Lifestyles
Karen Bellenir: Into every life, some rain must fall
As the saying goes, into every life some rain must fall. Moderate rain is good. It makes flowers, ... Read more
Author: Karen Bellenir | The Farmville Herald
Lifestyles
Bellenir: A Christmas lesson, joining hands to overcome fear
One iconic moment in the traditional Christmas story is when an angel appears to some shepherds. “Fear not!” ... Read more
Lifestyles
Happy to be here: Caterpillars and butterflies
Earlier this summer, my husband and I were walking near our home. I stopped short to avoid stepping ... Read more
Lifestyles
Happy To Be Here: Some of my favorite things
What are your favorite memories of summers gone by? Barbecues, patriotic bunting, and fireworks? Vacation planning, iced drinks, ... Read more
Lifestyles
Happy to be here: Fun and games
Theresa A. Kestly, a psychologist and play therapist, wrote a book designed to help her fellow clinicians understand ... Read more
Lifestyles
Happy to be Here: In defense of cell phones
You’ve probably heard some grumbling about the awfulness of cell phones. We spend too much time on them. ... Read more
Lifestyles
Happy to be Here: Time for Some Spring Cleaning
Punxsutawney Phil, arguably the world’s most famous groundhog, emerged from his burrow last month and predicted an early ... Read more
Lifestyles
Happy To Be Here: Questioning an established authority
For those who have wondered: Yes, I am still working my way through the dictionary. I started reading ... Read more
Lifestyles
Happy to be here: Here comes the sun
We experienced our shortest day and longest night on the winter solstice, Dec. 21. In Farmville, sunrise that ... Read more
Lifestyles
Happy to be here: Empty chairs
According to many different calendars, we’re deep into the season of holidays. Depending on your outlook, the festivities ... Read more
Lifestyles
Happy to be here: Grateful for the years I almost didn’t get
As a young adult, I wasn’t making enough money for ends to meet, but occasionally those ends got ... Read more
Lifestyles
Happy to be Here: Cryptids on the Loose
Welcome to the time of year when we delight in the mysteries that occupy the boundary of what ... Read more
Lifestyles
Happy to be here: Celebrities and Celebri-Trees
Some people enjoy watching for celebrities, and Farmville has seen a fair number throughout its history. Generals. Civil ... Read more
Lifestyles
Happy to be here: On the lookout for a Blue Moon
Some novels include tales of family members or lovers who will soon be separated. While they are apart, ... Read more
Lifestyles
Happy to be here: Taking an alternate route
Summer provides an excellent opportunity to hit the road and visit favorite people and places. Some trips span ... Read more
Lifestyles
Happy to be here: Lessons my father taught me
A few weeks ago, I drove past a home where a father, maybe a grandfather, was teaching a child ... Read more
Lifestyles
Happy to be here: Finding the flowers
In 1955, Pete Seeger wrote a song asking “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?” Additional verses were later ... Read more
Lifestyles
Happy To Be Here: The Wind Blows
When I think of the wind, I usually picture gentle breezes. I hear it whisper secrets about the ... Read more
Lifestyles
Happy to be Here: A nostalgic viewpoint
I hadn’t been to the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts (LCVA) since before COVID became a household word. ... Read more
Lifestyles
Happy to be here — Cozy comfort
Many people enjoy winter. Some look forward to skiing. They arrange vacations and plan travel to seek out ... Read more
Lifestyles
Happy to be here — From cut to Farkleberry
Some of you have been asking about my progress reading Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition. My original, overly ... Read more
Lifestyles
Happy to be Here — Listen and let the songs play
As the song says, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Nature sets the stage with starlight ... Read more
Lifestyles
Happy to be here — Observing with both eyes
A friend recently asked me about buying an inexpensive, fun telescope suitable for taking a first step into ... Read more
Columns
Happy To Be Here: Let’s talk about freedom of speech
Last August, author Salman Rushdie was attacked and seriously injured while onstage for a panel discussion at the ... Read more
Lifestyles
Happy to be here — Standing on new shores
Here in Virginia, the opening years of the seventeenth century are probably best remembered for the arrival of ... Read more
Lifestyles
Happy to be here — Keep distance from bears, despite the cute, cuddly look
Maybe you’ve seen amusing bear videos on the internet. There’s a cute one with a cub climbing onto ... Read more
Lifestyles
Happy to be here: Bigger than any one of us
Among Christians, the prayer commonly known as the Lord’s Prayer or the Our Father is well known. I ... Read more