Family History Articles

Swedish Death cleaning — Dostadning

I'm knee-deep in Dostadning -- Swedish death cleaning. Not my house, not my stuff. But my parent's house of 70-plus years. My mom kept everything. And she waited to hand things out until it was too late. She passed on. She left everything for me and...

The summer I began collecting “The Beatles” cards

I secretly began collecting The Beatles cards in the summer of 1964 and 1965. In February 1964, the Beatles landed at New York City, Kennedy Airport for a whirlwind tour which included their famous debut on The Ed Sullivan Show. A record 73 million people watched...

Lessons on the value of money

I can't even remember the year, but I think it was 1972, when I had mononucleosis. My dad had a good sense of humor. And really, he had good taste in clothes. Well, maybe this wasn't his best example, but come on the glasses are totally cool. He didn't dress like he...

Elementary School Cafeteria Lunches in the 1960s

I do not have fond memories of school cafeteria lunches -- though they were memorable. For a few years, I never bought the school lunch, priced at 35 cents, because the "noon-aide" forced everyone to stay at the table until his/her plate was clean. Kids tried to hide...
1960s bathrooms

1960s bathrooms

I've never seen a bathtub like this, except in my childhood home. Yep, it's the same tub, circa 1950's -60's. Cast...

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Dog personalities

Dog personalities

My dog grabs the ear of other dogs, all playful-like, but super annoying. She has been doing this ever since we got...

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Why Do You Blog?

I write. I used to keep a hand-written journal. I need to edit it. I started a blog to help me write things that...

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Grafting fruit trees

Grafting fruit trees

We’ve always wanted an orchard. We’ve planted a lot of trees on the properties we have called home. We have left them...

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Why I Have Five Kids

...for comic relief. You know, I’m a party pooper. So my kids are the party. They make me laugh. And I need that. This...

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