Mystery Bell!

I never thought I’d own a yappy dog. But I do. When I encounter other dogs with their owners, I often hear, “That’s the yappy little dog that always barks at you.” Well, to be fair, Sophie rarely barks at them on the street. She prefers to bark safely from the top of the couch,…

🎶(Staying) Home for the Holidays!🎶😷

I didn’t feel like decorating for Christmas this year. Usually, I’m gung-ho about it and have our home festive by early December to fully enjoy the season. But this year it just seemed like too much effort. Too much hassle for no visitors to enjoy. The premier of Ontario told us to stick to our…

Dad

By today’s standards, this story won’t pique the interest of those who choose to fault their childhood for their own actions today. I’d be hard-pressed to find anything wrong with the way I was raised. How many people can truthfully say that? I come from a large family. Six of us kids. I have four…

Keep Hope Alive!

It’s funny how a simple remark can lead you to reflect on your life. Last week, my brother-in-law stopped by to visit. As we stood in the driveway, he pointed to a large bed of Cosmos flowers still standing on the first day of November. “I see you’re one of those gardeners who lets their…

Smile Cookies!

I stood in line at Tim Horton’s in Chatham. In front of me was a couple in their forties. In front of them, and being served was an older gentleman. He was furious! He repeated his order to the young girl working at the cash register. A mature employee was working alongside her. The senior…

Random Acts of Kindness

I looked downwards at the man in the wheelchair. He was staring up towards a high shelf in the grocery store. “May I help you?” “Uh . . . I was hoping to get the medium-sized freezer bags. They’re on sale.” “Hmmm, that looks like a challenge.” For him, it would be impossible. For me,…

A Grandmother Overcomes Anxiety

Max Lucado said it best— “How can a person deal with anxiety? You might try what one fellow did. He worried so much that he decided to hire someone to do his worrying for him. He found a man who agreed to be his hired worrier for a salary of $200,000 per year. After the…

Thousand Word Thursdays #114

Quaint little church that caught my interest in Chatham, Ontario. © Rita Jacques 2018.

Crown of Thorns… or Glory!

“You’re throwing that out? I’ll take it!” I could hardly believe myself. For the past two days, I’d been playing Tetris with my houseplants, trying to create room in the house for them as well as for the people who live here! The problem stems from taking the houseplants outside for the summer—where they grew…

Liver, Anyone?

Catholics can be funny creatures of habit. We like to sit in the same pew each week. I like “my” pew because it’s close to a fan. That makes for prime seating when the weather gets hot because the church lacks air conditioning.  But, last Sunday I noticed two different people situated in the pew in front of me. As I’m short, this…