Tag: Tribune Column
Funny Things from Yesterday: Locked in and locked out
When our daughter, Robin, was 4 years old and Robert, Jr. was a little over a year old we had a problem of one...
Funny Things from Yesterday: The paisley tie
Most everyone has been in a small group of people, either family or friends, talking and laughing at funny things that were said. I...
Funny Things from Yesterday: The ceiling fan
I have written before about modern trends and old traditions. This article is about a ceiling fan and two or three helium-filled balloons.
The first...
Funny Things from Yesterday: The electric glider
In the late l940s and early 1950s there was a lot of outdoor furniture in use. Houses built before this time did not have...
Funny Things from Yesterday: A hungry boy
In the last article I wrote about our little great-grandson Alder. I told of some of his natural abilities. Besides his abilities as a...
Funny Things from Yesterday: Catching the hummingbirds
Each summer as we were growing up, Dale and I would go out in the country and spend some time with Mama and Papa...
Funny Things from Yesterday: Tyler
Several years ago, when our
children were still just youngsters, I had never given any thought about
grandchildren. But I had a sister-in-law who had grandchildren...
Funny Things from Yesterday: Alder
Alder is our second little great-grandson. He is a delightful little fellow and is now 16 months old, and he is what you call...
Funny Things from Yesterday: Shopping at K-Mart with our granddaughter
Our little granddaughter, Leanna, was a gentle, pleasant and mild child- except inside a shopping mall or a large department store. Then, she was...
Funny Things from Yesterday: Robert Jr.’s trip to the emergency room
As I have mentioned before, as a youngster Robert Jr. was a good little con artist. I’m glad he changed his ways before he...
Funny Things from Yesterday: Clean your plate and you can have...
It seems like a few years ago folks could get together much easier for family gatherings and visits than we can nowadays. I can...
Funny Things from Yesterday: I got beat on my sandwich trade
Some of you who are as old as I am can remember the time before schools had lunchrooms. Those were the days that were...
Funny Things from Yesterday: Ice skating on the sidewalk
This is the time of year that weather conditions can change drastically and roads and sidewalks can glaze over if conditions are right. So...
Funny Things from Yesterday: I’ve found them! I’ve found our Christmas...
Seems like today children don’t look forward to Christmas like we did when we were growing up. Back in those days, we only got...
Funny Things from Yesterday: Asleep behind the kitchen stove
Well, winter is upon us and these cold nights sure do make the heat from a wood-burning heater feel good. There seems to be...
Funny Things from Yesterday: A movie I saw at Hanceville Nursing...
After all the family and friends
of the patients and residents have settled for the night, things begin to get
quiet and lonely. I hear a...
Funny Things from Yesterday: An unexpected squeeze
It was great to be dismissed from the Hanceville Nursing Home Sunday morning. If I had been able, I would have jumped up and...
Funny Things from Yesterday: The small car wash
Friday was bath day at Hanceville Nursing Home. This turned out to be the best shower and cleanup I’ve had since being put down...
Funny Things from Yesterday: My first bath in the nursing home
Rudene and I had good plans for a weekend of rest and relaxation. We were going to go to Auburn on Thursday and wait...
Funny Things from Yesterday: The BOOGER MAN will get you
There may not be any such thing as a B-O-O-G-E-R, man but I believe there is. I know most of you have been told,...
Funny Things from Yesterday: Out of the mouths of babes
Baseball and football have always been the big games in the United States. We have memories of the great players in both sports.
In baseball,...
Funny Things from Yesterday: A vacation at the lake
Since the weather has changed from blazing hot to much cooler, I decided to use one last vacation story before bathing suits are put...
Funny Things from Yesterday: The baptism
Since I am Baptist, I like to occasionally tell of a funny incident that happened in a Baptist church. A preacher friend told me...
Today’s article is not a funny, but a sad loss of...
Tribune Column: Funny Things from Yesterday
Today’s article is not a funny, but a sad loss of a dear friend
Rudene and I met a couple...
Funny Things from Yesterday: Movies were a nickel
When I was in grammar school at East Elementary, movies cost a nickel on Friday afternoon at the Lyric Theatre. It seemed like half...
Funny Things from Yesterday: The family man
Several years ago, I had the honor and pleasure of serving on the
city council of our fine city of Cullman.
On one of my trips...
