By Susan Shanklin It was July 4th, and I was in a funk. Why? It’s Independence Day! Fireworks, parades, and more, but I just wasn’t too happy and Tom knew that. We discussed going to the fireworks in town. “What … Read more>>>
Yesterday, Tom and I celebrated (or lived through) our 51st wedding anniversary. We went fishing off a dock at a nearby lake. We caught two bullheads, one sunny, and one “sushi” perch. Basically, we drowned worms to celebrate. Oh, we could … Read more>>>
By Susan Shanklin I was mopping my floor a couple of days ago in the kitchen. Swish swish in and out of the table legs, and this thought came to mind about words. Words are so powerful! Words create … Read more>>>
By Susan Shanklin Tom and I just finished a home improvement project that only took us 112 years and some 8-day weeks! What? Well, that’s how it felt. Years of thought and weeks of work and still some details need … Read more>>>
I’m reading a wonderful book about a country vet in England in the early 1900s. The book has such descriptive details of the land and animals written in the first person. It relaxes my mind and calms the storms around … Read more>>>
As I write this, it’s only December 16, 2020, just a spit over two weeks to the new year. Yahoooooo. I always ask my little grandkids how they feel the day or week after their birthdays. For example, Athena, who … Read more>>>
Hello: With great anticipation, I was excited for October 9th to come! No, it wasn’t just that my oldest grandson was turning 17, but it was the day I was to have surgery on two hammertoes on my right foot. … Read more>>>
By Susan Shanklin Where did the summer go??? Our maples are turning the most beautiful reds, yellows, and oranges. The sumac leaves are dancing the most tribal sway and twirl to the playful wind. The many apple trees are swollen … Read more>>>
By Susan Shanklin It’s already 9:32 in the morning, and I haven’t been out in the garden yet! I’m biding my time, seeing that the rain gauge was totally full yesterday after torrential rains. I did a walk by later … Read more>>>
Join Susan Shanklin as she shares treasures from her garden. Sometimes there are treasures, both in the garden and in people, which require a little digging. Enjoy!
Read more>>>By Susan Shanklin I would like to tell you a story. A true story. A story so amazing and almost unbelievable … BUT true. I’m a sentimental person. I’m emotional and nostalgic. I’m a romantic at heart. I enjoy simple … Read more>>>
By Susan Shanklin How are you doing? That’s usually the first thing people seem to say to you via a text, email, or phone call, right? No handshakes, hugs, or kisses. Standing six feet away. Sometimes wearing a facemask. Shopping … Read more>>>
By Susan Shanklin Just days and hours before departing for the spiritually hungry and scenic hills and plains of Central Europe, snowstorms hit Minnesota, and wind storms blew into Europe. This mission trip suddenly became daring and more challenging. Our … Read more>>>
By Susan Shanklin You know life is not rocket science, so it boggles my mind why we (and I) make it so difficult? I haven’t read Tom’s article for this newsletter yet, which is a good thing. I don’t want … Read more>>>
By Susan Shanklin I’m writing this before Thanksgiving, but as you are reading it, you are looking ahead to Christmas. I have it all planned, and the menu all printed out and MOST of the fixings in-house. I’ll have to … Read more>>>
By Susan Shanklin I received instructions before Tom left for a trip to the upper great north country. “I would like you to do something while I’m gone,” he says. I wasn’t quite sure what he was going to say, … Read more>>>
By Susan Shanklin We have lived in this old 1880s brick farmhouse now for 15 years. Pretty remarkable seeing we usually do not stay in one place very long. It’s usually fix up, sell, and move on, but here we … Read more>>>
By Susan Shanklin You complain about winter and, bam, summer comes, and you start looking forward to fall and harvest. I tell you, we humans are never satisfied with whatever state (or season) we are in! It’s strawberry season here … Read more>>>
By Susan Shanklin Have you ever felt like you were caught up in a whirlwind and your feet landed somewhere else? Well, that’s how the trip to the United Kingdom was! I went from catching my breath after returning from … Read more>>>
By Susan Shanklin Where do I start? What do you want to know? Do I start with the miracle at the Minneapolis airport where they found me at the LAST gate of the airport 10 minutes before we were to … Read more>>>
