As I write, it is the peak for fall colors in Union County and the surrounding area. This sun-filled weekend has in particular been glorious. Driving to church with the light filtering through the changing colors was like being surrounded by natural stained glass fashioned by God himself.

I like caramel. It seems there isn't much I don't like. I remember when I wore a size 10 dress. That was so very long ago. This recipe will help throw you into those half sizes I now know so well. It is delicious. Try it anyway.

As cold weather settles in you may end up with an influx of mice wanting to use your house as a winter retreat. There are several mouse species in our area, but thankfully only a few pose a problem for humans.

Imagine it, you walk in the shop and the first thing that greets you is the smell of freshly brewed coffee as you run in for quick cup of joe before the day begins.
Weather it be the thing that you cannot start the day without or the thing that is continually brewed all day, many of us enjoy the rich flavors and aroma of coffee.

Ever since the early humans learned to walk upright, they have suffered, as an unfortunate consequence of their erect posture, from low back pain. Modern understanding on this matter dictates that low back pain, in particular, is caused due to a postural instability resulting from poor “proprioception,” which is a term for the perception of part of our body’s own position in space. In fact, our trunk and lower legs are key to maintaining postural stability due to the presence of “proprioceptors” — sensory receptors responding to position and movement — in those areas.

Sara was so excited. Her friend Skippy was coming over to play. We were all expecting to have a fun evening, but when Skippy and his family arrived, things quickly changed.
“We’ve got a big problem!” Those were the first word’s out of Skippy’s mother’s mouth as she walked through the front door. My first thought was that Skippy had thrown up in their car. Or worse, on our front porch. Unfortunately, for him and us, it wasn’t that simple. Then she said, “He has a Lite Brite bulb stuck up his nose!”

A former teacher recently gave me several boxes of books and the promise of more to come. Last Sunday was my fifth Sunday to volunteer at the Union County Historical and Genealogical Museum. I was alone for those four hours (it was no surprise to me that I had no visitors on Halloween Sunday), so I used the opportunity to become familiar with my newly acquired old books.

Apple pie. Apple pie. Custardly, creamy apple pie. Only a few apples in the fridge? All this pie takes is three pie apples. Then it only takes a pie shell. If you have some dough in the freezer left over from your last baking bash, rescue those apples and make this pie. If there is not quite enough apples, that's ok. Maybe throw in a few raisins. Notice that there is no cinnamon in this apple pie.

One of my favorite songs is an old bar song. It is amazing how many people know that old ditty. Religious folk know it, too. That surprised me at first. It shouldn’t have. Not everyone has a religious conversion as a child. Some, like me, find our Lord at a later age.
I delight in humming a few bars to see what reaction I get. The change is immediate if it has been part of their youth. The song was a staple on all neighborhood bar jute boxes. At least in the area where I grew up

Bird watching is a favorite pastime for many nature lovers, but it’s often hard to find time to get out and see them. You can enjoy them at home by setting up a feeding station or two. This will also give you the added satisfaction while helping the birds through severe weather, especially extreme cold and snow. Before you begin feeding, keep in mind that once you begin winter feeding, you need to keep it up regularly. The birds become dependent on you, rather than natural sources, and it may prove a great hardship for them if you suddenly stop.