Bits & Pieces

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.

Bits and pieces

Bits & Pieces – A note from a tiny bat

“Hi there, I am a little bat. I do not suck your blood and I definitely don’t want to get stuck in your hair. That’s just gross! If I should accidentally fly into your house, please don’t hit me with cricket bats and brooms, it really hurts and I am so scared! It was an accident. I didn’t mean to scare you! I am just as scared as you are. I am fighting for my life and you are just scared. It is not a fair fight.

Bits and pieces

Bits & Pieces – Eating crow is better with pepper

Here I am, humbly eating my crow. Yep, I did it again!

Last week I wrote a column about a mysterious electric toothbrush that had been living at my house for a few weeks. Checking all my sources, I decided it belong to my grandson, Mason. Mason and Tarra were here a couple of weeks ago and I reminded Mason to take it home. That’s when he announced to me that it wasn’t his.

Bits and pieces

Bits & Pieces – Mysterious toothbrush appears 

It was a wonderful weekend as Tarra and Mason came to spend a couple of days. But never fear, the woman with the magic fingers who can destroy phone settings basically by just breathing on it now has a new talent. Yep, and remember, you read it here first!

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Bits & Pieces – Joys of parenting

I loved raising my kids, but like all parents, there are those moments when you wonder if you made the right decision. 

One of the things I enjoyed most is the funny things they say. Many years ago, Art Linkletter hosted a comedy show called, “Kids Say the Darndest Things” from 1959-1967. Yes, I remember that show very well.

cooking soup

Bits & Pieces – Cooking like Mom nearly impossible

I admire those who know their way around the kitchen and know what they’re doing when they’re cooking.

I was raised by one of the best cooks ever---my mom. Although she never learned how to cook while growing up, she was married at 16 and a mother at the age of 21. As a young bride, she knew she had a lot to learn in the area of cooking. The one person that took her under her wing was her mother-in-law, my dad’s mom, Grandma Rahn.