By Sue Murphy I started my Christmas decorating early this year. I think if I could have gotten away with it, I would have put up my tree shortly after the Fourth of July.  It’s not that I think Santa is going to bring me a pony or an air fryer. It’s just that I’ve been ready (more than ready) to “be there,” to be smack dab in the middle of Christmas.  I spent last … [Read more...]

By Sue Murphy When I told my granddaughter that I had spent the afternoon wrapping, her eyes went wide.  “Like a song?” she whispered.  No, I assured her, nothing as scary as all that.  A grandmother who raps?  That’s enough to shake you to your very foundation. Later that day, however, I thought…well, why not?  And so here it is, with sincere … [Read more...]

By Sue Murphy I bought myself new dish towels this morning. In fact, I just went crazy and bought new dishcloths, too. Four new towels and six new dishcloths. It felt like Christmas. I wouldn’t have bought them at all, but I have family coming for Thanksgiving, an extravaganza that involves dishes and more dishes that must all be washed and dried, and I would have been … [Read more...]

By Sue Murphy I ordered new valances for my dining room awhile back. I didn’t trust myself to do the measurements, so a licensed professional came to my house with his official tape measure and wrote down all the specs in his official notebook. Not once did he write down “Somewhere around 4 inches.” I checked. That’s the back story. Now, get ready. Here comes an old person … [Read more...]

By Sue Murphy Tis the season for monsters. The Hallmark Channel would have you believe that Santa has skipped all that nonsense and is packing his sleigh as we speak, but ask any 5-year-old and he will tell you that it is actually Monster O’Clock.  A lot of kids want to dress up as monsters on Halloween. Psychologists say they are subconsciously trying to overcome their … [Read more...]