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Spring Enters An Open Window

I awoke to what sounded like the repetitive ringing of a telephone from half a century ago. When fully awake, I realized the sound I heard was that of an ambitious woodpecker at work on a tree in the nearby woods. This sound was complimented by the voices of numerous spring gobblers making their morning trek through the yard to scrounge seed from beneath the bird feeders. They would have to share their feeding space with a brave squirrel that makes this location her personal buffet. A light breeze carried the sounds in through the window. These are the rewards on a warm spring ...

Easter’s Sweet Memories

Everyone has his or her favorite. Mine are the yellow ones. They are usually lemon flavored unless you purchase those that mimic other candies. I really don’t care for the black ones because they turn your teeth black, making it look as though you just ate a bag of potting soil. I’m talking about jelly beans, of course. It used to be you could predict the flavor of each of these candies based on their colors. But as in many things in life, you can’t judge something simply by the color of their candy shell. I don’t know why candy makers feel it necessary to mess with the ...

Basket Collecting Offers Many Choices

Today is Easter, and for many of us, that means searching for — or hiding a basket or two. Easter baskets are an important part of the spring tradition here in the United States, and most children enjoy the search as much as the enjoyment of the treats inside the grass filled-containers. Baskets of all kinds are collectible. For example, Native American baskets have avid fans in the world of antiques. Like most Native American art and tools, the well-made baskets created by tribal people out West are now treasures to collectors who also like beadwork, clothing, weapons and other ...

Cliff’s Last Alarm

Cliff Sligar was a firefighter long before he was old enough to join the Wheeling Fire Department. During his formative years, it was no secret that he could be found more often at a local firehouse than in a classroom. If there was a big fire in the city, Cliff was there no matter what time of the day or night. It was destiny that he would some day serve as fire chief for his beloved city. And that’s just what he did — from 1971 to 1995. Cliff died this week at home surrounded by family. While firefighters battle flames and rush to aid others, the dangers they face can take ...

Something to Chew On: Mystery Dish Had a Simple Use

I came across this sweet little porcelain dish at a neighbor’s garage sale years ago. Not knowing what it was at the time, I bought it for a quarter, recognizing the workmanship and lusterware glaze as marks of vintage quality and put it away for safe keeping, right next to the other china cupboard odds and ends. It’s a very small dish with a puppy sitting on one edge. It measures just three by two inches in size. The reverse side carries the mark Germany 757. I knew right away that this small porcelain dish was well made and collectible — but just what was it used for? I ...

Chalk Up One For Mom

There’s a saying that what goes around comes around. I believe that more than ever. Today, there are many popular TV shows featuring designers and home sellers. Some shows bring us designers for building homes and designers for decorating those homes. Each is as different as the next, which makes me wonder what is really fashionable in today’s modern homes. And during a pandemic when we have all been hyper-focused on amusing ourselves in front of the TV, I will admit I have watched more than my share of these shows. Sometimes I find myself smirking at the insane designs of ...