A lot can fall in a week

After the mowing of the lawn last Saturday, I srote of how many leaves remained up on the trees. Yesterday, many had found their way to the lawn. (And pool cover.) But, no, it is not yet time to take the lawn mower out of the shed for one more mow.

Remembering Benny Mardones

The first time the big voice that was Benny Mardones took on its full dimensions in vivid reality, I’d walked down from my second-floor reporter’s cubby for the big daily, summoned to the lobby by the desk staffer with these simple words, “Benny’s here.” Down the stairs I went. Wide my eyes opened. There stood…

Now we have a new fireplace (sort of)

My dear wife Karen told me of her trip to the local Lowe’s and how she’d spied a small, easy, shelf-sized portable faux fireplace that would fit neatly into the unit that separates our open concept living room and kitchen. Working on our sixth year in A Bitty Better here in Galeville, she continued to…

Far and wide search for color leads to our front lawn

I kept my eyes opened everywhere I traveled this fall, hoping to find a stunning tree to capture, big colors to share. Then I pulled into our driveway after my library shift Wednesday and there stood our lovely dogwood right in the center of our front lawn. The soon-to-set sun hit its going-to-fall leaves in…

Bucket brigade

OK, I think right away on my library work break stroll … Did they throw this empty bucket out because it was bent garbage? Did they take this empty bucket out and immediately fill it with the garbage they saw on the sidewalk on the street? Did people see a decorative empty bucket out and…

The plow company agrees the time is near

Shortly after my dear wife Karen and I finished making our backyard ready for what’s to come shortly in our part of the world, I took cherished rescue mutt Ellie B out the front door for a stroll around the blocks. What did I spy but newly placed staked to line our driveway borders, an…

I see a mulching mow in my future

Usually when I mow the lawn at this time in November, I’m considering that it might be the last time I have to pull the mower out of the shed for the season. Taking in the whole picture as I passed over the grass this weekend, I notice all the leaves still up on the…

My train of thought

There’s something about watching a train cross the road through your drippy windshield on a gray, rainy day that’s halfway comforting. Yes, even when you’re on your way to work.

I’ll stick to my opinion

My dear wife Karen found a new bath mat so darn comfortable that I told her that it’s such an upgrade from the old slip-slidey that I’m considering it an anniversary present. Safe, sound and sensible. You betcha.

I remember where I was when the plane fell in Lockerbie

I remember where I was that horrible day in 1988, when word came of the plane that carried Syracuse University students crashing in Lockerbie, Scotland. I was a newspaper editor for The Post-Standard, and everybody, editors, reporters, pressroom operators, had to band together as more and more bad news came in and the the horror…