I ORDERED AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR  as a gift to me on Christmas. It just arrived and I’ve unpacked it. I want to learn twelve classic songs...

I STARTED WRITING regularly during a difficult period in my life. It started in earnest a dozen years ago during a divorce and I read...

ONE OF MY FAVORITE APPLES  has been   Honeycrisp. Recently it has come under fire for its short shelf life. Its taste can deliver a mediocre experience, characterized by its mushiness. This attribute may be “a kiss of death” for the once-popular variety in the competitive fresh apple market. Then again look at the run the Red Delicious has had - a name that is a contradiction in terms if there ever was one. Last year I wrote about this historically popular red apple and its

A WEEK INTO REALLY SNOWY WEATHER  has me making Jenn Segal’s Turkey Chili this weekend. It is so tasty. It has been the standard in my...

I HAVE BEEN STUDYING THE GAME OF BRIDGE for a week using tutorials and videos from the Web. It has been 55 years since I last played the...

WE WOKE TO THREE INCHES  of snow Friday morning in greater Traverse City. Reports of 25 inches inland around Gaylord were prevalent in...

IT IS THANKSGIVING WEEK . Flurries are in the air, my golf course finally closed, and I just finished  Never  by Ken Follett - a rather...

THIS PAST WINTER I had my cataracts removed in both eyes. Cataract surgery is a procedure that eliminates a cloudy lens from the eye and...

I ENJOYED LEARNING ABOUT BAMBOO  on my gentlemen’s farm thirty years ago in Leelanau County. I raised ornamental grasses as a hobby and...

AS YOU MAY RECALL , I was a seedsman for a few years in my twenties and have always been fascinated by the world of seeds. Seeds are...

THE TITLE TO THIS ESSAY reminded me of the lyrics, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme made famous by Simon and Garfunkel in their 1966...

I JUST GOT FOUR NEW ALL-WEATHER  Firestone tires on my 2020 Equinox. After the unexpected purchase, I thought, “Holy cow, they’re...

IT IS THE LAST WEEK  in September and the Detroit Tigers are battling to secure a wild card slot in the postseason play. It would be...

THE AUTUMNAL EQUINOX came upon us this past weekend. Simply put, it is the start of fall in the northern hemisphere.   I associate so...

APPLES ARE ABUNDANT THIS FALL.  Mother Nature delivered near-perfect weather during this year's growing season, benefiting the state's...

MUCH TO THE DETRIMENT  of my waistline, I love pizza. The good news is I have eliminated meat toppings from my pizzas this summer. It...

THE ABUNDANCE OF FRESH PRODUCE  over Labor Day weekend at farm stands in my area brought me great pleasure and a nice opportunity. To my...

I HAVE PLANS TO BECOME REACQUAINTED  with an acoustic guitar. I have narrowed my selection to two popular brands and will choose one...

I MOVED IN A NEW DIRECTION with my annual plantings this year. I grew flowers and vegetables in large pots placed randomly around my...

ADDING HUMOR TO YOUR DAILY LIFE  can lead to many benefits. Research suggests it  sparks energy ,  boosts brain power ,  improves...