Carol Zebb
Recent stories
- Senior Center needs some help
- February 7, 2012
- February, second month of the year, is like a small child going through the stage known as the terrible twos. February can be so winsome — it charms the birds into singing spring songs. Beware, though, when it throws a temper tantrum. February’s storms can be fierce. North America’s largest single storm snowfall of 189 inches occurred Feb. 19, 1959 at Mt. Shasta, Calif. Payson’s record snowfall of almost 50 inches occurred in the month of December many years ago — OK, any longtime Paysonites who remember the exact date, please e-mail it to me at swnest@npgcable.com. So far this year we have a shortage of snowfall, but be careful what you wish for. There’s still time for a blizzard or two. Leap Year gives us an extra day this month and according to ancient custom that day may be used by “mayden lady to bespoke ye man she likes …”. Should he refuse her proposal, he was liable to a hefty fine, or, in some cases, to compensate the rejected “mayden” with a new dress of pure silk.
- New Year off to a bumpy start
- January 17, 2012
- Have you ever celebrated New Year’s Eve in a hospital emergency room? I have. Let me tell you, it is a lot more fun singing “Auld Lang Syne” in your own living room, with a few good friends, over a bottle of champagne. However, given the way I was feeling, I was glad to be where I was. It began the Thursday before New Year’s with a mild discomfort in my right side, front and back, which over the next couple days became more painful. By Saturday morning I could hardly get out of bed. Len took me to the ER where they did numerous tests, including a CT scan, and put me on pain medication. By noon, no cause was diagnosed and the pain subsided, so I was sent home. No sooner did I get there than the pain reoccurred, worse than any I have ever had.
- Fix a pot of soup, hit the books, pick a project
- January 6, 2012
- Happy New Year! It’s time to settle in after the flurry of holiday activities, pause for dreaming daydreams, relive old memories and think new thoughts. Now we can catch up on those projects set aside for winter’s indoor hours, curl up with one of the books we have stacked up, or try a new recipe. January is National Soup Month and what could be better than a bowl of hot soup on a chilly evening? What is your favorite kind of soup? Cream of mushroom is preferred by folks in Grand Forks, N.D.; Portland, Ore. people favor bean with bacon; and chicken noodle is the choice of diners in St. Louis. In New Orleans, gumbo is a perennial best seller.
- Parties planned for Christmas, New Year’s
- December 20, 2011
- “It’s the most wonderful time of the year …” so the song goes and indeed it is a special time for most of us, but for some it is a very difficult time. If you are reading this in the comfort of a warm room and have food in the refrigerator, count your blessings. There are many around the country and right here in Payson who, because of economic conditions, loss of jobs or illness, are facing a bleak holiday. Few of us can afford to give thousands of dollars, but if you can spare a dollar or two to drop in the Salvation Army kettle, send a small check to Payson Community Kids (P.O. Box 1856), Payson Area Food Drive (P.O. Box 307) or any other of the many organizations in Rim Country helping the less fortunate, please do so.
- Bundle up and get a look at the night sky
- December 6, 2011
- Oh, these dark mornings! I am normally an early riser and love the morning hours, but it is hard to get out of a warm bed when the house is chilly and dark. Remember, though, that in only 16 more days, it will be the Winter Solstice when the sun begins its slow journey to bring back long hours of daylight. Often in December the sun closes the day with a dramatic production, a blaze of color that etch the bare branches of trees against the semi-circle of sky and turn the pine needles so dark as to appear black shafted with gold from the last rays. Swiftly the blaze of color fades to be replaced by the first glistening stars. Silent Night! Holy Night!
- Feasts set at Senior Center, Senior Circle and Pine
- November 15, 2011
- bygone days; necklaces in style today are big, bold and colorful. Nor is the trend limited to women only, many male sports figures and celebrities also sport (pun intended) chains and other neckwear. Necklaces are believed to have originated during the Stone Age, 40,000 years ago. The earliest ones were made of vines or animal sinew, sometimes with shells or animal bones or teeth on them. Now beads or gemstones are most popular. Since my wardrobe consists mainly of jeans, sweatshirts and T-shirts, I guess I won’t need any new necklaces, no matter how in they are!
- Unite in recycling event
- November 1, 2011
- It probably goes back to my childhood, growing up during the Great Depression, but I absolutely hate to see food wasted. Stale bread ends up as crumbs or bread pudding in our house, leftover roast chicken becomes chicken salad or potpie, the ham bone flavors a split pea soup. I could go on and on, but you most likely have your own food saving ideas.
- Planting bulbs in fall is act of faith
- October 18, 2011
- Last week was Fire Prevention Week. Have you checked your smoke alarms lately? If the batteries have not been replaced in the past six months, now is the time to do so. For those of us who no longer are comfortable climbing ladders, the fire department offers a service whereby they will come to your home and change the batteries for you. Call (928) 474-5242, extension 300, for an appointment.
- October: A splendid time of year in Rim Country
- October 4, 2011
- “October is the jewel set in the hand of time” — so wrote Gladys Taber in her book The Best of Stillmeadow and I must agree that October truly is a splendid time of year, especially here in Rim Country. Summer’s heat is gone, but we do not yet need winter’s warm clothing. The monsoon season (what there was of it!) is past, days are bright and sunny.
- Remember when …
- September 20, 2011
- Dearie, do you remember when … • A family had one telephone per household rather than one for each family member • Pizza and zucchini were unknown edibles • Television — what’s that? Turn on the radio, it’s time for “Fibber McGee and Molly” • Pets ate leftovers, not fancy canned or packaged food, and no one thought of brushing their teeth • Text was what you studied for an exam • We read road maps and actually got where we wanted to go instead of having a disembodied voice telling us “turn left at the next intersection” • Twitter was what birds did • Women wore house dresses and aprons • We put galoshes over our shoes in wet or snowy weather
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Question of the week
Do you think the community should be involved with the selectioin of a new School Board Superintendent?
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