Billy Bob’s Stories and Stuff: When our cars only had two-sixty...
I have a serious problem. Well, serious might be an overstatement, but it is as least an uncomfortable situation. I live in the deep-south,...
Tribune Column: Fishing with Tim
I want to start off by introducing myself. I am an avid outdoorsman, a tournament angler and a high school fishing coach. I have...
Always Reforming: Dysfunctions and decline
Last week we focused on assessment and why that process is so important. Assessment informs a local church of the true condition of ministry....
Always Reforming: Courage
This is the second in a series of five. In this article we focus on Courage. Perhaps a quote from the well-known exchange in...
Always Reforming: Competence
This is the third in a series of five. There exists formal research data that reveals that incompetent leadership is a major cause of...
News from the Pond: DAR Good Citizens
These are the winners in the Good Citizen /Essay contest held by the Dripping Springs Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. They were announced...
Community with Carol: Rachel Bryant from Karma in Cullman
Carol Berry, left, with Rachel Bryant, right
My guest this week on “Community with Carol” is Rachel Bryant, founder and director of Karma in Cullman.
The...
Community with Carol: Katie Loyd of St. Vincent de Paul
Carol Berry with Katie Loyd
I believe I have found the oldest nonprofit in Cullman: St. Vincent de Paul. The mission of this organization is...
Community with Carol: Julie Hall from The Link of Cullman County
Julie Hall, left, and Carol Berry, right
My guest this week on “Community with Carol” is Julie Hall from The Link of Cullman County. We...
Community with Carol: Saving Forgotten Warriors
Jeremy Hogan, founder of Saving Forgotten Warriors (Carol Berry)
Saving Forgotten Warriors’ mission statement is “Advocating for the health, safety and wellbeing of our military...
Community with Carol: Kelsey Rice with Hope Horses, Inc.
Carol Berry, left; Kelsey Rice, right (Photo courtesy of Carol Berry)
“Community with Carol” recently sat down with Kelsey Rice to talk about the local...
TRIBUNE COLUMN: News from the Pond, June 30
Holly Pond Civitan Club members with their two guest speakers at their recent meeting; Julia Floyd, secretary; Kay Stewart, local club president; Megan Mindel,...
This Father’s Day bittersweet for Senator-Elect Garlan Gudger
Local businessman, Cullman City Council President and Senator-Elect Garlan Gudger, Jr. is first and foremost a husband and father. This year, Father's Day will...
TRIBUNE COLUMN: News from the Pond, students honored
Holly Pond outstanding students were recently honored by Holly Pond Civitan Club: Taylor Simmons, Caleb Knedlik, Josie Harbison, Makayla Fields, Andre McCaffrey, Kaytlin Abbott,...
TRIBUNE COLUMN: News from the Pond, Easter Weekend
These adults are members of the Holly Pond Senior Center at the Lions Club Park in Holly Pond at their Easter Celebration. Front row,...
TRIBUNE COLUMN: News from the Pond
Dripping Springs NSDAR members at the 120th annual conference at Auburn University. Back row, (left to right) are Linda Kuykendall, Pam Reid, Brenda Scott...
Foxgloves & Fireflies: whatnots
I’ve been constantly reminded of my grandparents’ house this morning. First, I got up way before daylight, about 4:15 a.m., which they always did,...
Poet’s Corner: “The Shepherds”
"And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them."...
Foxgloves & Fireflies: glitter in the cornbread
Since when did everything switch from rushed to warp speed? Christmas and other holidays are always a hectic time, but this is just ridiculous!
Even...
Foxgloves and Fireflies: the moral of the Thanksgiving story
You know it’s going to be a bad day when you get up and start preparing your Thanksgiving dinner at daylight and you pour...
TRIBUNE COLUMN: The importance of honoring all veterans
Vietnam veteran Jim Alderman reacts during a therapy session for combat-related stress at the Bay Pines Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Bay Pines, Fla....
Foxgloves & Fireflies: Decorating for fall, y’all!
Candles always give a space a warmth and coziness; use your plaid throws to enhance the feeling and to prolong your time spent on...
Plant It: Georgia Peach Heuchera, or ‘Coral Bells’
Georgia Peach Heuchera, or ‘Coral Bells’ perform well in Southern humidity. / Loretta Gillespie
This charming little plant will soon become part of a heuchera...
