True friends' hearts are always open for each other, regardless of time apart. True friends experience sunshine in one another’s company even when it’s stormy and they share an umbrella. True friends share ups and downs, and they cherish the memories they have made together.

I wanted you, and I had you. It was beyond wonderful. But, you had to leave, and now I am alone.

Our electricity went out suddenly without warning recently. Always prepared, though literally pitch black, especially with heavy cloud cover; it didn’t take long to light a few candles.

If grief itself weren’t bad enough, she often is accompanied by another formidable beast. I’ve encountered him lately, and his name is guilt.

More than 20 years ago, I married my military husband and started out on an adventure that I never thought would be mine. Our first move came about a year after we were married, and we have moved seven more times since.

Yes, I am old-fashioned, but if you knew me way back when, you might have thought that 50 or more years ago, too. Easter is a sacred and holy day for many Christians worldwide. A treasure trove of memories floods my brain with Easters past.

My toes are always the first to come and the last to go.

When a person thinks about the backdrop of a magnificent flower, the setting is probably one of it being surrounded by dense green foliage and bathing in glimmering sunshine. That is probably true for the most part, but there are a few plant species that worship the moon over the sun. One of…

Finally, spring is in the air, and with it comes that old tradition of spring cleaning. After having the house shut up all winter, it is exhilarating and invigorating to air it out — perhaps except for the pollination season upon us.

It isn’t often that we have the opportunity to change someone’s life in a significantly positive way.

Spring cleaning is one of my favorite chores. OK, so I’m being a little sarcastic. While I may not particularly care for the chore of cleaning out closets and ridding the house of the staleness of winter, I love it when it is all done. The air smells a little fresher, and all I need to do af…

Each of us knows many excellent cooks as well as some that, well, just don’t quite qualify. So what is the difference?

A few months ago I was attacked by something so powerful I didn’t know if I’d survive. My husband of 33 years died much too soon, much too young. I was left here, alone. The lone survivor, except this was no reality show. It was the real deal. And it sucked. Still does.

Garden beds are a wonderful addition to any home. When properly laid out and maintained, they add a visually appealing element to the landscaping, which ultimately increases the value of your home. When we bought our home, the backyard didn’t have any flower beds. We immediately started to m…

That seems like easy enough counsel to follow, right? Then why is there so much mudslinging, name calling, rudeness and disrespectful and downright mean conversation going on?

I’m still struggling, but I know I have to step forward on a path I wouldn’t have considered six months ago. Because it didn’t exist six months ago.

It should come as no surprise that, since I have a culinary background, the first element that I added to my yard when we moved into our home was an herb garden. Dried herbs are good in a pinch, but nothing beats the taste of fresh herbs.

Our recent cold snap reminded me of winters past. Living in Michigan for more than 40 years, I gleaned a bit of experience in surviving bitter temperatures.

We all experience different seasons in life and those seasons are accompanied by emotions — joy and sadness and everything in between.

Over the years, I have discussed my observations and concepts of the two different roles or routes taken by a U.S. Senator or Congressman during their tenure in Washington.

It should come as no surprise that this week’s article is dedicated to the flower of choice for Valentine’s Day, the rose. It is also a timely subject, being that from January to early spring is rose planting season.

Appalachian mountain folk speak differently. Having their language often mistaken for uneducated ignorance is actually a uniqueness they are proud of. One such word used is "Valentimes" for Valentine.

We all have something that seems just out of reach, just beyond our grasp. Whatever it is — you’ve got this.

Last week, I wrote about Alabama’s state flower, the camellia. When I started the article, I had intended to mention all of Alabama’s recognized state symbols that had a connection to gardening. Well, the camellia had such an interesting story, it deserved more justice than just a few senten…

Thirty years ago, a brilliant idea hit me. A recent “empty nester” with daughter Pat, a stay-at-home mom of three and my mom, a recently retired widow, engaged in a weekly sewing circle.

We’re a big fantasy football family. We have been since we started our own league in 2014. My daughter and I never paid much attention to the NFL prior to this, but when the guys in your life love football, you find it in your heart to love football as well — or at least to participate in th…

I don’t know if they still teach this in grade school, but back in the day, we learned about our state’s symbols. Every state has a list, and although different states have varying categories, they all have the most common symbols, such as tree, bird and flower.

Contrary to what many believe, though it seemed like it at the time, April 2020 was not the longest month ever. To me, January of every year is, and 2021 is no exception.

I’ve written about grief before (recently). I know that. Thing is, there are infinite facets of grief to talk and write about. Just like the infinity of grief.

Life is full of unexpected hiccups, but for the most part, they can be controlled with a few preventive measures. Take cars, for instance; accidents happen, so I put my seat belt on before driving my car. I have to get to where I’m going, so I fill my tank with gas, and I check the oil and t…

As a young girl, Mommy always told me to be myself. What a puzzling statement to a literally minded child. Unable to figure it out on my own, it was easy to dive into the trap of becoming the real or imagined expectations of others. The terrible proclivity of perfectionism followed.

You can’t plan the way your life unfolds. Oh, sure, you might think you have an idea, but you never know what tomorrow will bring. The wind blows in a different direction, and suddenly you are living a truth you never planned. You are face to face with something you never let yourself imagin…

When someone mentions something about layers, for some reason my mind goes immediately to the scene in the movie “Shrek” where he is explaining to Donkey that ogres are like onions because they both have layers. Of course, Donkey points out that not everyone likes onions, but everyone likes …

Waking up to a winter wonderland happens rarely in Alabama, so it was no surprise to see social media spattered with photos of beautiful landscapes enfolded in a white cloak. Nor to see pitiful snowmen with lots of brown leaves woven into their charming attire amid the happy faces and rosy c…

It’s been nearly two months, and I still keep his phone charged. I check it each morning. We didn’t share the same thumbprint, but I knew his password, as he did mine. It was like that between us. We shared almost everything.