All mums are hardy, but, to make it through the first winter in this area, they should be spring-planted. Most of our mums are sold in the fall. more

A friend and I were talking over the holiday weekend. She and I like to hold one another accountable for staying positive, focusing on joy and enjoying every small thing around us. It works out well because we both have a tendency to dwell on the small stuff. This exercise keeps us upbeat and less dramatic. We both enjoy it. more

Most people in the 19th century believed that helping one’s neighbors was divinely ordered and must be done. They also followed the Biblical injunction stating that everyone was everyone’s neighbor. more

I had a dream the other night that made me think hard about the hereafter and how I should maybe change my way of doing things. more

We had hoped to take a road trip this fall, but that isn’t going to pan out, so on a whim, Max and I said, “Let’s go to Niagara Falls, Maine and PEI!” Sometimes, serendipity is best, and so with little fanfare – or planning – we just got in the car and went. more

As summer comes to a close and we move into the fall season, many of us are looking forward to cooler weather, spending more time outside, and yes, the beginning of football. Labor Day marks the ending of summer and the beginning of fall. However, the weather does not always cooperate and thus, sometimes it is hard to tell if the summer is really over. more

My 5-year-old granddaughter experienced her first day of kindergarten on Monday. In the weeks leading up to that day, I watched my daughter patiently prepare her by walking her through the process step-by-step. more

In 1873, the Democrat printed a number of articles about the infestation of grasshoppers that had been predicted in 1873 by an Austin, Texas, reporter and had been denied by the Missouri State Etymologist, Professor C.V. Riley, who believed they would not come east of the counties along the Kansas-Missouri border. more

As I quickly approach the end of my 70th year on this earth, I pause to reflect, and (I apologize in advance) you are going to bear the brunt of it. When I was asked to begin this column, now 10 and a half years and four editors ago, Dennis (Editor 1) made it clear to me that I could write about whatever I chose, whether that be something regarding the law, politics, something funny, or anything else that happened to occupy my brain when I sat down at the computer to share my thoughts. more

He stands in a weedy clearing in the woods, in front of an empty deer stand. His dogs loll and pant on the ground next to him. His T-shirt is drenched in sweat. His hair is unkempt. His singing is simple, even a bit clunky. more

It is August, a time for new beginnings, infused with hope even amid anxiety and trepidation. more

In its July 18 edition, the Democrat ran an AP story about the demise of the political cartoon in newspapers. In their heyday, some 2,000 cartoonists worked on daily papers. There may be fewer than 20 today. more

Many producers are feeding grain supplements to stretch or complement hay or other feed supplies. But just because one supplement mix is the most economical today doesn’t mean it will be the most economical in one or two months. Perhaps some ingredients have changed price or are no longer available. more

On June 4, 1873, the Sedalia Democrat reprinted a dispatch from Austin, Texas, to the St. Louis Republican. The item noted that “innumerable numbers” of grasshoppers had appeared in Texas, eating vegetation and “destroying the corn, consuming it down to a level with the ground.” more

For the first time in a very long time, I am excited for tonight’s Republican debate. Why, you might ask? It is because former President Donald Trump will not be in attendance. more

We joined the masses last week, attending “Barbenheimer,” the two movies that have made hundreds of millions of dollars in the past month. One of the two movies is an in-depth, interesting look at the man who created “The Bomb,” and the other is a fun-filled piece of pink cotton-candy fluff with unexpected messages. Though I thoroughly enjoyed it and its lessons about self-discovery and being kind to others, one viewing is enough for “Barbie”; however, I will be revisiting “Oppenheimer,” the three-hour marathon that gives its audience insight as to why and how the atomic bomb was developed, what we did with it, and some of its after-effects. more

A little shock ran through me when I saw the headline from ABC17: “Tyson Foods closing four chicken processing plants; two in Missouri.” more

The smell of something deep-fried is in the air, there are more tractors on the road and at Walmart, the school supply aisles are starting to get more crowded – it must be August! more

A series of robberies of stores and houses frightened citizens of Sedalia during 1873. Most involved small amounts of merchandise, money or personal property, and the robbers escaped. The local police concluded that most of the robberies were committed by professional thieves slick enough to evade law enforcement. more

Columnist's note: This column was originally published on July 15, 2020, in the Democrat. I'll be back with a new column next week. more