Recently, several readers sent me e-mails about birds and the winter garden, and I had a request from a reader asking me to send her a column on the subject that was published a few years ago. Here's that column, somewhat updated, with some thoughts about birds in winter. ...more

December 28, 2008

The many angels exhibited this time of year are evidence of a widespread belief in what happened some 2,000 years ago near Bethlehem. ...more

December 25, 2008

Hernando County residents should wake up today to temperatures near 81. It might be a bit cloudy, but maybe the sun will peek out at intervals. ...more

December 25, 2008

Even in this day of economic downturn we should not worry if we will be able to give the gifts we feel those we care about deserve. ...more

December 24, 2008

'Tis the season to be jolly - or grouse about what to call the season. By now, many people have made peace with the fact that we live in a society in which people holding any number of beliefs about the events of tomorrow, Dec. 25. Some people who celebrate the events at the center of the religious aspect of Dec. 25 but do it on different days. Others have a celebration that this year began Dec. 21 and run for eight nights. Others observe a holiday that begins Dec. 26 and ends Jan. 1. Some people observe Dec. 25, but the only spirit that moves them is ho-ho-ho and mistletoe. To some Dec. 25 is - bah, humbug - just the day before Dec. 26. ...more

December 24, 2008

Although many reef anglers say they are catching more small gag grouper than at any time in the past 20 years, state and federal fishery managers have confirmed a plan to reduce the bag limit on the popular reef species to one per person per day as part of an aggregate bag of five groupers of all species. Formerly, Gulf anglers could take up to five gags daily. ...more

December 21, 2008

Devastated. That's the word Valdora Ward uses to describe her reaction to finding that her home of 31 years had been burglarized on Saturday. ...more

December 16, 2008

About this time of year, my daughters usually get the urge to do some baking for family and friends. ...more

December 14, 2008

TAMPA – A day after Gerald Scott found his family dog shot, he still can't believe it. He said today he heard a gunshot Tuesday and came out of the house on 39th Street in Tampa to find the dog, Lady, with a gunshot wound. The bullet traveled through Lady's chest and into her right front leg, Scott said. ...more

December 10, 2008

Elisha Ministries has been operating on a wing and a prayer for about a year. ...more

December 10, 2008