Kathe Tanner

For months, we had chuckled and clucked occasionally about the latest, oh-so-chic, mismatched furniture fad — a long dining table book-ended by two “head” chairs and flanked by two or three matching smaller chairs on one side and a long bench on the other. Interesting.

We were experiencing the first big storm in our Top-of-the-World home on a rain-drenched, wind-tossed Tuesday, Oct. 13.

As we watched the first episode of director Ken Burns’ new film, “National Parks: America’s Best Idea,” I was humbled by a deep sense of gratitude.

What is a Cambrian? Ask, and you’ll get as many answers as there are North Coast residents. Maybe more.

The two girls were like high-kicking human colts as they ran from one side of our meadow to the other, leaping, bounding, waving their arms and laughing uproariously. Letting off steam and working off pent-up energy is hard work, you know.

“Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun. “The Japanese don't care to, the Chinese wouldn't dare to. “Hindus and Argentines sleep firmly from 12 ‘till one, “But Englishmen detest-a siesta.” Noel Coward From the musical revue "The Third Little Show" (1924)

Through my journalistic years, I’ve developed cordial working relationships with most North Coast cops (an informal term that encompasses all law-enforcement officials, from police and highway patrol officers to sheriff’s deputies, fish and game wardens, state park rangers and others who work to keep us honest and keep us safe).

“Hey, Chicken Little. Wake up. Now, please. Guess what? The sky really is falling … (pause because I’m not getting through) … Chicken Little, can you hear me now?”

It’s a brave person who opens a business during the worst national recession since the Great Depression.

Sleepovers celebrating a granddaughter's middle-school "graduation" firmly establish a new family tradition and laugh trigger