BIRTHDAY About a week ago, I was standing at my kitchen counter trying to cut an apple with a not-so-great-knife using my not-so-great-arthritic fingers. I thought to myself, “I would sure love to have that knife I used at Vernie’s house last month. It made cutting things a joy.”…

How’s THAT for a long blog title? There is a good reason I am asking that rather weird question. Following our unofficial state poll last week, we have discovered that we’re just sixteen states away from having visitors from every state. (And big Smithellaneous-ish thanks to reader, Kristina Creek, who compiled the data without even being asked!)…

Roll Call I know I’ve probably done this at some point in the past, but I wanted to repeat it since I know I’ve had a good number of new readers come on board in recent years. And just what is the “this” that I’m talking about? …

Last summer, I took some photos that I forgot to share. They are especially wonderful to view right now because in the midst of a dismal winter, the vivid sky and green grass are antidotes for a winter-weary soul. The story behind the photos is pretty special, too. In the months leading up to Sarah’s high school graduation last June, Steve put a lot of…