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Some comparisons can be fun, even funny, to make. We do it all the time. A couple of times we both entered a Wisconsin cheese contest expecting to win because each of us thought ours was the best. Sadly, neither of us won. Most recently, we decided to hold a baked apple cider doughnuts bakeoff and were able to get together to sample each other’s effort. Barbara felt Margaret’s tasted better but were too sugary and Margaret didn’t care for the cakey consistency of Barbara’s doughnut, but it otherwise tasted great. These doughnuts have become a popular fall staple. Then,...

We’re here to pick a bone about Thanksgiving 2020. This is the iconic American family holiday when multiple smells of cooking waft throughout our homes. We set our tables with the good dishes and get ready for the big day with lots of guests, food, multiple courses, fancy centerpieces and typically the same cast of characters. It’s also a time to revel and rejoice, to give thanks for one’s blessings, although 2020 has been a challenging year for all, turning our world upside down and our Thanksgiving topsyturkey. We don’t want to be killjoys, but this year our Thanksgiving might...

Don’t you wish we could say at times what we’re really thinking? Imagine the trouble we’d get into if we did. We know, however, that it’s not okay to do so in polite society. Deep down, we try not to hurt anyone’s feelings even if we’re ticked off or feel slighted, make assumptions and try to be patient while, at the same time, consider our own feelings and needs. Some situations challenge us more than others, and often blindside us to the point that we don’t know what to do or say.   Actually, that’s not completely accurate. We know what...

We’re planners. We look ahead, figure out what needs to get done, make our lists, check off the steps along the way, then double-check even when done to be sure we didn’t leave out anything. However, the pandemic has taught us:  “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry,” said Scottish bard and poet Robert Burns. Now, on top of COVID-19 with cases starting to surge again, winter looms making us aware that we are likely to be indoors most of our time (less so if we live in certain places like California or Florida), more so...

Initially, when we first heard about the coronavirus, we were clueless and scared. Many of us became obsessive about being careful to keep the virus from calling, especially if over age 65, if we have a preexisting condition or the wrong blood type. Supposedly,  A blood types are more susceptible to contracting the virus.  We self-isolated for weeks at a time. Many of those who could, started working or volunteering virtually from home. Stuck in one place, we decluttered because we felt it was one way to mitigate the disorder in our lives… and we had the time. We cooked enough...