GASPING FOR AIR
Coach blew his whistle, which brought us to a stop. His favorite conditioning exercise was to have us run on our hands and knees back and forth across the wrestling room. He started us off by blowing
Original Leisure & Entertainment
Kick back and relax, you deserve it! All of the stories in this section are unique, original entertainment by our local Waynedale, (Fort Wayne) Indiana columnists, created just especially for you. Our columnists love to hear from their dedicated readers!
“THE PHARMACIST” OFFERS LARGER THAN LIFE DRAMA – At The Movies With Kasey
One of my favorite books ever is The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, which tells the tale of a governess working on a remote estate. As the story unfolds, it is unclear if the young woman is
THE ARTISTRY OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN QUILT MAKERS – Around The Frame
As we celebrate Black History Month, I’m reminded of the artistry of African-American quilts and their makers. The tradition of African-American quilts is centuries old. Like their white counter parts, African-American women spun, se
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AIR PLANTS PULL NUTRIENTS FROM AIR – Green-Thumb Gardener
Tillandsia, commonly called air plants, are epiphytes. As their common name implies, they pull moisture and nutrients from the air. They have no use for soil and any roots they might grow are used for
CAN MAIN STREET SAVE US ALL?
The last few decades have been a whirlwind. Globalization has redrawn boundaries we’ve long lived by and counted on. Technology has transformed everything about how we work, shop, and even socialize. There’s turmoil on the political fro
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CELEBRATE THE SPECIAL, WACKY DAYS OF FEBRUARY
February is the third and last month of the meteorological winter in the Northern Hemisphere. And, even though there are 29 days in the month because of leap year, February is the only month of the year that can pass without a single full moon.
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SHOULDER SURGERY
After finding out there was a bullet in my arm, I hoped that was what was causing the pain in my arm. I figured that if a bullet was removed, there would be less trauma and healing than if it was torn ligaments. But I was to have no such luck. The doct
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WAVE YOUR TEAM’S PENNANT! – Around The Frame
The Super Bowl game will soon be here and it looks like there may be an unfamiliar champ as regular contenders, New Orleans and New England, have already been knocked out. I recently came across four
WHAT’S IN STORE FOR US IN 2020?
It’s hard to believe we’re living in the year 2020 (MMXX)! It’s a leap year in the Gregorian calendar containing 366 days with February 29 as the extra day. It’s also an Olympic year with summer games in Tokyo. This new year, in fact, is marked w
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CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS MAKE THE DANGEST GIFTS – Around The Frame
Over the years I’ve created all sorts of Christmas stockings: golf courses, bowling pins, light bulbs, dog bones – you name it. I’ve also beautifully embroidered a few that are very special to
A REAL PATRIOT
A good friend of mine, Blaine, was a World War II veteran. He was one of the most patriotic men I knew, even if he had many reasons not to be.
As a young man, Blaine, like many others his age, found
THE STORY OF THANKSGIVING (Poem)
We remember the first Thanksgiving Day
Started by the pilgrims so far away
In Europe, they faced discrimination
Because of their religious orientation
They decided to move in their desperate
“BE A SANTA TO A SENIOR” KICKS OFF
The holiday season is also the season of giving and a time to share smiles with those around you. As you gather to drink hot cocoa and sing carols with family and friends, it’s important to remember
DOWNSIZING DILEMMA: THE PLIGHT OF OVERALL BOY AND SUE – Around The Frame
You read a lot of them in the newspapers and online these days: Estate auctions and tag sales with the word DOWNSIZING prominently in the title to alert the readers that whole lifetimes of possessions
THE SEASON OF GOLD – News From The Hills
When God finished creating the earth, and everything that was in it, He looked upon what He had made. “And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good.” (Genesis 1-31) That makes me wonder if he was looking upon West Virgin
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CARDBOARD CAPERS
Some say Halloween is for children. But they haven’t met my friend, Rod King.
You see, Rod is a cardboard craftsman. He can fashion about anything out of cellulose fiber. He’s made tunnels, hills,
AROUND THE FRAME TURNS TEN – Around The Frame
Where has the time gone? It hardly seems possible that ten years have gone by since I wrote my first column for the Waynedale News. I clearly remember how it all began: Former 4th District Councilman
IN SEARCH OF AN OPENING SONG OR … SOMETHING
Many years ago, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to see a show in Las Vegas starring the late comedian George Burns. The only disappointment about his appearance was that it didn’t include his wonderful wife, Gracie Allen, who died
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FALL IS COMING SOON – News From The Hills
Twilight trails dusky fingers across the land tonight, cooling the edges of the sun-scorched day and bringing night to the hills once more. There is a definite note of fall felt in the air now, reflected
CHOOSING A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT
When I first met my wife, she was a music major and played in a dance band. I was in athletics. My children have tended to follow their mother’s interests more than mine. Every one of them is an excellent
PHONE ‘SILENCE IS GOLDEN’
“Silence is golden” is a proverbial saying often used in circumstances where it is thought that saying nothing is preferable to speaking. That proverb could apply today for many cell-phone users.
When
FLAMINGO FUN! – Around The Frame
Once again, I had a great time at the Maumee Valley Antique Steam & Gas Association Show. The corn-on-the-cob still at $1 an ear was great and the quilt show was full of wonderful vibrant quilts.
You
STRIKE UP THE … CAMERA?
As the college football season approaches I think how Band Alumni of Notre Dame (B.A.N.D.) are invited about every four years to participate in a band reunion at a football game.
It’s a wonderful experience
THE SUMMER VACATION
I knew that Brent had gone on an extended vacation, so when he returned, I asked him how it went.
“Well, I learned some things about myself, and I also learned some things about my family and what
SEW MUCH FUN: FONS AND PORTER INDUCTED INTO QUILTERS HALL OF FAME – Around The Frame
It was a beautiful Friday afternoon when my friend Priscilla and I headed to Marion, Indiana to meet Marianne Fons and Liz Porter on the eve of their induction into the Quilters Hall of Fame.
I was only