By Mary Ellen Shaw Someone asked me recently what it was like to have observed all the changes that have occurred in my neighborhood during the 70-plus years that I have lived here. The conversation led to such questions as, “Which house was built first?” and “What was Howard Avenue like back in the '50s?”…

By Mary Ellen Shaw We are about half way through the allotted time in Vermont to enjoy watching our flowers bloom. If you have a perennial garden you know that it’s a challenge to have constant color through October. For me the spring garden is probably the one I look forward to the most. After…

By Mary Ellen Shaw If someone could come back into the world that they departed from many years ago they would certainly find that a lot has changed. In my case I wonder what my parents would think about the changes that have occurred to my family home since they passed away. Time has not…

By Mary Ellen Shaw Those of us who are in the “senior” category are often amazed at all the changes that have occurred during our lifetime. My friend Mary Jane said that she and a college friend were discussing whether the changes that their parents had experienced were on the same level as what our…

By Mary Ellen Shaw Reminiscing about the old city swimming pool on North Main Street never gets old! I took a look back at it a few years ago but it’s worth another look as the topic inevitably comes up among my age group at this time of year. There’s nothing like the “good ol’…

By Mary Ellen Shaw Some of the items that you may have planted in your garden can be enjoyed beyond the time that you pick them to eat fresh. Most of us have limited space so why not grow things that can be frozen and enjoyed throughout the year? You just need to do a…

By Mary Ellen Shaw Well, planting time is just around the corner! On Memorial Day weekend garden centers will be overflowing with people who are full of enthusiasm. They are excited about planting flowers to beautify their yards and planting veggies to enjoy throughout the summer and into fall. I love gardening to the point…

By Mary Ellen Shaw For most of us writing began when we learned to print our names. Occasionally, letters of the alphabet got printed backwards in the process but eventually we got it right. School classrooms had alphabet charts on the wall facing the students. Printed letters were in one row with the matching cursive…

By Mary Ellen Shaw When neighborhood grocery stores disappeared so did the penny candy counters. Having the opportunity to browse in front of one was a daily occurrence back in the 50s when I was a student at Christ the King School. Young’s Grocery Store was just a few feet down the street. Considering that…

By Mary Ellen Shaw By the time April arrives gardeners tend to get a little antsy. The temperature can be toasty warm one day and chilly the next. You want to plant some flowers but it’s just too early. However, there is still plenty to do in your yards and gardens as we get ready…

By Mary Ellen Shaw It’s hard to believe that it’s almost Easter. This holiday can fall any time between March 22 and April 25 (this year it’s April 4). In Vermont the earlier dates mean the possibility of snow on the ground. That just doesn’t seem like Easter! In a picture from the 1950s my…

By Mary Ellen Shaw Well, it will soon be spring… at least that is what the calendar says! For me March is the month to change over the pine garlands on our cedar fence to something with a touch of spring. The weather tends to tease us at this time of year with an occasional…

By Mary Ellen Shaw Recently there has been talk about the possibility of no more snow days in some schools. What a disappointment that would have been when I was a student! Back in the 50s and 60s remote learning would have been considered “science fiction.” If you weren’t in your classroom, education came to…

By Mary Ellen Shaw When I meet someone on the street or in a store they often like to reminisce about the “good old days.” For my age group that pretty much covers the period from the 1950s through the 1970s. A common topic of conversation is how much fun it was to shop in…

By Mary Ellen Shaw I know the skiers aren’t thinking like I am. Their season has just begun and they don’t want to think about it ending. I, on the other hand, am excited because flower and veggie seeds are in the stores! Seed catalogs have begun to arrive and I get to spend time…