County fair still something special
The Cullman County Fair started the year that I was born. At the time, people were getting back a sense of normalcy after the...
Plant It: Lilacs
Lilacs aren't very common in our area, although great strides have been made in developing more heat/humidity tolerant versions in recent years. A demand...
Plant It: preserving hydrangeas
Dried hydrangeas make beautiful centerpieces. / Loretta Gillespie
If you want to preserve your hydrangeas you must bite the bullet and cut them now, while...
Plant It: Buckeye bush
Buckeye bush / Loretta Gillespie
I knew that buckeye bushes grew in Alabama, and that they had beautiful red flowers, but I never would have...
Plant it: Show-stopping Clematis
Grown in fertile soil, with medium moisture, and well-drained containers, in full sun to part shade, these vining plants are showstoppers. Best suited for...
Plant It: The care and feeding of roses
Knock Out roses / Alabama Cooperative Extension
Caring for rose bushes doesn’t have to be intimidating, no matter what you’ve heard.
First off, choose good stock;...
Plant it: Orange Lucifer
These exuberant flowers are a brilliant, vibrant orange, even more deeply colored at the edges. They begin to flower about a week later than...
Plant it: Black-eyed Susan vine
Black-eyed Susan blooms are typically warm orange or lemon yellow, and sometimes a darker, more mustard-colored bloom with a characteristic dark spot in the...
Foxgloves & fireflies: propagating mums
I just read an article about how people waste money. There were a lot of things in the article like bottled water, expensive clothes...
Foxgloves & fireflies: Throwing a simple graduation party
Fruit kabobs are an easy dessert or snack for a simple graduation party. Image: Pinterest
There are graduation parties, and then, there are graduation parties....
A special day to honor our mothers
Perhaps you’ve never heard of Ann Marie Reeves Jarvis, but because of her, we celebrate Mother’s Day. She was born in Culpepper, Virginia, on...
Foxgloves & fireflies: About to be the mother
Her first Mother’s Day…
As I write this, my daughter is in a holding pattern, waiting for that first little twinge that is like nothing...
Container gardening
Containers flank the sides of this gazebo. Planted with prolific "Marguerite' sweet potato vine and hot pink and white impatiens, they add height as...
Foxgloves & Fireflies: A little thought with eyes
I have a friend who was revived after being coded, and later on her sister, who is a nurse, looked up the hospital records to...
Part 5: There but for fortune: a mother’s story
This is the true story of heartache, physical, sexual and alcohol abuse, love, hate, financial burdens and finally, finding joy, happiness and hope.
We trust...
Part 4: There but for fortune: a mother’s story
This is the true story of heartache, physical, sexual and alcohol abuse, love, hate, financial burdens and finally, finding joy, happiness and hope.
We trust...
Part 3: There but for fortune: a mother’s story
This is the true story of heartache, physical, sexual and alcohol abuse, love, hate, financial burdens and finally, finding joy, happiness and hope.
We trust...
Part 2: There but for fortune: a mother’s story
This is the true story of heartache, physical, sexual and alcohol abuse, love, hate, financial burdens and finally, finding joy, happiness and hope.
We trust...
Foxgloves & Fireflies: life in the South
I was asked recently what I love about life in a small town. It caught me off guard, but after thinking about it, I...
Part 1: There but for fortune: a mother’s story
This is the true story of heartache, physical, sexual and alcohol abuse, love, hate, financial burdens and finally, finding joy, happiness and hope.
We trust...
Foxgloves & Fireflies: Teachers
In writing an article for another paper I recently came across the story of a fourth-grader who initiated a fundraiser for a new animal...
News from the Pond: Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizens...
The Dripping Springs Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented Good Citizens Awards to Owen Griffith Lovell, of Cullman High School, Jefferson...
Foxgloves & Fireflies: Love is all you need
Adel and E.H. Mize, who were from Cullman, on their wedding day - Feb. 1, 1942 (photo contributed by family)
The Bible mentions the word...
Foxgloves & Fireflies: Cooking with holiday leftovers
Cooking with leftovers can be as easy as popping something into the microwave or it can be a new adventure in creating with what...
Foxgloves & Fireflies: Clever clutter cover-ups
Now that the holidays are almost over, some of us are already dismantling our decorations. It feels kinda good to see the normal room...
Countdown to Christmas: Decorating with food
Decorating with food is fun and although some vegetables can become very complicated, others like the ones I’m about to show you, are relatively...
