Brenda Wood

My granddaughter firmly attached her tongue to a steel pole at school the other day. It took great effort and several people to detach pole from child. When she could talk, she explained that she wanted to see if it … Read more

As I flipped the calendar on the first day of February, I found it! I had forgotten that it was coming. But there it was, one whole complete extra day, unstructured, unexpected, and totally available. When I am pressed for … Read more

Some folks like to talk about the "good old days" — the ones when life was tougher than Mom's free-range chicken. These stories are generally a tad embellished, like the commercial which tells of walking nine miles to school, up … Read more

"You'll know me by the picture on my book," she wrote. I know a little more than that about Anne Russell. By reading her book and her regular submissions to this page, I have learned some things about her faith, … Read more

The late actor, Telly Savalas, played the part of a police chief on a 1970s television series. Every show included his "tag" line, "Who loves ya, baby?" Sometimes it was offered tenderly, to his sweetie, but more often he said … Read more

At first, our mailman thought it must be someone's birthday, but then he too offered condolences on the death of my sister. Many kind people remembered us with cards and letters. One of those cards has become especially important to … Read more

Lois Sweet's highly recommended new book, "Writing with Spirit", says all there is to say about writing. It covers everything from researching and interviewing to grammar and ethics, time management and selling. I can skim the text and choose … Read more

We faced it the Canadian way, with calm panic! Most of us were not prepared for the great blackout of 2003. We had little or no cash on hand. Because our local convenience store owner needed to be on hand … Read more

Part of Canada's great beauty is its winter snow. I like to admire it from my window — near the fireplace and a good book! Regularly, though, I must brave the elements and venture into the real world. The first … Read more

Home economists tell us to take great precautions when thawing a large turkey for the holidays. If we are thawing it on the counter, it must be covered in cold water that is repeatedly changed. If we can find room … Read more