It was exactly one year ago today that I first photographed and posted this image of a prettily packaged gift basket full of cleaning supplies. The pandemic was just gearing up on this side of the country, certain supplies suddenly disappeared from grocery store shelves, and an upscale market near me was selling gift basketsContinue reading “One Year Later, Still Disinfecting”
Category Archives: Family
Vaccine Envy
I never envisioned a time would come when we’d all be congratulating each other on having gotten a vaccination. But that’s exactly what I’ve been doing on friends’ Facebook pages lately. And I feel encouraged as I see the rising number of friends who say they got their shots. I haven’t written much about theContinue reading “Vaccine Envy”
Closing the Door on Potential Engineers
A friend who is an engineer writes that fewer American students are going into engineering. She wondered if it’s because they think they’re not smart enough or nerdy enough or male enough, or are afraid that in other ways don’t fit the engineering “mold.” I’m pretty sure it’s not the only reason. If kids don’tContinue reading “Closing the Door on Potential Engineers”
Pepino Returns
After dealing with several mice in the house, we were finally convinced that we had succeeded in getting rid of them. We hadn’t seen or heard a mouse in weeks. And then, on Saturday night, I walked into the kitchen to see Pepino scurrying across the floor to disappear under the refrigerator. Damn. Bob saidContinue reading “Pepino Returns”
Throwback Thursday: JFK and Papa
I was recently reminded of a photo I came across a couple years ago. I was doing some research on a 1960 John F. Kennedy campaign tour, and found a newspaper photo of him speaking at an armory in Scranton, Pennsylvania. And I recognized my own grandfather sitting onstage with him! “Papa,” as we calledContinue reading “Throwback Thursday: JFK and Papa”
Month of Letters 2021
Every February for years, I’ve taken part in the Month of Letters challenge. During the month of February, I’m supposed write and mail one letter or postcard each day. And when I receive mail (not junk mail) I write back to the sender. Mail can go to old friends, family members, my regular pen pals,Continue reading “Month of Letters 2021”
A Bump on the Head
I was going to blog today about Laura Ingalls Wilder, who was born on this day in 1867 and is one of my favorite writers ever. But an hour ago, I had an accident. My husband and I were putting some boxes away in the attic. OK, I admit that we were finally putting awayContinue reading “A Bump on the Head”
Throwback Thursday
For Throwback Thursday, here is a photograph from my paternal grandparents’ wedding on August 10, 1936. She was 21 years old; he was 29. Bart Petrini Sr. and Mary Piccioli were born in northeastern Pennsylvania after their parents emigrated from Italy. And both lived in that area their whole lives, except for my grandfather’s tourContinue reading “Throwback Thursday”
Happy Birthday, Elmo!
He may be perpetually three-and-a-half, but loveable fuzzy red guy Elmo does have a birthday, and it’s today! The Sesame Street icon and his “assistant” Kevin Clash, the puppeteer who created the character and voiced him for years, spoke at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., in 2006. My son and I got toContinue reading “Happy Birthday, Elmo!”
Photo Friday: Women’s March Recap
Last Friday I posted a photo I took four years ago at the Women’s March on Washington, D.C., the day after President Trump’s Inauguration. Searching for a suitable image for today’s featured photo, I decided I’m not finished with the Women’s March, so here is another moment from that exhilarating day. At this point, weContinue reading “Photo Friday: Women’s March Recap”
