Tag: rural life
Autumn glory
We romanticize autumn with flannel and foliage, but the reality brings Ohio weather roulette, furnace standoffs, and reluctant dogs. Kymberly Foster Seabolt embraces the chaos of soup season, frost, and chilly days in this humorous look at the true fall experience.
Part 3: Tragedy befalls the family
In the late 1890s, a Pittsburgh family's thriving life was shattered by a typhoid epidemic and sudden loss. After losing his sister and father, 12-year-old Charlie Myers boarded a train to an Ohio farm to begin life anew. Read Part 3 of the Myers family history.
Call it hatcheling, hackeling or hetcheling — you’ll get the point
Before flax could be spun into fine linen thread, early craftspeople relied on hatcheling. Learn about the specialized hatchelsmiths who built these spiked iron tools and how decorated hatchels evolved from essential farm equipment into prized early American folk art.
Worrying about the weather: Finding beauty in every forecast
Whether it's pouring rain on a wedding day, sweating through a summer heatwave, or just trying to make hay while the sun shines, Ohioans love to complain about the forecast. Columnist Kymberly Foster Seabolt explores our obsession with the weather and finding beauty in the everyday.
How a child’s gleeful innocence brought grandpa’s sparkle back
After a tragic 1946 loss silenced a family's joy, a toddler's playful bond with her great-grandfather Charlie brought back his sparkle. From shaking straw bales for circus peanuts to farm truck rides, reflect on the special memories that healed a grieving heart.
Growing older: Why I am embracing early bedtimes and sore joints
From hurting your back sleeping wrong to choosing early bedtimes over late nights, getting older happens fast. Kymberly Foster Seabolt reflects on self-care, body aches, and why she is completely fine with quiet mornings, feeding squirrels, and attending her 40th high school reunion.
How a Farmall M and family restored Grandpa Charlie’s spark
Life is full of sad and glorious moments. Discover how an autumn 1959 farm sale, a red Farmall M tractor, and the love of a growing young family helped restore joy, purpose, and laughter to a grieving great-grandfather who had lost his spark.
In good (enough) health
Columnist Kymberly Foster Seabolt humorously reflects on the daily struggle of adult meal planning, healthy eating, and packing lunches. From trading sad spinach salads for Dairy Queen runs, she shares why balancing good health with life's simple pleasures is easier said than done.
Sweet memories: Ohio brothers recall 1960s pony ice cream route
In 1960s New London, Ohio, four brothers turned a beloved pony and a custom surrey into a thriving summer ice cream route. Decades later, the Sutherland family honored their parents' creative vision and lessons in hard work during a final parade appearance.
Caregiving crisis: A growing challenge for farm families
As the farming population ages, more agricultural families are forced to balance off-farm jobs, demanding daily chores, and caregiving for aging parents. Ohio State University Extension's LuAnn Duncan explains the impact of this chronic stress and why open communication and planning are vital for rural caregivers.
