Shiny packages adorned with festive bows, a familiar holiday song, change clanging into a red kettle, a gentle snowfall, and the scent of cinnamon, pumpkin, and evergreen. The Christmas season puts the senses on high alert and each sight, sound, and smell elicits a feeling of warmth, comfort, and joy. Anticipation hangs in the …
I recently went to an open house at the Trotter Multicultural Center on the University of Michigan’s central campus in Ann Arbor. I worked at the previous Trotter House, located on Washtenaw Avenue, over 40 years ago, so I was curious to see how the newly constructed facility on State Street compared to the old. …
Season of Thankfulness Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, and here are my top reasons why: 1. It’s a reminder to be grateful to our God for His bounty 2. Family and friends gathering around the table 3. Some of my favorite foods and desserts are on the menu 4. Generous community donations to shelters and food banks, …
Some may think of fall as the sandwich season when the bloom of summer has faded with the expectancy of the first winter snowfall. But fall stirs in me a vibrancy of spirit with the stunning color transformation of foliage and the crisp air often coupled with blustery breezes. The season awakens my zeal for …
Mass-produced merchandise for home décor may not strike your fancy or lacks the pizzazz you want in a home accent. When you shop from an Etsy business, you know you’re buying a one-of-a-kind design that can be funky, classy, edgy, or practical. That’s why I like being part of the Etsy family of designers. Not …
Gold. It was the dominant color I planned to build my cozy corner around. Scouring local shops for the right chair, lamp, side table, ottoman (a vibrant aqua to add a splash of color), and a throw blanket, I steadily put together the perfect spot to read, pray, and relax. The crowning touch to my …
Fireworks and the 4th of July go hand-in-hand, but did you know the use of fireworks for the first Independence Day was the new nation thumbing their nose at the British? Fireworks were used by the British to celebrate the birthdays of kings and queens and in an act of defiance, America set off fireworks celebrating …
Since the years following the Civil War, the United States has celebrated Memorial Day, once known as Decoration Day. Observed on the last Monday in May, Memorial Day became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans mark the day by placing flowers, flags, and other mementos on the graves of veterans. Parades and family …
