http://www.thedailystar.com en-us Copyright CNHI All Rights Reserved. 5 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:42:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/gracecolumn/local_story_321104335.html http://www.thedailystar.com/gracecolumn/local_story_321104335.html COLUMBUS _ "The dollar’s tanking,’’ Uncle Chet said during dinner Saturday as we celebrated the little miscreant’s 16th birthday. ``It’s dropping against the yen, the yuan, the euro.’’ Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:00:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/gracecolumn/local_story_293075954.html http://www.thedailystar.com/gracecolumn/local_story_293075954.html COLUMBUS _ We’ve been slow to get in the wood this year, and fall has been quick to cool. The logs need stacking, splitting and some need culling because they’re old and punky, but everything from oilchanging to dry-walling to kid-taxiing has cut in line. Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:54:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/gracecolumn/local_story_279075241.html http://www.thedailystar.com/gracecolumn/local_story_279075241.html COLUMBUS _ The phone rang and Buddy ran to check the caller I.D. Tue, 22 Sep 2009 08:07:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/gracecolumn/local_story_265080708.html http://www.thedailystar.com/gracecolumn/local_story_265080708.html COLUMBUS _ The dogs stirred at the sound of a truck pulling down the driveway, and when Uncle Chet came in the back door, Della jumped up to greet him. ``Down!’’ I commanded. Tue, 08 Sep 2009 08:54:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/gracecolumn/local_story_251085540.html http://www.thedailystar.com/gracecolumn/local_story_251085540.html COLUMBUS _ The little miscreant has only two years left in high school and we’re sweating the next step, that leap off the cliff, college. Tue, 25 Aug 2009 07:59:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/gracecolumn/local_story_237080107.html http://www.thedailystar.com/gracecolumn/local_story_237080107.html COLUMBUS _ When the telephone rang Saturday morning, I didn’t answer. I had furniture moved, ladders set up, windows open and I was ready to coat the staircase with amber shellac. Tue, 28 Jul 2009 07:53:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/gracecolumn/local_story_209074542.html http://www.thedailystar.com/gracecolumn/local_story_209074542.html COLUMBUS _ I was in the barn doorway, sanding down a 12-foot trim board when a silver Ford Ranger rolled into the driveway. Tue, 14 Jul 2009 07:58:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/gracecolumn/local_story_195074558.html http://www.thedailystar.com/gracecolumn/local_story_195074558.html OLD LYME, Conn. _ The sea and sky are streaked with lavender and orange, although the colors are dimming fast as the night darkens. Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:52:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/gracecolumn/local_story_181073008.html http://www.thedailystar.com/gracecolumn/local_story_181073008.html COLUMBUS _ I heard the truck crunching gravel before I saw it idling down the driveway. It parked by the back door, and Uncle Chet got out. ``Down here!'' I hollered from the garden where Hon and I were weeding. Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:45:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/gracecolumn/local_story_167085308.html http://www.thedailystar.com/gracecolumn/local_story_167085308.html COLUMBUS _ It was a sunny day, a week before the start of summer and we were cleaning up, inside and out.Hon and the kids were going through closets, getting out shorts and building a large pile of outgrown clothes, soon to be oil rags. Tue, 02 Jun 2009 07:33:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/gracecolumn/local_story_153033011.html http://www.thedailystar.com/gracecolumn/local_story_153033011.html The silver pickup curved down the driveway, Uncle Chet driving and Cousin Bruce riding shotgun. I turned on the gas burner to warm up the coffee, then went to the bedroom, looking for my wallet and the key to Hon's car. Tue, 19 May 2009 07:41:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/gracecolumn/local_story_139040009.html http://www.thedailystar.com/gracecolumn/local_story_139040009.html COLUMBUS _ ``You know what's killing the Republican Party?'' asked Uncle Chet, looking at his raised glass of wine as if the answer was there. Tue, 05 May 2009 07:49:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/gracecolumn/local_story_125040011.html http://www.thedailystar.com/gracecolumn/local_story_125040011.html COLUMBUS _ ``Not long ago, they were talking about a `permanent Republican majority,''' said Uncle Chet, who was helping Buddy and me split wood. ``Karl Rove said that,'' I said. ``Ole Blossom,'' he said, tipping up a 20-inch ash log. Tue, 21 Apr 2009 07:24:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/gracecolumn/local_story_111040005.html http://www.thedailystar.com/gracecolumn/local_story_111040005.html NEW BERLIN _ We were driving slowly down state Route 80, determined not to jar a load of heavy metal steps. Traffic was heavy for a Sunday afternoon, but I'd waited until the road was empty before turning onto it. Now, in the mirror, I saw a red car about a half-mile back, moving up fast. Tue, 07 Apr 2009 07:38:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/gracecolumn/local_story_097073004.html http://www.thedailystar.com/gracecolumn/local_story_097073004.html ``You're going to have to take drastic measures with that,'' Uncle Chet squinted up at the kitchen ceiling. ``And that's the third coat,'' I said from the table, drinking coffee, looking up at a hideous spackling job.