Our little league outlasts the rain to start fresh

In thundered while DJ, Bird, Marie and I played our first hole. I do believe lightning may have flashed fairly close to Northern Pines in Cicero, N.Y. But the folks in the clubhouse who closely watch the radar — they have a senior ranger in who roams the course in a cart to monitor speed…

Our little cherry tree now has a name

The results are in. You voted with your feet. Well, no you didn’t. It wasn’t the kind of poll where you actually have to drive there and pull down the lever and hang a chad or anything like that. No, a week ago I decided to ask the world with a poll what my dear…

I couldn’t hedge my shaggy thoughts any longer

Two of the front yard shrubs had already gone out of control standing guard at the Little Bitty in the Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood. So as my dear wife Karen tidied up the hourglass garden and spread red mulch, I grabbed the battery-powered Black and Decker hedge clippers and went to work. One of…

Barefoot? Why not, it’s almost summer

How about a stop at Harbor View, my dear wife Karen suggested while we were plotting out trip to see the weekly movie. Our favorite wine store. She expanded her reasoning. I’d declared that I’d liked my glass of Barefoot brand Merlot on our visit with SUNY Morrisville journalism alumni and friends to celebrate the…

Tony and Kelly learn about friendship

My good and wise BloggyVille friend Nurse Kelly thought this was the perfect time of year to share a story from a senior year in high school. I’ll say. Please take the time to click over to her place to learn again about how taking the time to make friends can mean more than you…

Welcome to the weekend, Anywhere USA

Take the right off the main drag next to the former Syracuse China plant at 5 p.m. on a Friday night smack dab in the middle of May in Syracuse, N.Y., and a slice of Americana awaits. Gray skies matter not much. Park in the middle of the lot and wander off to the right…

Thank you, Riley ‘Blues Boy’ King

It was his time. B.B. King passed away Thursday at the age of 89 after a lifetime of delivering a world of wonder to anybody who opened their ears to the blues. With the famous guitar he named Lucille, Riley “Blues Boy” King rang out notes of beauty that struck you that second, hung out…

There’s always room for good writing

Victoria Coit sent me a Facebook message of introduction, saying that she was a friend of Tina Hills and would like to speak to me about a project. Tina and her husband Ken were the owners of a restaurant in downtown Syracuse, I remembered, Sophistications, hosted jazz, very nice people. Victoria said she’s meet me…

Coming soon to a parking lot near you

The tiny sign off the side of the road caught my eye, over to the right, in front of the turn that takes you to where so many of my fellow city folks used to make their living crafting that fine Syracuse China. Ah, yes, I remembered hearing the radio ad and seeing the news…