Tag Archives: children

The Sibling Set

My youngest son, Aaron was born when his siblings were in grade school. This age difference secured him a unique relationship in the family. By the time Aaron was 2 years old, he worshiped his siblings as gods. They knew … Continue reading

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Lock, Shock and Barrel

It was early on a dark and chilly Christmas morning. There was a low rustling sound in the house downstairs. I rolled over and pretended it was the cats. I had dragged myself to bed at 1 a.m. later that … Continue reading

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One for the Birds

I love Thanksgiving. Beyond the talk of pilgrims and turkey and football, I just love the good, old-fashioned sense of indulgence. It is the supreme feast of the year. The focus is not on a tree or a bunny or … Continue reading

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America Straps on Training Wheels or Why I Ain’t Callin’ It “Obamacare”

This Thursday, June 28th, 2012, was a victorious day for the American people. The Supreme Court upheld Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), which is popularly known as “Obamacare“. As happy as I am for my fellow citizens, I … Continue reading

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Pirates for Fairies

Fairies are an ornery bunch. They have a strict dress code and a stricter code of conduct. They do not respond well to sheep dogs. I have volunteered as security for various festivals throughout Oregon for many years. It is a … Continue reading

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Chicken Graveyard

Wednesday morning was brutal. The night before, my husband and I finished unpacking the camping gear from our week long camping trip and crawled up to bed. We usually make a good team with the chickens. In the last 5 … Continue reading

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Cat Shaving Weather

It has been a mild summer so far in the Willamette Valley but we have had a handful of sunny days. The temperature has squirmed above 70 a few times. It’s time to pick strawberries, water the tomatoes and shave … Continue reading

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Teenagers and the Backyard Chicken

Backyard chicken coops are all the rage now. There is even a name for women who raise urban chickens: femivore. This term doesn’t fit my lifestyle. I am not a suburban housewife with a high income hippie agenda. I work … Continue reading

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Kids in the Canopy

On our way out of town, the kids rattled on about climbing trees. My friend, Barb craned her neck from the passenger seat to peer at the excitement in back of my minivan. She and I had been volunteering with … Continue reading

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The 2nd Deadly Sin

Dessert is available all the times at my house. There are several bowls of fruit in the dining room. One is full of apples, one is especially for bananas and one is usually full citrus fruit. This time there was … Continue reading

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