Common sense
There was a time, long, long ago when we knew the term “It’s Common Sense.” It was the kind of thing that, when your mother said, “Do not ever put your tongue on anything metal when the temperature is below zero,” you just had to try it. I contemplated this while my tongue was stuck […]
Do you believe in magic?
I’ve been around a long time. I don’t often delve into politics, although the Times is my political arm—where I can vent my thoughts, and you can love me or hate me. I’m okay either way. I’m a big believer in: “Say what you think.” If you have the strength to speak your mind, you […]
Pumpkin spice
Pumpkinfest! I don’t know who thought a whole community would give a bright orange darn about everything “pumpkin”, but those folks deserve some kind of fancy-schmancy, pumpkin-spicy recognition! Pumpkinfest is such a wonderful event even the weather cooperates. Pumpkinfest is the gateway to all of the seasonal goodness I like the best! Don’t get me […]
Need for more green
Sometimes I find that the articles I am most excited about come from heated arguments, and this one is no exception. I had a well-known landscape designer approach me to be part of a pitch to a large building developer about adding landscaping and community beautification to all of his projects. While this may seem […]
Bunkers + Bleachers
What we are, and where we are, where we are going, and what we do is reflected in our newspapers. Think about this for a second. Our newspapers are a forum for our voice—our feelings, our opinions, our thoughtful thanks for the many good deeds we do each day, because we are County. I also […]
The final two
This week I am wrapping the top ten biggest mistakes that homeowners make when it comes to their outdoor spaces. If you missed numbers three to ten, I covered items like secondstorey decks, red mulch, cedar hedges and backyards for children. As a result, I’ve had so many emails and comments from readers that clearly […]
Thankful, Plateful
Thanksgiving! It’s such a lovely holiday. Today, the leftovers have been presented and no one complained. The whole house is a bit topsy-turvy. We’ve got a bit of extra laundry.There’s evidence of a visit from a six-year-old that has popped-up in the six-year-oldest places. As I write this I spot a vintage HotWheels under the […]
Countdown continued
When I started writing this four-week series about the biggest mistakes people make in their outdoor spaces, I never though I would get so much feedback. I joked that my neighbour gave me trouble because I banned red mulch and she didn’t find it very funny that I shared this with all of my readers […]
Trick ’r Treat, Smell My Feet
Hallowe’en has always been a fun time for me. When we were kids in the fifties and early sixties, Hallowe’en was a great, big deal. We didn’t get a lot of candy, chips or gum when I was a kid. Our mom’s idea of a treat was a bowl of stewed fruit and an Arrowroot […]
Tapping out our audience
I’ve been thinking, while I’m not writing, but just looking and thinking and watching. There’s not much for me to write about, because everyone right now is fighting about three things: The Wellington waterworks project, Picton Terminals port and Fawcetteville development. Lots of good smart people are handling this, so my voice is not necessary. […]