Janita Van De Velde

In case you missed my last few articles, let’s recap. When it comes to following my list of New Year’s resolutions, I have a remarkable lack of focus. That, or I have a terrible memory. New Year’s Day was so long ago I hardly remember what year we’re celebrating. At any rate, I’ve decided to […] Read more

It’s with shame and humiliation that I share this story. Warning: these photos may cause damage to your retinas. Mostly from the horizontal-striped abomination of a “bathing suit” I’m wearing. Here’s some background for you. I’m a simple person. I like simple things. This mindset has served its purpose for the most part… that is, […] Read more

At this time of year, we stop as a family to take part in Remembrance Day services to give thanks and absorb the sacrifices that were made on our behalf. It s humbling to consider what was done for us, and sad that in our remorse and commitment to never repeat the damage, we find […] Read more

I trust my family to do anything any- for me. If I m hungry, they feed me, if I m dirty, they clean me and if I m sad, they hug me. It doesn t get much better than that, does it? However, I can now with blinding certainty strike one task from the list. […] Read more

Let me start by thanking all my fans for questioning my whereabouts during these past few months. It s nice to feel wanted and missed. (Mom and Dad, the employees at Grainewshave kindly requested that you simply call me directly rather than contacting them. I believe the words gauche and awkward were used.) Over the […] Read more

It all started pre-dawn, in the wee hours of the morning just as the light was threatening to crack the horizon to announce a new day. Something was up on our roof, scratching at the cedar shakes… something large and angry. And every time I was about to drift back to sleep, it would wake […] Read more

Let’s give credit where it’s due, shall we? On Mother’s Day, I can’t help but think of what it means to be a mom, and everything I have to be thankful for when it comes to the lottery ticket I pulled in being blessed with the parents I’ve been given. With that praise of course, […] Read more

This carb queen loves her mashed potatoes. Truth be told, I have a burning lust for almost anything that’s classified a carbohydrate. Confession: I still make tracks in my mashed potatoes with a fork,plant my corn and butter in the grooves, cover them up, drop my head and get to work making it disappear. With […] Read more

Simply put, I don’t exercise. And I’m not just talking about lifting weights or doing aerobics or anything fancy like that — I’m not even a big fan of walking. I can safely blame my parents for this one. Growing up on the farm, they frowned upon any sort of frivolous behaviour, including the act […] Read more

Let me do you a favour and give you a brief overview of some facts and fiction in regards to growing old gracefully. Be forewarned — my credentials regarding anything associated with the wordgracefullyare dubious at best. Fiction:Aging won’t bother you at all because you’re not that superficial. Fact:You’ll wish you could turn back time […] Read more