Countdown to Christmas: Homemade ornaments and gift tags
If you love making Christmas memories with your kids, here is a great way to have fun with them while making ornaments to put...
Countdown to Christmas: Gift wrapping ideas
I love plain brown wrapping paper, or plain white, because you can dress them up so cleverly that they look like artwork or arrangements...
Countdown to Christmas: Make-ahead appetizers
Here is a list of recipes that are tried and true, they’ve stood the test of time and people never seem to tire of...
Countdown to Christmas: American-made stocking stuffers
If you are looking for American-made products this year, here are some ideas that might help you fill those stockings!
The New York Times dubbed zkano founder...
Countdown to Christmas: making your home smell festive
Over the next few days leading up to Christmas, Tribune columnist Loretta Gillespie will be sharing Christmas tips with our readers. They will include...
Countdown to Christmas: Fresh greenery wreaths with spending a dime
Over the next several days leading up to Christmas, Tribune columnist Loretta Gillespie will be sharing Christmas tips with our readers. They will include...
Countdown to Christmas: Great gifts for not a lot of money:...
Over the next several days leading up to Christmas, Tribune columnist Loretta Gillespie will be sharing Christmas tips with our readers. They will include...
Countdown to Christmas: How to make awesome Brussels sprouts
Over the next several days leading up to Christmas, Tribune columnist Loretta Gillespie will be sharing Christmas tips with our readers. They will include...
Foxgloves & Fireflies: Savers of strings and other things
I spent all day yesterday in my attic. Hunching over to avoid the gabled beams, I labored for hours packing away Halloween and Thanksgiving/fall...
Health & Wellness: Hiking
Aristotle once said, “In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.”
Residents in Cullman County and the surrounding areas are lucky to...
Foxgloves & Fireflies: Turkey platter obsession
I’m not sure just what started it, but more than likely it was just like any other collection, you just find something that speaks...
Foxgloves & Fireflies: How to grow healthy, happy succulents
Succulents require little care, and they reward you with beautiful foliage and occasional blooms.
The popularity of succulents has exploded over the past couple of...
Foxgloves & Fireflies: Winter care and feeding of houseplants
This time of year is transitional for people and plants. When it’s time for us to get out warm sweaters and scarves, it’s also...
Foxgloves & Fireflies: Why didn’t someone tell me?
Why didn’t someone tell me that it was going to be like this? Getting old, I mean. When I was younger I thought my...
Foxgloves & Fireflies: Red-eye gravy
There are two things that I had to struggle to learn how to make. For one thing, my grandmother never used recipes, just a...
Foxgloves & Fireflies: Propagating garden and house plants
It’s been a long time a’ comin’ but fall is finally beginning to show up in the early mornings, the leaves have changed to...
Foxgloves & Fireflies: rumor has it
Remember the game we all played in elementary school called, “Telephone?” I’m not sure why, since it had nothing to do with a telephone...
Foxgloves & Fireflies: Things Southern women say
If you are one of Facebook’s gazillion users, you’ve probably seen the videos that start out with some pretty, well-dressed women walking across a...
Billy Bob’s Stories and Stuff: To catch a mockingbird
Those silly dogs of mine will chase anything that moves and a few things that don’t. They rarely catch the things they chase except...
Foxgloves & Fireflies: People are complicated…
Does it break your heart that Khloe Kardashian sold her house for a mere $5.49 million? Or that her net worth of $20 million...
Billy Bob’s Stories and Stuff: I’ve had that surgery
Occasionally, someone will ask me how many times I’ve been in the hospital. For a little fun, I often reply, “Oh, I’ve lost count,...
Foxgloves & Fireflies: if granny had a leaf blower
The leaves are just starting to turn orange on my sugar maples, and some are already falling. It makes me think of my Granny....
Foxgloves & Fireflies: grandmothers
Photo: "This is my daughter, Eva "Sassy." She was about 5-6 years old in this photo. She loves to play in the mud!” LeeAnn...
NASA, so what? The hometown connection
Photo shows James Webb Space Telescope mirror segments.
“Yeah, sure, NASA launches rockets and sends probes into outer space. It’s neat I guess. But, so...
Chocolate milk
If you have ever seen a movie or a documentary about people shooting heroin into their arms, you’ve seen that dazed look come over...
