Sally Lael

Bits and pieces

Bits & Pieces – How did I do that?

As you well know, my 20 y/o grandson, Mason, is my tech person, the one who gets my phone back to normal after my magic fingers screw it up. His favorite question is; 

“Grandma, how did you do this?”

My best and always response is;

“I have no idea.”

I recently had an unexplainable situation with my car. And that question popped up again.

I take my car to the dealership to be serviced regularly. A couple of weeks ago it was time for an oil change and its usual checkup.

Bits and pieces

Bits & Pieces – One of my proudest moments

As most of you know, I like to write. I’ve always liked to write for pleasure, but when I was in high school there were certain subjects I didn’t like to write. History was one of those subjects.

I had one of the greatest history teachers ever and that was Adele Hegener. Adele knew her history backwards and forward and she loved sharing what she knew. The problem was I simply didn’t like history. It wasn’t until I was an adult and started studying the Bible that I realized the importance of history and how it affects all of us.

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.

Kids sitting in grass

Let’s take care of our youth

Watching the news, seeing the chaos on college campuses, so much unrest in the Middle East, politicians proving again and again they can’t be trusted......what’s going on? Where are we headed. Who or what is stoking the fire? 

Many questions, very few answers.

We are surrounded by so much that is wrong and it’s affecting all of us. But in the midst of all that is happening, we fail to see how it affects our most important treasure---our youth. And there is no way we can shield them from all of this.

Squamous cell skin cancer on Sally's hand.

Bits & Pieces – A PSA for my dear readers

This week’s column will be a little different than what you’re used to reading. Yes, I enjoy it when many of you have commented on the humor that I share with you, especially about my family. But today will not be entertaining you with humor but with concern for you and hopefully, some preventive care. 

A little over a week ago I was diagnosed with squamous cell skin cancer. I wish I could tell you this was my first one but unfortunately it’s not. Note: there is a picture in this column of my latest skin cancer.

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.