Life Out Loud: Replaced, rejected, retired
The most dedicated servant is always the last to see the layoff coming.
One minute, you think you have the utmost in job security.
Hearth to Heart: Fall Mornings
Cool night air, lingering now at dawn, drifts through the open windows of the house. We want to huddle under covers and stay in our warm beds, but not today - a school day.
Farm and Food File: Your vote doesn’t count at the WTO
The most important election in farm country this fall won't be in presidential swing states like Iowa and Wisconsin nor will it involve mad cows, angry Brazilians or even promise-spewing, glad-handing politicians.
A friend battles next hurricane
The swirling hurricane season keeps pounding away, and everyone I've talked to in recent days is concerned about friends and family living in the southeast.
Celebrity wedding survival guide
Traditionalists who believe that marriage is a sacred union between a man and a woman are undoubtedly heartened by the knowledge that America's reigning queen of overexposed celebrity, Jennifer Lopez, walked down the aisle this summer for the third time.
‘Water, water everywhere … [not] any drop to drink.’
My feet splashed through the couple inches of water that covered our basement concrete. Where should I start to clean up? The narrow path through the stuff piled everywhere overwhelmed me.
Where have you gone Danny, Pat, Dan, Trevor?
Before September becomes a blur of harvest dust, election mud and campaign slurs, it's time to catch up on some of the characters who have waltzed through this space.
Imaginations keep farm kids busy
"Some days, we would simply walk the fields and stroll the woods just for enjoyment. It seemed we didn't really need a good reason, but sometimes we would offer to check the north fence or insist upon checking to see if the latest storm knocked any trees about in the back woods.
Bush and Kerry come a-courtin’
As November's election nears, U.S. presidential candidates are criss-crossing the country to woo rural America, particularly Ohio.
Pride and prejudice: Geography as destiny
In the heartland of this great nation, we've apparently all entered the Witness Protection Program. Our exact locations must remain a closely guarded secret.
