I’ll serve up some serious stories as well as some silly side dishes. Hopefully, you’ll find the prices affordable, the service friendly, and no unpleasant side effects from your visit. Comments on your experience here are always welcome, and I hope you’ll come back soon (and maybe bring a friend). If you want to know when a new dish is added to the menu, register and check the box at the bottom of your profile page. You will be notified by email when a new blog is posted. Bon appetit! CW

Back in December Bonnie and I watched a Hallmark Christmas movie almost every day with our lunch. I like them for the most part—because I like almost everything about Christmas. However, when our preacher exposed his negative feelings from the pulpit towards “those Hallmark guys,” that’s the closest I’ve ever come to saying “amen” out loud in church.  Probably good I didn’t. The last time somebody shouted “amen,” everybody turned and stared. Not only that, but the preacher lost his place. (Kidding, but it could happen.) Those Hallmark guys give everyday husbands a bad name. They …

September 18, 2023 I’ve fallen into a daily routine in my senior years. I’ve become very predictable. In fact, you probably already knew I was going to write that. It was different, though, back when I taught school. Things changed up constantly, and I had to stay on my teaching toes. Some of the biggest changes took place in the early ‘80s. We moved into our new building.  On top of that, our administration figured we might as well try a new schedule. Instead of six 55-minute periods, we’d shave a few minutes off each one …

I was shopping at my favorite tool store when I ran into one of the horticulturists from our county extension center. After we exchanged greetings, she reminded me of the potluck lunches the center hosts every month during the winter for area master gardeners who volunteer in the community garden. I had a perfect non-attendance record for these winter social affairs and hadn’t planned on ruining it anytime soon. But there’s something about a personal invite. I told her thanks, I might come.      A few weeks later, on the day of the next …

My wife is super lucky to have a shopping partner like me. I can peel open those clingy produce bags almost as fast as she can drop in the zucchinis and peppers. I’m about 90% on picking the good melons. And we can usually find the expiration dates on items when we squint together. Once in a while I wander off, though, which can be a problem since the cart wanders with me. The last time I did I ended up in the nut section. (No snarky comments please. It’s the Christmas season. However, since …