A new pair of shoes I love my wardrobe. Heck, I love clothes. A lot. But for years (for decades, people) I put that all on the back burner. I was due to the kids. It’s always due to the kids, isn’t it? They always bear the brunt of our angst. We sacrifice for them. Gladly. Because that ...
For much of my life, I’ve been the inviter. I enjoyed planning and inviting people to those plans. But in the last few years I haven’t invited much of anyone anywhere. I didn’t have the heart for it. I lacked momentum and (to be honest) felt broken so I took on a rather new role. I ...
The annual August roadside survey of pheasants found Iowa’s statewide pheasant population to be nearly 23 birds per survey route; a 15 percent increase over 2022. The biggest increases were in the southwest, northwest and northeast regions. Our pheasant population is the highest it’s been ...
Life isn’t easy. And the epitome of that, perhaps, might be parenting. (Okay, maybe the epitome is death, but let’s take a week away from that topic, shall we?) In regards to parenting being difficult: stop the judgmental comments already. I know what you’re thinking. People who ...
In simple terms, life can be summed up as moments of “good news” and “bad news.” I’ve come to believe it’s best to embrace both: the good and the bad because each makes us who we are. Each molds us. Each helps us grow as we are supposed to, meant to, during our time here on this ...
BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is accepting applications for his Spring 2024 internship program, an opportunity for college-age Iowans to learn firsthand about our federal government. Internships are available in Grassley’s offices in Washington, D.C., ...
Note to readers (and self) super glue does not mix well with granite countertops. Recently I had the opportunity to experience this noxious combination in the comfort of my own kitchen. This was not my doing. But you already knew that. Late one night (when all the excitement happens at ...
Charlie Chaplin once said “A day without laughter is a day wasted.” Life around my Dad (Lester Corbin, 1909-2000) was filled with jokes, teasing and what became known as “Lester’isms.” Raised around the humor of Red Skelton, Redd Foxx, Jonathan Winters, Rodney Dangerfield, Richard ...
In part one, Tree grew tall and firm in the forest in the mid-1800s, only to be felled by a human and cut into boards used to build a house. While most would see boards and call them such, Tree continued to see itself as a tree, because one never travels far from ones roots. Whereas ...
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will relax the fishing regulations at Cherry Lake on the south side of the city of Tama starting September 15 to allow anglers to more freely harvest fish. Anglers with a valid sport fishing license may harvest all sizes and unlimited quantities ...