A friend and I were talking over the holiday weekend. She and I like to hold one another accountable for staying positive, focusing on joy and enjoying every small thing around us. It works out well because we both have a tendency to dwell on the small stuff. This exercise keeps us upbeat and less dramatic. We both enjoy it. more

I feel that my search for affordable wines in this time of inflation has caused me to overlook the premium wines, those wines with a higher-than-average selling price. more

We had hoped to take a road trip this fall, but that isn’t going to pan out, so on a whim, Max and I said, “Let’s go to Niagara Falls, Maine and PEI!” Sometimes, serendipity is best, and so with little fanfare – or planning – we just got in the car and went. more

I had an interaction at a carpet store here recently (not a local one) that I think is worthy of note, just for grins if nothing else. more

He stands in a weedy clearing in the woods, in front of an empty deer stand. His dogs loll and pant on the ground next to him. His T-shirt is drenched in sweat. His hair is unkempt. His singing is simple, even a bit clunky. more

My 5-year-old granddaughter experienced her first day of kindergarten on Monday. In the weeks leading up to that day, I watched my daughter patiently prepare her by walking her through the process step-by-step. more

I am still on the hunt for affordable wines; this time, it’s white wines. more

Galatians 5:22-23 "By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." more

Late summer can be a challenging time to garden. It is hot and humid, there is little rain, and yet every plant and weed seems to be going all out with fruit or flower. Gardens that started out neat and tidy may now have an overgrown jungle vibe. Tomatoes, cucumbers, and okra seem to need harvesting every other day and there is no such thing as too little zucchini. Deadheading never ends. The goal is to find a balance between work and pleasure in the garden. more

OK, let’s get it off our chests and let's kick the wine know-it-alls, experts, gurus, geeks and your nosey neighbor out of the way and openly and honestly talk about sweet wines. more

We joined the masses last week, attending “Barbenheimer,” the two movies that have made hundreds of millions of dollars in the past month. One of the two movies is an in-depth, interesting look at the man who created “The Bomb,” and the other is a fun-filled piece of pink cotton candy fluff with unexpected messages. more

As I write this, I’m listening to Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” and reflecting on the distinctions he evoked for each time of year. I stop to do the math and marvel that those beloved violin concertos were written more than 300 years ago already. more

It’s no secret that attending the Missouri State Fair is a tradition for many, so it’s fitting that this year’s theme is “Where Traditions Grow.” more

We are all aware of the wines and wine history of France, Spain, Germany and Italy, which extended back as far back as the first century AD. However, in the history of the world, they are newcomers. Don’t believe that? May I suggest that we turn to the Bible? After the “great flood,” Noah planted vines at the foot of Mount Ararat, which is at the border of today's Armenia and Turkey, so he could make wine (Genesis 9:20). more

My kids have been crazy lately. And not just regular crazy. more

In our nation today, there is a longing for the greener pastures of yesterday or the promises of a glorious future tomorrow. Many people my age look at the generation today and wonder what happened. How did things get so bad? Rascal Flatts describes this in their 2002 hit song, “I Miss Mayberry.” We all long for how life used to be because we think it was exponentially better. more

For as long as I’ve lived in Sedalia, there have been three key parts to the summer season: Memorial Day and the end of school signals that summer has arrived, our annual Fourth of July vacation in Michigan indicates we’re halfway through, and the Missouri State Fair and sorority recruitment means the season is coming to an end (even if the summer heat isn’t). Well, we’ve made it through Memorial Day, and somehow opening day of the Missouri State Fair was yesterday, but my normal midpoint marker shifted a little later this year. more

Wow! It doesn’t seem possible that this column, my last, is my 42nd; this means that I have been penning this column for three and a half years. more

When you woke up on Aug. 1, did you have any idea that it was the beginning of National Rosé Month? Since it is rosé month and I do write about wines, I guess I have to fall in line, but I believe that it would have been better if they had declared the auspicious event at the beginning of spring as an announcement and declaration that is the end of winter. more

Long ago and far away: In 1975, I was struggling to decide what to do with my future. I had no idea what I wanted “to be,” and so I lived at home, worked part-time for the Blue Springs Bank, and took additional music hours at Jewell. more