This fall has been a challenge for Karen. First her stroke, then the recovery, with everyone watching her every move and trying to make sure she doesn't try to do too much too fast. Yes, it's nice that people care, but even I'll admit that we can be a little...

I went out into the backyard yesterday after church to continue what I worked on last Sunday -- mowing and raking and generally getting the yard ready for winter. The first thing I saw gave me pause . . . This is a tulip poplar -- we have several that I have planted...

Connie Vogt did a really cool slider card for the Free Make It & Take It in our store last Wednesday. She sent me photos and instructions -- in advance -- I told her I would post them ASAP.So I sat down after lunch on Wednesday and went to work -- downloaded the...

The long, cold, dark winter is upon us (how was that for a dreary thought?). For me, this is the most depressing weekend of the year -- the time changes Sunday morning. Under the current format, this is as early as it can happen -- and it won't change back until March...

We had an Elvis sighting in our store this afternoon. I had never really taken it seriously years ago when I heard that the King had been spotted in a Burger King in Kalamazoo, but who knows?Barry Payne and his wife Maureen are often seen at Marco's. They take...

I love family traditions. We don't have a lot of them, but I look forward to them every year. My son Ryan is now 21, so he has outgrown (or at least he thinks he has) some of the things we did when he was younger. But some of them remain -- and last week was one of...

My life is NEVER dull and usually moves at quite a fast pace. I have said for years that my mom was five days overdue when I was born and I have been trying to make up for lost time ever since. But there are times -- and last weekend was one of them.It started last...

I live by the above statement. Anyone who has seen our convention booth during setup knows that chaos reigns. My desk, my car, even my closet at home are much the same. I just have too many irons in the fire to take the time to clean up as I go, so it makes for a huge...

I am back in more familiar surroundings after a week on the road. Nice to be back home, but it seems like weeks since the York show, and it's hard to believe that only three days ago I was still playing golf in Tennessee. And I'm left with a few loose ends to clean...

Male customers are not a typical sight at a rubbber stamp show. But I saw something in our booth at the York convention on Sunday that I can't remember seeing before -- four male customers in the booth at the same time.These guys appear to be paying attention to Sue's...