Don was in hospital, even though it was a special day.  The hospital trips were becoming more frequent. Congestive heart failure does that.  When Mary was not at the hospital with him, she was home awaiting his calls. His wife of more than 50 years didn’t like being apart from her doting husband.  Don knew … More Mary’s Birthday

 His mother was a raven-haired beauty called Sherry. We don’t know much about his father. The baby arrived on time.  He was small for his age.  Right from birth, he got a lot of ‘mileage’ out of his black curly hair and sparkling brown eyes.  Not surprisingly, he became a ‘chick magnet’. A special family … More It’s All About The Name

Shelley is a picturesque farming town in southern Idaho. It’s home to Frontier Pies and Restaurant, scene of the Great Mince Pie Caper. One day in early January, a lone Snowbird was heading south from Canada on I-15.  He took the advice of friends and stopped at Frontier Pies.  The restaurant boasts 29 varieties of … More The Great Mince Pie Caper

Hatchet Lake is frozen over most of the year.  It’s that far north.  A fly-in fishing camp on the lake opens in late June.  It’s risky trying to fish there too early.   Two men found that out. They were among a dozen men who flew to Hatchet Lake Lodge in mid-June one year.  Patches of … More A Hitch at Hatchet Lake

I could argue, unfairly of course, that my friend Mike was responsible for me sending a runt pig to market so I could get a bike, just like his. You see, Mike had shown up at our one-room country school with a magnificent bicycle.  It was red, with bright chrome on the handlebars, pedals, tire … More The Runt Became A Bicycle

Matthew was almost five and very tired that evening as they crossed the lake on the ferry heading home.  Slumped between his grandparents, he clutched a large red fire truck they’d bought him earlier that afternoon.  The toy fire truck gave him comfort – it was well past his bedtime and Matthew was homesick.  Almost … More The Ferry & The Fire Truck

Not many broken bones get credit for buying a house.  But that’s just what happened. It all began with a brand new relationship.  Jamie and Paige were living in different cities.  They were single, newly retired and looking for companionship.  Each had decided to try meeting someone online. Long story short: from the moment they … More The Broken Bone That Bought A Home: A Love Story

He admits that at times he’s mischevous like a small boy. It’s in his genes, he’ll argue. That’s his excuse for how he got four of his grandsons into so much trouble one day.  It all started over lunch. Their aunt was getting married the next day. They and even more family were all staying … More Grandfathers: Antique Little Boys