Author: Nancy J. Moncrieff

Sturgeon Hunt, 2022

     My sister Carol and her husband Paul were present for the entirety of Michigan’s 2022 sturgeon fishing season.  The season takes place only at Black Lake, once a year, and this year lasted thirty-six minutes.  It began at 8:00 a.m. and ended when the sixth sturgeon was on the ice at 8:36 a.m.     … Continue reading Sturgeon Hunt, 2022

Recreational Use

At the condominium association near us, Traver Creek forms a pond.  By the pond is a sign that says, NO RECREATIONAL USE.  The dog and I frequently stroll through the area and, up till now, the sign has done its work:  people have stayed off the pond.  This winter, there must have been a scofflaw–it… Continue reading Recreational Use

Winter Gear

I have new boots.  They’re the warmest ever.  They’re waterproof.  They have tread that grips the snow.  And they are noisy.  As I step down on one, it sounds like a tire grabbing the snow when a car gets underway.  As I push off again, the boot swishes like corduroy bellbottoms.  So, as Rascal and… Continue reading Winter Gear

Glimpses of Happiness

Walking Rascal up Nixon Road recently, I noticed a Little Free Library where there hadn’t been one before.  Little Free Libraries are small, glassed-in bookcases, mounted on posts and offering books at no charge to anyone who happens by.  People put these bookcases near their sidewalks out of niceness.  The one on Nixon was clearly… Continue reading Glimpses of Happiness

Filling the Shelves

Our remodeling project is almost done.  Yesterday afternoon, Don delivered a multitude of present-wrapped shelves to go in the new bookcases.  He had unwrapped the shelves, festooning brown paper around the room, and installed them where he thought we might like them.  It was a great starting place.      Already occupying pride of place, front… Continue reading Filling the Shelves

Taking Down the Tree

     “You’re just as focused taking down the tree as putting it up,” my husband observed this afternoon.  I hadn’t considered the matter before, but he was right.  There’s a lot that goes into taking down a tree.  For instance, there’s the matter of boing-y-ness.      This is the second year we’ve had this artificial… Continue reading Taking Down the Tree

Little Tender Moments

     Out walking this morning, Rascal and I found ourselves for a while behind a dad with two young daughters, one daughter on each side.  Suddenly, Dad started to run.  Not very fast.  The girls hustled to catch up.  Then they started to giggle.  Daddy had turned around and started skipping.  They skipped, too.  “What… Continue reading Little Tender Moments

Niceness Awards

Our friend Don coaches the Ann Arbor Masters swim team.  He has since 1984.  The team practices five days a week at oh-dark-thirty.  And although I never witnessed this myself, when I was at the pool for my group of swimmers–who met after the Masters at the relatively civilized hour of seven a.m.–it’s possible that… Continue reading Niceness Awards