Author Archives: maryannniemczura

The Great American Recipe

Posted on July 3, 2020

Ingredients: American flag The National Anthem America the Beautiful parades music family, friends, love grill hot dogs & hamburgers apple pie ice cream lemonade watch fireworks Add the first two ingredients. Salute the flag and sing the National Anthem: The … Continue reading →

Posted in America the Beautiful, God bless the USA, July 4th celebration, The National Anthem | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Oops! With Love and Humor!

Posted on June 26, 2020

  The new quarter at the university meant new classrooms. As a German professor, I was accustomed to welcoming students speaking in German. With an armload of books and papers, I entered the room, put my belongings on the empty … Continue reading →

Posted in humor, life's lessons, love, teaching a new quarter, teaching German | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

An Ode to Dad

Posted on June 19, 2020

   He’s a pearl of great value my mother said. She was right. Lucky to have married him, the father of our two children. We love him. He’s patient and kind. He listens even when the topic is difficult. He … Continue reading →

Posted in faith, family love, Father's Day, pearl of great value | Tagged , , , , , , , | 27 Comments

Time for a Nap

Posted on June 12, 2020

Gentle, chinook breezes blow as nature’s creatures are busy. The humans are as well. Progress has been made on the new bird house. Some days, long lengths of grass for nests hang as we note a beak or two pulling … Continue reading →

Posted in birdhouse, chinook breezes, movers, nap, on smelling roses | Tagged , , , , , | 20 Comments

Basking in the Warmth

Posted on June 5, 2020

The decorative stones in our garden beds are home to more than shrubs and flowers. After several days of heat followed by rain, the azaleas popped with radiant colors.   Our home in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, featured a stone wall fashioned … Continue reading →

Posted in garter snakes, lizards, snakes, stone wall, Sturbridge | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Five Brothers, One Family

Posted on May 29, 2020

As we recall this Memorial Day all the sacrifices made, we are grateful as a country for our liberty. We visit cemeteries, march in parades, fly the flag, recite the Pledge of Allegiance and sing our National Anthem. We are … Continue reading →

Posted in children, education, faith, family, freedom, Memorial Day, resilience, soldiers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Let That Be Our Secret!

Posted on May 22, 2020

Wanted to be in nature so a walk in our village park fit the bill. Sights and sounds galore. The clock rang the hour followed by carillon music. Park benches near the water fountain beckoned. My eyes and ears were … Continue reading →

Posted in carrilon music, dinosaurs, mallets, village park, water fountain, xylophones | Tagged , , , , , | 30 Comments

Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue

Posted on May 15, 2020

Sometimes my mother played some favorite tunes on the piano after dinner all the while singing along to the songs. My father frequently sang along. These two lovebirds sang to one another.     My Dad frequently touched my Mom’s shoulders … Continue reading →

Posted in birthday, Charleston, Dixieland Jazz, Five Foot Two, Jitterbug, love, music and dance, piano playing, singing | Tagged , , , , , , | 30 Comments

The Backward Clock

Posted on May 8, 2020

A former colleague made a backward clock much like the ones used in barbershops which were not backward when looking in the mirror. Such a clock   hangs on our kitchen wall. A conversation piece. When I put new batteries … Continue reading →

Posted in backward clock, memories, Mother's Day, shave and a haircut, traditions, two bits | Tagged , , , | 17 Comments

The Gray Bushy Tails

Posted on May 1, 2020

  Advancing stealth-like, clad in gray the troops swiftly covered the territory. Now on the border between our properties. Ultimate goal this mission: the prize hanging from the fir tree. Gray bushy tails whipped in frenzy pausing momentarily to gaze … Continue reading →

Posted in advance & retreat, gray bushy tails, mission, plotting, reinforcements, risk assessments, stealth-like | Tagged , , , , , , , | 18 Comments