Category Archives: Memories

Cleaning Grandma’s house

Posted on February 25, 2020 by Monica Sawyn

Some of my fondest childhood memories include me, on my hands and knees, carefully cleaning the pipes beneath the bathroom sink in Grandma’s house, or scrubbing around the sink drain with an old toothbrush. It’s not that I lacked for … Continue reading →

Posted in family, friendship, Memories, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

The storyteller

Posted on August 13, 2019 by Monica Sawyn

My grandmother didn’t bake cookies or play games with me because she couldn’t. But she could and did tell the most wonderful oral stories. That’s quite different from someone who writes out their stories. I know, because I’ve tried it … Continue reading →

Posted in family, lost arts, Memories, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Parlee voo, to you

Posted on August 4, 2019 by Monica Sawyn

One of my favorite childhood memories is the year I spoke French. I’d never done it before, and I haven’t done it since, but thanks to an imaginative grandmother I was able to impress one of the neighborhood kids. My … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Memories, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Is it Christmas yet?

Posted on December 14, 2018 by Monica Sawyn

At this time of year, I live in a house with a split personality. On the front door is a wreath wrapped in red-and-green plaid. On the kitchen table is an Advent wreath with purple candles. Christmas stockings hang over … Continue reading →

Posted in beagles, Catholic life, Christmas, Christmas tree, Holidays, Memories, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Laughing at the errant “r”

Posted on January 19, 2018 by Monica Sawyn

(Is it cheating to reprint one of my old newspaper columns as a blog? Although I didn’t save all the things I once wrote for the “Lake County News-Chronicle” (Minnesota) where I worked, my mother did save a few. Every … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Memories, Social commentary, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Walking in Grandma’s footsteps

Posted on July 14, 2017 by Monica Sawyn

Today, without meaning to, I made history repeat itself. I spent the morning weeding some of my gardens, then took care of lunch, walked the dog, did some ironing and finally–FINALLY!–headed to my sewing room. All through the chores, I … Continue reading →

Posted in healthy living; chiropractic; health care, Lifestyle, lost arts, Memories, sewing, Social commentary, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Happy mysterious new year

Posted on December 31, 2016 by Monica Sawyn

George and I won’t be staying up until midnight tonight. 2017 will have to usher itself in without any help from the Sawyns. You’re thinking that has something to do with our age. Two old fuddy duddies whose biggest excitement … Continue reading →

Posted in Memories, New Year's Eve, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Remembering Lady

Posted on September 11, 2016 by Monica Sawyn

Today we walked the ski-hill trail at the state park. We’ve walked this trail dozens of times with Lady, and today was no exception. However, today she was with us in spirit only, and this was a memorial trek. Lady … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal antics, beagles, Living with a dog, Memories | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

Fifty years from a distance

Posted on August 7, 2016 by Monica Sawyn

George just left for a gig with the Peninsula Players,  Lady and I are sitting on the deck in the cool of the evening, and I’m basking in the nostalgia of my 50th class reunion–the one I didn’t attend. There … Continue reading →

Posted in friendship, getting older, Memories, Reflection | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The Pen

Posted on April 10, 2016 by Monica Sawyn

This is a story about a church pew, long-lost friends, and a pen. Carl shared my St. Joseph School years in the red brick, eight-grade schoolhouse that was part of our Catholic parish. Together we marched over to church for … Continue reading →

Posted in Catholic, Catholic life, friendship, getting older, History, Memories | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments