Five Penny Nicole
Scraps of Life

Family

A Packers Superbowl Spring

A Packers Superbowl Spring

It happens every year.  Slowly.  Cautiously.  A little show of green.  A little gold….but then around December things become less cautious, more hopeful.  Grandmas begin wearing their starter jackets proudly in the grocery store.  Whispers of playoffs become more bold. We wait for each game with bated breath….will they win?  How long can we hang […]

Posted in My Story | Tagged Family, Football, Green Bay Packers, Superbowl, Traditions, Winter, Wisconsin | 9 Responses

Chasing Garbage Trucks (a Marathon Story)

My finishing time was 8 hours, 25 minutes, but my experience was more: memories to last a lifetime, a new friend and a journey across the city of Chicago which seemed somehow to embrace the meaning of my name, victory for the people.

Posted in My Story | Tagged Chicago, Church, community, Family, Friends, Marathon, Rockstar, Running, Slow Runners | 16 Responses

Won’t you be my neighbor?

I love being a “neighbor,” that unique sort of friendship that is defined by where I live. Neighbors are not always the people that one would seek or choose as friends, but with work, we can build community with these who share our daily life. When I was in kindergarten my family moved into a […]

Posted in My Story | Tagged Bridgeport, Chicago, community, Family, Lincoln Square, Madison Wisconsin, Mister Rogers, neighbors | 1 Response

Solving the world’s problems

Yesterday our family spent a lovely afternoon celebrating a baby dedication. It was the perfect afternoon. The older children watched a movie, the little ones napped. Then the older ones took the younger ones to the park. The “elders”, a mixed group of adults ranging in age from 40-70, with political views both liberal and […]

Posted in My Story | Tagged Children, community, Family, Marriage, Politics | 4 Responses

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

What is it about watching a ball game that seems to bring so many emotions to the surface? So much love, passion, disappointment, hopefulness. There is something electric about the ball and the bat making contact. CRACK! (…or PING! as the case may be). Something nostalgic about all of that bubble gum and sunflower seeds. […]

Posted in My Story | Tagged Baseball, Chicago White Sox, Comisky Park, Family, Madison Mallards, Mom Life, Rite of Passage, Traditions, World Series | 5 Responses

Future in the Mirror

Thursday morning as I looked into the rear view mirror, I caught a glimpse of the future–not what I have passed on the road but what I will be looking forward to. I was filled with a bit of ache in my heart. Alex and Joseph sat in the back seat white shirts, black ties…all […]

Posted in My Story | Tagged Boyhood, Dear Husband, Family, Mom Life, Rite of Passage | 8 Responses

Toddlerized!

We really do watch them…but they can move so fast, and can think of the most creative uses for things.

Posted in My Story | Tagged Dear Husband, Family, Mom Life | 1 Response

Dandelion Wine

Have you ever had it? Do you know anyone who makes it? Each spring as the dandelions begin to flood the open spaces along the highway, in sidewalk cracks, and heaven forbid our yards, I am reminded of my great-grandma and her dandelion wine. ~~~ “Pride of lions in the yard. Stare, and they burn […]

Posted in My Story | Tagged Family, Food, Seasons | 2 Responses

Family Traditions

At this time of year our minds seem to remember things past. Visions of sugar plums dance in our heads, and we vow either to make happier memories for our kin, or to live out our traditions just exactly as we did when we were very young. Each year, we grasp at something solid, with […]

Posted in Journaling, My Story | Tagged Culture, Family, Holidays, Traditions | Leave a response

Fireflies to Crickets

On Monday, our little Gwenna marked 7 weeks old. When she was born the fireflies were just starting to peak. Naomi loved watching her brothers trying to catch them and even tried to catch a few herself. Seven weeks ago we were still getting mostly salad greens in our farm share, then all of a […]

Posted in My Story | Tagged Crickets, Family, Food, Nature, Seasons | 2 Responses