With the twice-a-month summer book club I attend, long drives between Michigan and Minnesota for audiobooks, and a little more downtime, I read ten books during July and August…my largest Bookstack yet! I personally know three of the authors, slipped in a couple of non-fiction books, and gave every book four or five stars (a sign that I’m getting pickier when choosing??).
Without further ado…
Read MoreI’ll get right to that exciting life update.
After counting down the years, the months, the weeks, and the days, my husband now has ONE DAY of work left before being finally, officially RETIRED!
Read MoreDid you see the recent story about the newscaster who fell asleep during a live broadcast?
Her colleague, reporting from the field, wrapped up her story and then waited for a response. But the split-screen shows the anchorwoman at her desk, elbows and fists supporting her chin, eyes closed. Oops!
Read MoreSo much excitement! With America’s 250th birthday, Travis and Taylor’s wedding, and the World Cup games, life sure has been full lately! I hope you’ve been able to take in some of the celebration wherever you are.
We’ve had family visiting us at the cabin for the past two weeks, so there’s been the additional excitement of fishing, kayaking, shopping, visiting, etc. It’s been hard to find time to read, and even harder to write up reviews. But, as I’ve been doing every two months for the past couple of years, I got ‘er done.
Read MoreIn case you missed the news in my last post, I’m hoping to start a book club for all you readers in life’s next chapter. In other words, if you can read a novel, you’re invited!
Read MoreEven though the Northern Hemisphere’s summer solstice is a week away, I feel like summer began weeks ago. You too? Graduation season is wrapping up. Picnics and beach time are happening again. And strawberries are ripe for the picking!
Read MoreI stood on the sidewalk feeling like a forgotten pet, a lost child, a jilted lover. My husband had gone to find a free parking spot in busy downtown Grand Rapids, while I ran into the restaurant to check on the wait time. We had picked a special place to celebrate our 38th anniversary, and opted for a “walk-in” since reservation times were limited.
Read MoreMay 15 marked one year since the release of Empty-Nest Joyride!
And what a ride it has been!
Like birds from a nest, this year has flown! As author Gretchen Rubin says, “the days are long but the years are short.”
Read MoreI just returned home from a long weekend in Charleston, South Carolina, with my daughters and daughter-in-law—Leah, Chloe, and Maddie. It was our first-ever girls’ trip (and likely not our last!). I hope to share a little more about the sights, sounds, and delicious tastes of Charleston in a future post, but for now, let me tell you about our first day.
Read MoreTransitioning to what has long been called the “empty nest” can bring on a whole host of emotions, from sobbing 😭 to sniffling 😪 to celebrating 🥳🥂.
Wherever you are on the spectrum, I encourage you to rename this season. Seriously, isn’t a term that starts with “empty” going to get a bad rap?
Read MoreSimilar to what is often referred to as “Maycember,” my April calendar was jam-packed with holidays, events, and getaways. I looked forward to the fun times that were coming, but all the delight April promised was starting to stress me out.
Read MoreI originally published the following story on May 27, 2023. Since then,
-our cabin has undergone more improvements, bringing both hassles and happiness.
-My then-newborn granddaughter is now a spunky, mischievous, and delightful almost-three-year-old…
Read MoreWords fail. But we must try. (Because words may be the only way to healing and hope.)
Last Friday afternoon, March 6th, a storm blew through. Tom and I were both at home, working on our laptops. We heard some thunder, followed by a generous downpour. And then the sun came out. A typical early spring rain.
Or so we thought.
Read MoreMarch is National Reading Month! So what could be better than bragging on my local libraries? We live on the border of Indiana and Michigan, so we’re members of libraries in both states.
Our Michigan library opened its brand new location last week and it is just beautiful! I can’t wait to spend more time there.
Read MoreYesterday morning, Tom and I were out the door by 6:05 a.m.! Not our usual M.O., for sure. But when you are invited to your first grandchild’s awards assembly in which he is receiving his first award—for COURAGE—you must attend!
Read MoreAs I watch Olympians soaring down mountain passes—through rocky chutes, over moguls, and around curvy bends in the trail—I yearn to hit the slopes.
Read MoreIf you’re reading this, you probably enjoy email newsletters, Substack posts, and news articles, like I do. Yet, the endless stream of information pouring into our phones, tablets, and laptops every day, is enough to sink the Titanic.
Read MoreThe peace and calm I’ve enjoyed at the lake is in stark contrast with what we’re now seeing daily on the news. Families ripped apart. Citizens shot in the streets. Tear gas, masked men, and violence. The current situation in Minneapolis is heartbreaking. 💔
Read More
