Karen Bellenir, Author at Farmville - Page 2 of 4

HAPPY TO BE HERE

It is a small world

I remember when the earth seemed unimaginably large. It’s still easy to feel that way. If I spread a blanket on the grass and look ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Sunday, April 3, 2022 3:24 pm

Columns

Happy to be here — Waking up

I’ve been watching the world wake up. As the year turns from its winter slumber, it reminds me of waking to embrace a new day. ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Sunday, March 20, 2022 5:54 pm

HAPPY TO BE HERE

Multiple meanings

Many months ago, on page 42 of my reading ramble through Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition, I encountered the word amphibology. In it, I discovered ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Friday, February 4, 2022 10:00 am

Columns

An unfinished project

A year ago, when 2021 was brand new, I set myself a challenge. I planned to read through the dictionary in a year. An inspiration ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Friday, January 7, 2022 5:00 pm

HAPPY TO BE HERE

Ladybug, ladybug

A couple weeks ago, I stepped out of my house on a warm, Indian summer day. A ladybug landed on my glasses. I waved a ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Thursday, December 9, 2021 6:05 pm

HAPPY TO BE HERE

How much is enough?

I’ve recently seen several versions of a funny story about how much garlic should be used in a recipe. The instructions start with a clove ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Friday, November 5, 2021 6:00 am

HAPPY TO BE HERE

Agricultural teamwork

Last spring, my husband and I decided to transform part of our side yard into a meadow-like collection of wildflowers. We had a vision of ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Friday, October 1, 2021 6:00 am

HAPPY TO BE HERE

Column – Wondering why

Why is the sky blue? This common question is one I know how to answer, although learning the truth required that I set aside a ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Friday, September 3, 2021 6:00 am

HAPPY TO BE HERE

We are not all OK

When I was in high school, I lost a classmate to suicide. His tragic story incorporated some of the same fatal elements Shakespeare mentioned in ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Friday, August 6, 2021 6:00 am

HAPPY TO BE HERE

Despite our heritage, we are all people of the United States

In normal times, the Fourth of July is marked with family gatherings, barbecued feasts and fireworks. The subdued tone of last year’s pandemic-inspired quiet may ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Friday, July 2, 2021 6:00 am

LIFESTYLES

Anticipating better surprises

I dislike surprises. I prefer it when life’s events align with expectations. I’ve noticed that the most common surprises seem to feature unpleasant consequences. An ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Friday, June 4, 2021 6:00 am

HAPPY TO BE HERE

Honoring a mothering mindset

Mother’s Day arrives in the U.S. Sunday as the year comes into full bloom. In all 50 states, the occasion has been recognized on the ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Friday, May 7, 2021 6:00 am

HAPPY TO BE HERE

The hummingbirds are coming

Many people view the approach of April 15 with trepidation as the typical IRS tax deadline looms. Mother Nature has provided a more pleasant association ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Friday, April 2, 2021 6:00 am

HAPPY TO BE HERE

Reflecting on a year of isolation

When the words “coronavirus” and “COVID” first began appearing in every day vocabulary, my husband and I were visiting relatives on a beach in Florida. ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Friday, March 5, 2021 6:00 am

HAPPY TO BE HERE

Books can provide a break from reality

A couple Christmases ago, my husband gave me a coffee mug that declares, “A book a day keeps reality away.” Are you ready to join ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Friday, February 5, 2021 6:00 am

HAPPY TO BE HERE

COLUMN — Waking up to a New Year

I am not a morning person. My husband can go from asleep to awake in an instant, but my journey between those two states involves ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Thursday, December 31, 2020 11:14 am

HAPPY TO BE HERE

COLUMN — Let there be peace on Earth

Decorations have sprouted all around town, trees are erected indoors and colorful lights sparkle through the long nights. Once again, it’s time to tell the ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Friday, December 4, 2020 6:00 am

HAPPY TO BE HERE

Searching for signs of intelligent life

When I get an opportunity to let people look at the night sky through my binoculars, their first reaction is often surprise at how much ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Tuesday, November 10, 2020 6:00 am

HAPPY TO BE HERE

Spider webs add seasonal ambiance

Mother Nature has been decorating my yard for Halloween. Because of her exuberant placement of spiders and webs, I’m feeling more prepared for the annual ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Friday, October 2, 2020 6:46 am

HAPPY TO BE HERE

Journeying into the future means taking steps into the unknown

Barbara Kingsolver’s novel, Unsheltered, includes the story of a mother who suffers from fear and anxiety. The author writes, “Willa believed in the power of ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Friday, September 4, 2020 6:30 am

HAPPY TO BE HERE

Look to the sky for a show full of stars

I don’t know what’s on television tonight, but I do know this month is a prime time for stargazing. As the world slips toward autumn, ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Friday, August 7, 2020 6:00 am

HAPPY TO BE HERE

Close encounters of the wild kind

During extra hours recently spent at home, I have turned my attention to working in the yard and the garden, wandering in the woods and ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Friday, June 5, 2020 6:00 am

HAPPY TO BE HERE

Finding enjoyment during this time of staying home

Everyone I know has felt the impact of non-essential business closures, stay-at-home edicts, and social distancing guidelines. For some, these rules have presented challenges, and ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Friday, May 1, 2020 6:00 am

HAPPY TO BE HERE

Everyday magic in ordinary things

I love stories that include magic. My fascination stretches back to my growing-up years. As a young child, I fancied a story by the Brothers ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Friday, April 3, 2020 6:00 am

HAPPY TO BE HERE

New time plan proposed

Take a look at your watch, your phone or a nearby clock. Some devices may run a bit fast or slow, but if you adjust ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Friday, March 6, 2020 6:00 am

HAPPY TO BE HERE

Being active helps battle winter’s dreary days

One recent morning, I woke up after a restless night. I hadn’t slept well. I was cold. My left hip hurt. My right shoulder ached, ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Friday, February 7, 2020 6:30 pm

HAPPY TO BE HERE

Festina Lente!

Rather than making resolutions, I adopted a motto for the new year — Festina Lente! I encountered the expression in a delightful novel by Robin ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Friday, January 3, 2020 11:14 am

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