Nature and Nostalgia
Tina Turner’s passing last week brought back a lot of memories of her and my life in the '80s. So, I’m taking a moment to appreciate all her talents. Besides the quality and power of her voice, her music, and her ability to dance in spiked heels while singing songs that swept you up, she... Continue Reading →
Walking my dog at 6 a.m. years ago, I noticed a long, skinny, green twig in the grass. It had an upward bend that hovered over the sidewalk. When my dog stopped a few feet away to stare at it, I took a second look. Then I noticed the twig had eyes, so we backed up.... Continue Reading →
“The trees are making me claustrophobic.” An out-of-town friend said this as I drove us on a rural road in North Carolina. The tall, evergreen trees stood close to both sides of the two-lane road, and at points, they arched above us and almost touched each other. She explained that she grew up in an... Continue Reading →
Every Fall the North Carolina Botanical Garden has a Sculpture in the Garden exhibit and displays the work of local artists. Last Fall was the 34th annual exhibit. I am already highly motivated to stumble through a garden, so hunting for unique sculptures tucked in among the flora was an extra thrill. Of course, an... Continue Reading →
Feels like yesterday that I came home from work and my mother laughed saying I was making her crave donuts. Fried oil and powdered sugar clung to my hair, uniform, and shoes. It was the summer of 1985, a teen at my first job and after so many rejections I was just glad to be... Continue Reading →
North Carolina news about animals can be bizarre, and a bit concerning. Perhaps having no state-wide law prohibiting private citizens from owning exotic animals is the reason. But not all the animals making headlines are exotic, some are just local wild animals in unexpected places or farm animals on the run. Did events in 2022... Continue Reading →
Still digesting my holiday leftovers, I’ve been thinking of all sorts of popular foods from the 1970s, when they were often marketed as healthy, cool, and exciting. The catchy jingles on television had me asking Mom to buy canned ham, marshmallow paste, and caramelized popcorn. While these items are still made now, I will always... Continue Reading →
Every October the national TV news announces the heaviest American-grown pumpkin. This year, an 1161-kilogram (2,560 lb.) pumpkin named Maverick and grown by Travis Gienger of Anoka, Minnesota won the North American record. But this continental winner was no match for the world’s heaviest pumpkin weighing 1,226 kilograms (2,702 lb., 13.9 oz.) and grown by... Continue Reading →
Back in the decade when children’s programming was limited to whatever the TV antennae could pick up, we still had quite a few animated canine companions to entertain us. Some were crime-fighting heroes, one was a villain, a few were pets with lovable personalities and others had lives independent of people. While most shows were... Continue Reading →
Since International Cat Day is today, I was thinking about my first introduction to cats when I was a small child. We didn’t have any real cats in our home, so all I knew came from television and movies. Let’s take a look at 5 animated cats with shows airing in the 1970s. 1.... Continue Reading →
Sometimes you get so excited about seeing wildlife, you can miss the tiny details that separate truth from fiction. When I saw these swans at my workplace property, I was careful to take a photo from the shadows of a building so I wouldn’t disturb them. A "swan" sighting captured by the author. While Tundra... Continue Reading →
I planned to use my newly discovered camera filters on a not-new camera to create an alternate reality and a community rose garden seemed the ideal setting. A wood split rail fence enclosed a square space with brick walkways. A copper water fountain sculpture was a focal point directly in view of a gazebo on... Continue Reading →
After learning today was National Kitchen Klutzes of America Day, I thought I should share some stories for my fellow klutzes. Too many of us work in silence and embarrassment trying to hide our natural tendencies. Whether due to inattention, physical awkwardness or lack of know-how, I’ve done some damage to food, property and myself.... Continue Reading →
A loud, pained howling sound woke me up. It came from downstairs. 3:00 a.m. I ran and expected to see my cat in a medical crisis. What I found was her head between the vertical blinds, looking out the sliding glass door. She made that horrible sound again. Why was my spayed cat caterwauling? I... Continue Reading →
The first time I crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, I thought I was in a dream, my recurring one. In it, my father drives me alone, age 4, in the backseat, telling me about this amazing place where our car will glide on water. Suddenly, we’re there. A magic road. And water is everywhere I... Continue Reading →
Karen M. Free 