Category Archives: Columns

Missing mittens

A thief must have taken the kids mittens in 1981. Robby and Becky assure me they set them to dry after coming in from playing in the snow and now half of them are gone.

This column was written 40 years ago! Wow, has time flown.

If the mittens weren’t lost, someone chewed the thumbs off of them. There was always something happening to the knitted apparel in our home.

I hope you enjoy this fun column.

Copyright 2020 by Susan Manzke, all rights reserved

Too cold for a baby

This is a retelling of the below-zero temperatures that started when Becky (Rebecca) was born.

Our mobile home had a hard time holding in the heat that cold, windy winter. Listen to find out how we kept our newborn baby warm.

Rebecca Sue at three months of age

It was a challenge keeping everyone healthy that January, but we managed.

Copyright 2020 by Susan Manzke, all rights reserved

What’s behind New Year’s resolutions?

Google told me that yearly resolutions started over 4000 years ago in Babylon. People made their resolution (promise) to their gods and kept them so the gods would look kindly on them.

Good thing I looked that up. I thought it was a modern invention.

This column was written at the end of 1980. Here’s what I said about resolutions as the new year (1981) approached.

I haven’t made a New Year’s resolution in a long time. I do not miss the pressure. These days I just do the best I can. Success and failure take their turns with me, but that’s just life.

Copyright 2020 by Susan Manzke, all rights reserved

Wallpapering fiasco

This column from the 80s is about wallpapering our kitchen. It sure was a lot of work but Bob and I accomplished this together.

Going over this old home improvement project reminds me that I HATE to wallpaper and will NEVER EVER do it again.

Copyright 2020 by Susan Manzke, all rights reserved

Voices raised in joy

This column was written soon after I sang with the Seymour Ecumenical Choir. I have to tell you, every year I joined the other singers that was the highlight of my personal Christmas season.

I miss all those voices lifted in praise and joy.

Bob always brought the kids to see a performance. The kids dragged their feet, but came anyway because they knew there was free punch and cookies afterward.

I hope you are able to find joy this Christmas.

I was lucky to find a recording of the 19th Anniversary of the Ecumenical Christmas choir and I’ve been playing over and over. I only wish I could figure a way I could share it with you.

Merry Christmas!

Copyright 2020 by Susan Manzke, all rights reserved