daily: Browse The Strips

Saturday May 27, 2017

Lynn's Comments: This thought came to me as I helped a friend prepare for her mother’s funeral. Her mom was someone I truly cared for, and yet, I seldom went to visit her. I felt guilty for thinking about her and doing more for her after she'd died than I did when she was alive. I am much more aware of time now, and how quickly it runs out.

Tuesday May 30, 2017

Lynn's Comments: This strip was done to counter the thought of death and bring everyone back, full circle, to new beginnings. Again, I received many letters from readers who felt this was an appropriate thing to include in the story. The strip was really a saga by now, and far from the "gag-a-day" ideas I'd started with.

Friday June 2, 2017

Lynn's Comments: I spent a lot of time with my father-in-law after my mother-in-law died. He talked easily and openly about his feelings, as did my dad when he lost my mother. I was grateful for their candid conversation and their heartfelt expressions of love and loss, and their hope for reunion. I felt as if they were preparing me for my own experience yet to come. You never stop learning.

Wednesday June 7, 2017

Lynn's Comments: So many personal truths were told in the strip. As I reread everything, I see just how close to the bone some of my stories were.

Thursday June 8, 2017

Lynn's Comments: This was the truth. It seemed that no expense was spared on things outside the house….but, the kitchen, where so much of my life was spent, didn't need improvements.

Friday June 9, 2017

Lynn's Comments: Once I had decided I needed a new kitchen, however, I realized the whole dining area needed to be remodeled, as well.

Monday June 12, 2017

Lynn's Comments: My husband was certainly capable of remodeling the kitchen, but it might have taken years. In order to keep the marriage stable, we decided to get help. The dismantling, however, we did ourselves.

Wednesday June 14, 2017

Lynn's Comments: The trouble with design books is…they all seem to think you live in a tidy environment. They seem to overlook the fact that a space has to be lived in, and living means junk and clutter. I needed storage. Lots of it!

Monday June 19, 2017

Lynn's Comments: At the time of our kitchen renovation, we managed to dine in the hallway with the use of a borrowed hot plate and a microwave. This was fun…for a while.

Friday June 23, 2017

Lynn's Comments: Here’s where Annie’s husband, Steve, had a small role. Until now, he had just been a shadowy figure. I’d alluded to his infidelity, but had never gone into that story. It was a rather daunting one, and I wasn't ready. I did, however, see him as a bit of a hoarder, so when the Pattersons did their renovation, he was there to salvage their cast-off materials. At the time, I could see Annie and Steve’s garage crammed with stuff and all of the ensuing family squabbles it might cause. I imagined all of the interesting side stories this would generate…but in the end, I had only one statement a day to work with and my readers spent less than 30 seconds reading it! I never developed the "hoarder" side of next-door neighbour, Steve. There wasn't time.

Tuesday June 27, 2017

Lynn's Comments: Yes, I realized as we were dismantling the kitchen that this would be the perfect time to remodel the dining room, too. This meant removing a wall between the kitchen and dining room to create an "open concept." Open, much like my husband’s mouth when I made the suggestion.

Saturday July 1, 2017

Lynn's Comments: My mother used to make us sit at the table until everything on our plates was gone. My brother and I might sit there until bedtime, and if the meal wasn't finished, we'd find it set out (cold) for breakfast the next morning. No fooling! "Waste not, want not" was the catch phrase of the day…and I never really did understand what it meant!

Monday July 3, 2017

Lynn's Comments: I have a friend whose husband refused to eat leftovers. He simply refused. He wanted everything to be "fresh," so she went out of her way to make him happy. (Yes, even in this century!) From time to time, however, she would make quiche or a delicious casserole. Served with a light salad, it was a perfect meal, and he would eat with gusto not knowing that yesterday’s veg, ham, bacon, and whatever else would cook up, had gone into the meal. It was years before he realized he’d been eating leftovers. This is a true story. They are still married, and he now eats whatever is put in front of him. Stir-fry anyone?