Category Archives: Uncategorized

Classics and Soon-to-be Classics

Posted on August 16, 2026 by Kathy

A good run of reading recently, marked especially by getting through The Count of Monte Cristo (1846) by Alexandre Dumas, all 1200 pages. Endearing Instagram blogger Chris Fizer recommended it. In fact, he recommends it in almost every post. Lots … Continue reading →

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Many Workbooks Available

Posted on August 1, 2026 by Kathy

It all started in the car, where a lot of interesting conversations with kids take place. As we drove from their house to ours, the grand-twins, Celia and Hank, now 5, were asking me if driving was fun. I responded … Continue reading →

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What Is a Phone?

Posted on June 16, 2026 by Kathy

Recently I posted the following on Facebook: Grandson wanted Papa to make him a phone out of paper. Papa became exasperated not knowing how to do this but eventually followed directions. The result was several smallish pieces of paper stapled … Continue reading →

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An Etymological Course

Posted on June 5, 2026 by Kathy

A person dear to my heart is currently in the throes of prodromal labor. Its common synonym, false labor, is something of a misnomer, because it’s not a mere fake out; it’s a precursor. Prodromal is used for any early … Continue reading →

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Vestibular Adventures

Posted on May 29, 2026 by Kathy

Last week, the ER nurse gave me a prescription for meclizine, the main ingredient of dramamine, to treat my vertigo. My world had been spinning for almost a week at that point She said it wasn’t a cure but would … Continue reading →

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To Ban or Not to Ban

Posted on March 23, 2026 by Kathy

I belong to a Banned Book Book Club (BBBC) that meets once a month via Zoom. At each meeting, we discuss where and why our book was banned – often more difficult to determine than you might think. This month’s … Continue reading →

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David and Kathy in Transit

Posted on March 1, 2026 by Kathy

I first encountered author David Guterson in 1992, when he was a handsome young father homeschooling his children and working as a public-school English teacher on Bainbridge Island in Washington State. In 1992, I was also a homeschooling parent and … Continue reading →

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A Lincoln Portrait

Posted on February 14, 2026 by Kathy

Almost ten years after my first attempt, today I finished George Saunders’s 2017 novel Lincoln in the Bardo, just in time for Lincoln’s 217th birthday. This was my third run at the book, and this time I finally made it … Continue reading →

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Carpe Diem

Posted on February 5, 2026 by Kathy

I didn’t realize when I chose the cover photo for my book Lead Me, Guide Me: The Life and Example of Father Dan Begin that its significance would be lost on many readers—maybe most readers. I should have done more … Continue reading →

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Minneapolis, Deja Vu

Posted on January 25, 2026 by Kathy

On the evening of May 4, 1970, I walked into the kitchen of our home in Canton. My dad was sitting in his wheelchair in his usual spot at the kitchen table, leaning toward the radio. As I approached, he … Continue reading →

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