests could never guess the true value of. My brother bought this cut-glass … Continue reading Money can’t buy me love
It’s been a season of change for me. Winter has turned out to be much more like spring for us this year in the U.P. – much warmer temperatures overall and much less snow than past years. While hubs and I are not native Yoopers, we have lived here in Marquette 14 years now. We’ve experienced quite a few winters. This nearly snowless winter has … Continue reading Late edition
Chicks on the Case 