Category Archives: Odds and ends

One was an early bird, the other wasn’t.

March 19, 2021Columns, Family, Odds and endssusanmanzke

Families are all different. Members in one family are not identical either. This reading shows how two of our children had different sleep habits.

As a good mother, I got up early with the lark and stayed up late with the owl. No wonder I was tired most of the time. I was trying to burn my candle at both ends.

Are you a lark or an owl? I’ve changed over the years. I’m more of a lark these days.

A washing machine change

March 11, 2021Columns, Odds and ends, worksusanmanzke

Back in the 1980s, I had a washer that was giving up the ghost. This column tells how the old washer’s life ended and the new one began.

Odd that I came across this column at this time. Tomorrow a new washing machine is heading here. Fingers crossed that the exchange of the old for the new will go without a hitch.

I’ve been fighting to keep this one going for almost 2 years. It’s only ten years old but when the repairman came he said it couldn’t be fixed as the parts weren’t available–yet they continue to make that machine. Go figure.

No matter. It’s time for a change and I’m sure I’ll be fascinated with my new washing machine, too.

Inventing a day to celebrate

February 23, 2021Columns, Family, fun, Odds and endssusanmanzke

I get an email every day from National Day Calendar telling me what is celebrated today. BTW: Today is National Dog Biscuit Day.

This column from 1987 talks about other days of celebration.

I think my dog Sunny and his canine friends invented National Dog Biscuit day! Sunny wants to celebrate by eating treats all day long.

A salty treasure

February 22, 2021Columns, creativity, Memories, Odds and endssusanmanzke

How do you decorate a home when you are broke? When Bob and I were first married in 1973, I rummaged at sales for salt and pepper shakers. They cost a quarter then.

Here’s a column about opening a box filled with my treasures from 1987.