Richland County has always been my home. The proof is in my house above the kitchen cabinets. There sits a relic proclaiming my allegiance to Richland County. I was the fortunate family member that came across an old lard tin from Haring’s Meat Market at the Country Store in Lucas back in the early 80s. […]
Tara Arnold, Columnist
Posted inLife and Culture
Fourth of July memories made better by grandparents
Tomorrow, we will celebrate the Fourth of July with all the usual traditions. We will fire up the grill, take a dip in the blow up pool or run through the sprinkler and perhaps even catch a parade. However, these are just the prelude to the grand event, watching the fireworks. Growing up the idea […]
Posted inLife and Culture
First morels then garage sales
In mid-May, my family finished up mushroom hunting and starting to scan the roadsides for cardboard signs. Yep, we are looking for garage sales. You see, I live among thrill seekers. Sure we love stomping around woods and looking for fungus, but after a few days we are ready for a surge of adrenalin. Therefore, […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Mom, you deserve that pineapple-sour cream pie
The month of May has finally arrived, despite the “un-Mayish” weather. May, for the most part is all about girly things, particularly mothers. So, in the next few days Mother’s Day will be celebrated. As my family expands, the celebration of Mother’s day is constantly evolving, yet one thing remains a constant: As long as […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Spring “shuffle” and abandoning reason
I hear spring has arrived. There have been a few mornings that I heard the birds and smelled the scent of earthworms. And 50-60 degree temperatures are predicted as the week progresses. It feels like I have been waiting a long time for the signs of spring. Those signs have a special meaning in my […]
Posted inLife and Culture
April, a time for birthdays
I always thought April would be a perfect month for a birthday. By April, the thrill of any Christmas gift has passed and a taste of warmer days sparked a whole new list of wants. So on April 15, 1959, I claimed April as my birthday month. The only problem was my younger brother declared […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Birth order: my life as the middle child
I don’t ever recall a time in my life that I wasn’t aware of birth order and where I fit in that chain. Even though I was one of an even four children, in my eyes, I was always a middle child. Let me explain. The firstborn was my sister Tammy, 18 months later me, […]
Posted inOpinion
Grocery shopping, it’s a genetic trait
Every time I look at my husband, I am reminded that he carries the dominant genes. While my hair is blonde and my eyes green, my husband has only dark brown hair and eyes. So, it was no surprise that our children favored him in many ways. However, there was one dominant gene that he […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Choosing the right words for Valentine’s Day
When the shelves at the stores are infused with red and a paper heart swings about your head at every turn, you can bet Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Valentine’s Day, I would have to admit, was probably my first experience of “love” outside of family. It was Valentine’s Day of 1971, I […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Arctic blast cause illness
Even though I haven’t been to the doctor yet, I feel like I am coming down with something. My symptoms are quite unusual. I struggle getting out of bed. I wake up slip off my sweats, shower and put on another clean pair of sweats. My make-up is definitely below par. It has been days […]