Ron the Yarnspinner

Not Your Average “Joe”   Back in the 1950s, television was beginning to shape kids’ minds in living rooms across America. (Front rooms if you lived in Chicago.) Educational programming was a mixed bag, but for many of us, it was our first taste of learning outside a physical classroom.  We started our days with Ding Dong School, where Miss Frances gently welcomed us with teacherly kindness. (Yea- teacherly is a real word.) Then came Romper Room, with “Miss Nancy” or “Miss Mary Ann” calling out names in the Magic Mirror and reminding us to “Do Bee good” and “Don’t Bee naughty.” Captain Kangaroo followed, mixing storytelling with science and good manners. The Mickey Mouse Club had its Mouseketeers, teaching us songs and wholesome values. And then there was Watch Mr. Wizard, where science experiments sparked wonder and were just doable enough to try at home (assuming you had a willing parent and a chemistry set). The Pinky Lee Show brought comedy and energy but still sn...

  The Stinking Candle   It did, really…most of them anyway. May and June are traditionally   popular months for moving in the United States and   in other parts of the world as well. The months are part of what’s called "moving season," which typically runs from May through September. With so many people settling into new “digs” during this time, it's also the perfect opportunity to think about thoughtful housewarming gifts. Whether it’s a house plant, a custom doormat, or a practical kitchen gadget, a well-chosen gift can make a new space feel a little more welcoming.. Long before house plants and wine baskets became the norm, the tradition of giving housewarming gifts had a much more practical meaning. In old Europe, friends and neighbors would bring firewood when a family moved into a new home, which was often cold and stone-built without central heating. But this gesture wasn’t just practical; it was deeply meaningful. Fire warmed the home, cooked the ...