I used to needlepoint. Most people my age likely haven’t an idea what needlepointing is, but I learned at a young age thanks to the inability to detect whether I was being a pest. My sister and I used to lace up our tennies, kickstand our bikes in the driveway and devise a plan – …
A pumpkin is a pumpkin!
I prepared the first two pumpkin pies of the season last night. Made from real pumpkin, they at least look like something people will be fooled into dishing up. Let me start by getting this out into the open: I use “regular” Jack-O-Lantern pumpkins. As in, after Halloween, I take my spookily carved pumpkin, chop …
One man's junk is another woman's dresser
It’s amazing what some people consider junk. As experienced by Fargo citizens on cleanup week, handfuls of people are willing to put a bit of work into an item that a previous owner called it quits on. They should start calling it “trade up” week. I’d be lying if I said I haven’t gone “shopping” …
City Transportation: not as creepy as expected
I’ve been meaning to take the bus since Earth Day. Earth Day was in April. That’s almost six months ago. Alright, so it took some courage building, but I finally gave it a go yesterday. Contrary to popular belief, it wasn’t confusing, inconvenient, creepy or life threatening. I’m still living and breathing and to my …
Women in Business
Each year, I get the honor of interviewing and writing stories about some of the area’s most interesting, successful women. “Women in Business” is on my top 5 list of favorite publications to compile for The Forum. Every year, a select few of Fargo’s successful women open their door to prove it’s possible to make a …
Lessons from the Garden
If you’re a regular reader, you may remember the trouble I went through to create my first garden this spring. As stated in the mid-May column, I hadn’t a clue what I was doing. My sister was questioning me and the garden’s cost quickly quadrupled the allotted budget. Even the dog crushed my dreams by …
Puppy Love II
Remember that “damn dog” I was complaining about mid-March? (See “Puppy Love = Tough Love“) That’d be my brother’s Labrador retriever. At the time, I expressed an unbearable amount of frustration towards an animal in the process of being trained. During that very long, lengthy, drawn-out process (which lasted for an extended amount of time), …
I'm a coupon addict
This coupon thing is out of control. Americans have become obsessed with Extreme Couponing. Ladies lose it over exclusions at department store registers. People are stockpiling on newspaper fliers – whether via purchase or dumpster diving. I used to be the girl everyone made fun of – the dork who is obviously “slightly” obsessed. What …
Trying out the green thumb
I have officially dove into the world of gardening. I don’t have a clue what I’m doing. It all began with a friend who shared his love of farming and gardening. He told me of the abundance of fruits and vegetables I could easily produce on my own – eventually making jellies and salsas to …
Doing the Pot
I’ve come to love my crock pot. Not like puppy love where you love them until they chew up your camera cord. Not like brotherly love where you love ‘em cause you have to. Not even the love you have for your new high heels that cause a world of pain. Just sheer, undying, perfect, …