Talking about dove hunting
Since I am having a terrible time locating a decent size flock of doves to hunt, I figured I might as well write a column about them. First off, for those of you who slept through your natural science course in grade school, the doves we have here in Ohio are Mourning Doves, not morning doves. They get their name from the call they make to communicate with each other. We are currently 20 days...
Underinsured motorist coverage: When auto liability coverage is not enough
Q: What are underinsured motorists and how are they different from uninsured motorists? A: Ohio law requires all drivers to have proof of financial responsibility, proving that they can pay for injuries or damages to others if they cause a car accident. The minimum amount required is $12,500 per person and $25,000 per accident, and most drivers meet this requirement by buying car insurance that...
Gray Flycatcher seen briefly near Sugarcreek
For most birders, separating the very similar small flycatchers of the Empidonax family can be one of the most difficult songbird identification problems. Most of us rely a lot on vocalization, which is fine if the bird is singing. This time of year the chances are that we will encounter silent flycatchers. Such was the case one morning last week when one of our most experienced birders saw a...
Dinner is serve yourself
More food is eaten directly from our refrigerator than what is served from a platter passed at the dinner table. Our meals are mostly eaten in the company of two, and many times food is served from the cook pan right from the stove top, the sides and fixings set out on the counter. Dessert is never officially served, but a cookie after the clean up is enough to satisfy his sweet tooth until ice...
When dinner is not a good word
Ive enjoyed hearing from readers of my new book published last October, Whatever Happened to Dinner: Recipes and Reflections for Family Mealtime. Since Sept. 26 is Family Dinner Day in the U.S. (and Canada actually has a national holiday called Family Day observed the third Monday in February), I want to focus, first of all, on what eating together regularly as a family can do. And then talk...
Puttin' On the Ritz
I sometimes get so caught up in my own life that I forget how important my time is to my children. I seem to value the wrong things, like grading papers for school, folding the laundry, or even writing this column. I schedule my days as if every minute of my time is important to only me, to what I need to get done. I forget that my life is not about me, not about what I can accomplish in the next...
Forgiveness, why is it so hard?
Forgiveness is interesting. It works in kind of a backwards or inside-out way. Typically we think of forgiveness only as a way of releasing a person/wound in our life. We instinctively believe forgiving people will help the other person more- in a sense free them from our anger, resentment and take away any deep, dark, lurking bitterness. Somehow, we think forgiveness frees the other person...
Cigar box tops
Old cigar boxes or the tops are very collectible and sometimes bring very good prices. This Buster Brown box top sold for $45 and was a steal at that price. I heard that there was a Cy Young box top that was worth a lot of money but I have yet to see it. Recent auction prices: copper boiler, $27.50; Ohio Star pickle plate with chip, $25; cant hook, $22.50; Pyrex bowl set, $40; three pieces of...
Berlin author presents program and book signing at Dover Library
The Dover Public Library welcomes author Paul Stutzman Tuesday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m., in another installment of their Meet the Author program. A book signing and refreshments will follow the program that features Stutzmans second book, Biking Through: Its About Time. A Berlin resident, Stutzman decided to travel the nation by bicycle to visit with people and hear their stories. He wanted to...