Karen Bellenir, Author at Farmville - Page 3 of 4

HAPPY TO BE HERE

A season for gratitude

It’s the season for giving thanks. You’ll probably be receiving advice delivered via social and other media suggesting that you express gratitude for friends and ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Thursday, October 31, 2019 1:46 pm

HAPPY TO BE HERE

Whistling past the graveyard

Boo! Did I scare you? Probably not, but as days get shorter and nights cooler, ghoulish expressions and macabre symbols abound. People’s thoughts and decorations ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Thursday, October 3, 2019 2:06 pm

HAPPY TO BE HERE

Astronomy and astrology

When I tell people I’m interested in astronomy, I’m surprised to discover how many assume I mean astrology. Reactions fall into two categories. Some try ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Thursday, September 5, 2019 3:32 pm

Columns

Here comes trouble

Earlier this year, Cindy and Bill Bergen welcomed Trouble to their Farmville-area farm. That’s Trouble with a capital T. I chatted with the Bergens about ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Friday, August 2, 2019 5:00 am

Columns

Watching humanity’s giant leap

In 1969, my family moved to a small beachside community less than an hour’s drive south of Cape Kennedy in Florida. On the morning of ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Friday, July 5, 2019 5:00 am

Columns

Mail by any other name

I can recall a time when the daily arrival of mail created excitement. During my early elementary school days, my family lived on a “rural ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Thursday, June 6, 2019 7:47 am

Columns

An open window

One of spring’s many joys is the renewed ability to open windows. All winter long, I’ve had my windows shut and the drapes drawn in ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Thursday, May 2, 2019 7:40 am

Columns

Putting an end to war

Since moving to Farmville, I’ve learned that Civil War recollections take center stage every April. During my school years in various classrooms located on both ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Thursday, April 4, 2019 7:27 am

Columns

A decade

The dictionary says a decade is something in a group of 10, often 10 years. Chunks of time comprising those years often develop their own ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Wednesday, February 27, 2019 6:03 pm

Columns

Climbing the steps

I remember standing with my children waiting for the school bus to come. In mid-winter, the mornings were usually dark and cold. The bus would ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Thursday, January 31, 2019 7:58 am

Columns

Bundle up and look up

The moon has a special surprise in store. On the night of Jan. 20, and sliding across midnight, North American sky watchers will be treated ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Thursday, January 3, 2019 8:43 am

Columns

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Season’s Greetings

“Merry Christmas!” is a traditional greeting heard on many lips this time of year. I, myself, offer it to family, friends, and even casual acquaintances ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Thursday, December 6, 2018 9:50 am

Columns

Learning the wisdom of gratitude

One of my favorite hobbies is sleeping in on Saturday mornings, especially during those wee hours before the sun itself decides to rise. This stands ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Thursday, November 1, 2018 7:41 am

Columns

Ghosts from my past

A couple of months ago, the Waterworks Players announced auditions for a forthcoming production of “Blithe Spirit,” a comedy by Noel Coward that was first ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Thursday, September 27, 2018 7:06 am

Columns

The valuation game

A recent post making its rounds on social media was probably supposed to be motivational. I found its conclusions disturbing. According to the post, a ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Thursday, September 6, 2018 7:28 am

Columns

Bipeds in a cage

Trees surround my home on three sides. A small yard serves to separate the walls from the wilds. I enjoy the setting because it lets ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Thursday, August 2, 2018 7:20 am

Columns

Let me read your shirt

One of summer’s subtle joys is the unwrapping— losing the woolen shell required to combat winter’s chill—to reveal more of who we truly are underneath. ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Thursday, July 5, 2018 7:34 am

Columns

Time for exams

All around Farmville, students are preparing for final exams. In a show of support, I’d like to offer everyone a chance to take a test. ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Thursday, May 10, 2018 10:58 am

Columns

Signs of spring

Early last month, I had a conversation with a winter-weary soul about signs of spring. She had noticed an abundance of robins and wondered if ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Thursday, April 5, 2018 9:37 am

Columns

What to keep

When my husband and I purchased our home in Farmville, it immediately offered many things we loved. The open floor plan felt spacious. The windows ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Thursday, March 1, 2018 9:54 am

Columns

Love your library

Several years ago I read “Cryptonomicon,” by Neal Stephenson. In the book, I met a character named Lawrence who served as a cryptographer in the ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Thursday, February 1, 2018 8:34 am

Columns

Filling in the year’s calendar

In preparing to welcome 2018, I purchased a new desktop calendar. It has a page for each month, blocks for marking commitments and space for ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Thursday, January 4, 2018 7:17 am

Columns

What I want for Christmas

Members of my family always ask me what I want for Christmas. I have a well-rehearsed list of things I’d like: World peace, an end ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Thursday, November 30, 2017 9:13 am

Columns

Making music with friends

On a sunny Sunday afternoon a few weeks ago, I attended a performance by the Heart of Virginia Community Band. I arrived a half-hour early ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Thursday, November 2, 2017 9:06 am

Columns

Truly happy to be here

The title of my column, “Happy to Be Here,” tells you how I feel about the Farmville community. Today, however, I’m reflecting on my gratitude ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Thursday, October 5, 2017 1:10 pm

Columns

In the dark a different light shines

My husband and I just returned from a trip to Franklin, North Carolina where we went to view the Aug. 21 solar eclipse from within ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Thursday, August 31, 2017 8:58 am

Columns

The world through my windshield

I drove back to Farmville on a recent sultry day. Gratitude for my car’s air conditioning kept me in good spirits as I watched the summer ... Read more

by Karen Bellenir, Thursday, August 3, 2017 9:21 am

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