Articles written by Mary Honrud
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 89
By 
Spring Is Here?
Finally, it is starting to feel like spring is here, and my loving husband sees the possibility of more snow in the forecast, and tells me about it! Talk about being a ray of sunshine. Sometimes he’s just not. I really hope that’s a forecast...
Apologies and Rotten Weather
I guess apologies are in order. In my column a few weeks back, I talked about the possibility of late snow and frost up here. Did I bring on this snowstorm/blizzard watch that was issued a couple of...
Cleaning Up
We’ve already enjoyed a day of summer this spring. It usually happens here, where the seasons don’t play by the rules. It was a beautiful day, causing dreams of flip flops and shorts. I used it to start clearing off my flowerbeds. I try to leave...
Challenged Again
While I have managed to get the downed tree branches and twigs picked up off my lawn, I haven’t yet ordered any garden seeds. I’m sure the constant winds we’re getting will have me gathering more twigs and limbs before I have to think about...
An End to Procrastination, Maybe?
Now that most of my snow reserves are gone, I'm getting more serious about gardening and yard work. I'll admit my powers of procrastination have not lost any strength at all, and so, no seeds for...
Spring?
While it is starting to seem like spring in North Middle of Nowhere, there’s still plenty of winter hanging about. I’m sure I could get to my garden space now. I’d only have to high step...
Another Week, Another Few Recipes
Another week has gone by without me cracking open a single seed catalog. We have had a few sunny afternoons, but the mornings have mostly been foggy. There's an old saw (adage? old wife's tale? farmer...
Still Influenced by the Whole Life Challenge
Since we've "sprung ahead" to save daylight for after-work recreation, can we please spring ahead into actual spring? We had some lovely ice fog last night, along with a dusting of fresh snow...
Now What?
The Whole Life Challenge, New Year's edition, has officially ended. I was released from their food restrictions last Saturday March 2, so Friday was my last day. I failed miserably that day. We'd brav...
Cold, Challenge, Consuming Compliant Treats
We’re all still living in a deep freeze, aren’t we? I’d love to be able to go for long hikes outside rather than getting my exercise on the treadmill. The dangerously low temps as well as the...
Still Enjoying the Challenge
I’m sorry I missed getting a column in the paper last week, but I was away visiting our youngest daughter in Illinois. She’s also a cross fit enthusiast, and friends with a nutritionist. Therefore, she’s very strong on portion sizes, and...
Surviving and Thriving
I have survived my first week plus of this Whole Life Challenge. I am feeling better about my health and my stamina. Those two miles on the treadmill are being accomplished in slightly less time, partly because I’m walking faster and not feeling...
Trying to Get Healthier
While in Florida our daughter talked several times about a Whole Life Challenge she and her husband had done shortly before (and during) their trip to Israel. She was signed up for the next one and talked me into signing up also. The challenge...
It's Good to Be Home
We are home again with no immediate plans to return to Florida. It’s really nice to be sleeping in our own bed again. The air bed we slept on was good for two weeks, but wasn’t so great the third...
Gloating Bites Back
So my gloating about being in “sunny” Florida is rebounding on me, biting me in the backside, as well it should. It’s been very rainy the past couple of days, with areal flood warnings as well as a tornado watch. While we haven’t been...
Not Sorry This Time
We are heading off to Florida to have Christmas with our middle daughter and her family. This time Dennis is with me, having had his shoulder repair surgery and then receiving the doctor’s okay to travel. I’m sure we’ll have nicer weather...
Snow and Soup
Some of you might cluck your tongues at me, but I’ve already opened and used two of my this year’s Christmas presents. The snowblower arrived Thursday night, and was assembled by noon on Friday, and in use before dark. I’d have used it as soon...
This and That: Bacon-Wrapped Chicken
By the time you read this, we’ll have made another trip to and from Billings. There’s always a follow-up appointment after a surgical procedure. That’s a good thing. I appreciate a doctor who wants to make sure you’re healing well and followi...
Back to Regular Life
I have returned from sunny Florida to somewhat grey and gloomy northeastern Montana. It wasn’t as bad as I’d expected, although I found it rather chilly the first couple of days. Of course, I was lucky enough to be away for the record-breaking co...
Sunny Florida
Dear readers - I’m sending this dispatch via the magic of email from sunny Florida. I’ll try not to gloat about the fact that it has been in the 80s every day I’ve been here. Well, I’ll gloat a little bit, but I also realize I’m going to su...
Winter's Early Onset
A last mowing to suck up leaves from the lawn has been accomplished. The mower is stored for the winter, with the addition of a shot of Sta-bil in the gas tank to prevent gumminess next spring. All...
Mowing Leaves, Winds and Pesky Bugs
We did have our harvest festival potluck after church last Sunday, and the ginger carrot cake (recipe shared last week) turned out wonderful. Of course, as usual, there was too much food offered, and...
Indian Summer
Finally, we are enjoying some Indian summer. I wasn't sure if that was an allowed expression any longer, or if we'd gotten so P.C. that the term should now be "Native American summer," so I looked it...
Family Reunions Are Always Great Ways to Catch Up After Years Have Passed
We have been away from home for the past week, traveling for a family reunion. My two younger sisters made the arrangements, and since they both live in southeastern Missouri, that's where we went....
Winter in the Fall
Last week was not conducive to finishing my garden-clearing plans. Translation: the carrots are still in the ground. Or should I say, still in the mud? A couple more inches of heavy, wet snow fell...
