Weekly Read | The Graduate

*"Weekly Read" Posts are links to my published column. The text you see (below) is only an excerpt of the entire column and photos shown are generally stock photos. Thanks! 

She is the daughter of my very best friend, and when I opened her high school graduation announcement last week I was a bit taken aback. Since when do they let toddlers graduate? ... (THIS IS ONLY PART OF THE TEXT. Finish Reading the Complete Text of this Column via the Publisher's Website

Weekly Read | Land Barons

I think we went into the landlord biz primarily because all the similar investment opportunities that involved poking yourself with a sharp object and/or setting fire to your money seemed like more work ... [CONTINUE READING THIS AWESOME COLUMN AT F&D.COM]

Chow Hound

Matt graciously offered to make Mother's Day Dinner last Sunday.

He prefers to cook "camp style" so outdoors with a big cast iron pot he went.

Jagger grew increasingly impatient with the endless wait for "done." 

A watch dogged pot never boils, indeed

Smoke gets in his eyes, but never will he relinquish his "chow hound" post

Someday, his dish will come.

Every dog has his day - and a moment when someone is going to leave that pot of bacon and sausage unattended for one quick minute ...

First, let me state for the record that no dogs were harmed in the making of this column, though not for lack of trying.

Read More at Farm and Dairy

If Lovin' To Save Is Wrong, I Don't Wanna Be Right Part II

If it’s possible to be addicted to saving then I’ve got the bug — bad. There is just something so satisfying about not spending money. Some count their winnings through gambling. I get high saving. No slots player pulling a lever ever got bigger thrills than I do when they start subtracting my coupon savings from a grocery order. I am that woman with the fistful of coupons, convinced that if I pay more than a dime for toilet paper ... (Continued) Read the rest of this column at the F&D Publisher's Site

Weekly Read | Screen-Free not Scream-Free

April 18-24 is Screen-Free Week. Since 1996, organizers have exhorted us to turn off screens via the implementation of Screen-Free Week (formerly TV-Turnoff).
Ever since it replaced turning off the television for one week with the scarier prospect of turning off ALL screens (including computers, video games and smart phones), resistance has risen. I’m sure it has. What you term “resistance” I call “you’ll pry my laptop out of my cold, dead hands.”
Already Turn off TV week sounds quaint doesn’t it? Like pledging to give up your horse and buggy or butter churn ... CONTINUED AT F&D ...

Heirloom Cookies

I have the best in-laws in the world. Truly. They have all but robbed me of any great joke or column possibilities, mainly through being so decent and NICE. Still, THAT comes in handy too sometimes. Witness my sister-in-law, Kim (the original "Kim Seabolt" who wisely married and changed her last name once she realized I was going to be mucking about with it) as she bravely teaches Wondergirl how to make a beloved family recipe: orange cookies. Aunt Kim arrived, ingredients in tow (and a brand new food processor for Kassie to boot!) and walked her through the steps involved to make "Grandma Ollie's Orange Drops." A 65+ year old recipe. Aunt Kim also included a framed version of the recipe (love!) and a brand new cookbook just for Kassie - with the heirloom family recipes written in, and many blank pages just begging to be filled.