Bits & Pieces

Bits and pieces

Bits & Pieces – Quality time, reunions and memoriams

My daughter, Tarra, and grandson, Mason, were here for a few days last week and we had so much fun.

Usually they only come for a weekend, but Tarra’s job takes her to Springfield several times a month. Last week they arrived on Wednesday since she had to spend Thursday and Friday in Springfield so I got to “babysit” my 20-year-old grandson. And,wow, did we have fun!

This young man takes such good care of his grandma. And we laugh and laugh. 

One of the things the three of us enjoy is playing board games. However, I’m not very good.We played Clue and I’m terrible at that one. Tarra wins almost every game, but she did allow Mason to win one.

Bits and pieces

Bits & Pieces – The fun of little boys

Growing up across the street from the marina had many perks, especially for my three brothers. 

Back when we were kids, there wasn’t a marina, but there was so much raw territory for my brothers to explore. I never joined them for their fishing, hunting or exploring escapades, mainly because of my fear of snakes. But my brothers never flinched. In fact, my brother Danny brought a snake in the house (unbeknownst to any of us) and hid it. Unfortunately for me, the rascal escaped and decided to live in my room. I can’t even begin to tell you the screaming I did as I walked in my room and a snake is slithering across the floor. I’m sure it broke the sound barrier.

Bits and pieces

Bits & Pieces – Top places for Nude Gardening

Yep, you read that right!

I get press releases from all over the nation covering everything imaginable. Sometimes I just think people have too much time on their hands.

Last week I got a release about the top best cities and the worse cities for naked gardening.

Telephone graphic

Bits & Pieces – Telephone evolution: from landlines to cellphones

Phone technology has changed so much since I was a youngster that it’s unbelievable.

I grew up in an era when we had telephone operators that would say, “number please.” And we also had party lines, which meant you shared a line with another person. You weren’t supposed to listen in to another person’s conversation, but....... sometimes you just couldn’t help it.

Cows sitting in field

Bits & Pieces – Cows that predict the weather

As I write this on Tuesday, the forecast for the predicted storms headed our way sound pretty serious. High winds, hail, thunderstorms, hail and possibly tornadoes are all in the watch. The storms are supposed to hit later this afternoon. 

I love storms.  I always have, even as a child.

Solar Eclipse graphic

Bits & Pieces – Back to normal, whatever that may be

Now that the eclipse is over, everyone can return to their normal routine, whatever that may be.

It was fun, exciting, and as I read this morning, or those who were in places where the eclipse was total, there were four minutes of silence. In some areas the eclipse lasted about four minutes.

People either flew or drove hundreds, maybe thousands of miles just to see this once in a lifetime event. I saw on the news that one man flew in from Africa just to see it.

Bits and pieces

Bits & Pieces – Having a boy changes the game

April is here and we’re all anticipating lots of sunshine and warmer temperatures. But first there must be rain. Even though I’m writing this on Monday, rain is in the forecast for the next couple of days. 

April 1 is usually a day of fun and April Fool’s Day shenanigans, tricks, and pranks. However, historians just aren’t sure how April Fool’s Day originally started. But what they do know is the custom goes back centuries. I’m sure many remember playing the best April Fool’s joke on someone or being the target of one such joke.

Nea and Sally at the Nelson Ice Center

Bits & Pieces – The frozen Grandma and unfair word play

The “Soundtrack of Spotlight” was a huge success last weekend at the Nelson Ice Center in Springfield. 

It was everything and more! The costumes were beautiful, the music was fantastic and the ice skaters were awesome. And they were right; you couldn’t help but tap your feet and wiggling with the rythmn. There’s just something about “Jailhouse Rock,” “Yellow Submarine,” and of course, “Dancing Queen” that stirs up a lot of happy memories of days gone by. It definitely was a fun show.

Nea as Timon

Bits & Pieces – ‘Timon’ on ice this weekend

It’s that time of year again and I am excited!

It’s the annual ice skating show at the Nelson Center in Springfield---and my granddaughter, Nea, is in several numbers.

Nea started ice skating when she was 4.5. She is on the autustic spectrum, so her parents wanted to find something that she would be comfortable in, yet would excel in at her own pace. 

Through a lot of therapy and trying different activities, Nea has made amazing strides in her life. She will be 14 March 29.

Bits and pieces

Bits & Pieces – Don’t put the snow shovel away!

Let’s face it! We are having beautiful, but freaky weather for  this time of year. Yes, we love the sunshine and 70+ degrees outside. Add to that the time change (something I dislike, but many prefer it) which gives us more daylight hours in the evening. 

February and March have many times in the past been our worse winter months. Warm days, cold nights, thunderstorms, ice storms, tornadoes, blizzards, you name it. The weather is pretty unstable during these two momths. Then in April, it tries to balance itself out.