Evelyn in the Evelyn Room
Evelyn in the "Evelyn Room,"
at Dale Chihuly glass studio, Seattle, Washington
Newspaper and Magazine Columns

Evelyn has written for a variety of magazines and newspapers over the past five decades.

Evelyn started writing a weekly newspaper column for the Shenandoah (Iowa) Evening Sentinel in 1949. The Sentinel eventually became the Valleys News Today and Evelyn continues to write for this newspaper. She has written her newspaper column every week, without fail, for over 60 years. Evelyn also wrote monthly columns for Kitchen-Klatter Magazine for almost 30 years.

Links to Evelyn's newspaper and magazine columns and archives:

Evelyn's current weekly newspaper columns
(2009-2010)

Evelyn's archived weekly newspaper columns
(1949 to 2005)

Evelyn's monthly Kitchen-Klatter Magazine columns
(samples from 1958)

08/18/2010
What a Splendid Birthday Anniversary for KMA Radio
Well, that was fun! KMA had a birthday party to celebrate 85 years on the air, and we were all invited. more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

08/11/2010
Celebrating 85 years of KMA
Shenandoah's KMA Radio will celebrate its 85th birthday on August 12th by serving free pancakes from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the parking lot next to the studio, just as the station did in the good old days. And what days they have been!
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

08/04/2010
Taking a Page from the Wonderful Town of Brownville
The first of the company to arrive last week was our son Jeff. He was on his way to Minneapolis for a meeting and rearranged his schedule so he could be here on Saturday for his Aunt Ruth’s memorial service. It was great to have a representative from our sons for that event.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

07/28/2010
Paying our Final Respects to Ruth, my Sister and Friend
My sister Ruth died on July 4 in Mesa, Arizona, her home for the last almost years. Her family and friends held a memorial service for her there. Saturday, July, 24, there was a second memorial in her honor, this one at the Farragut Methodist Church.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

07/21/2010
Family Recipes are a Memento to Share
I am always amazed at the power of radio to share news. In the early days of Shenandoah's radio stations, Earl May and Henry Field sometimes cranked up the transmitters to see how far the signals of KMA and KFNF would go. They received messages back from as far away as Australia.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

07/14/2010
In Loving Memory of My Sister and Friend – Ruth
I recently received word from my nephew Larry Bricker that his mother, my sister Ruth, has passed away.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

07/07/2010
A Visit to My Alma Mater – Simpson
In 1938 I graduated from Simpson College. That was during the depth of the Great Depression and very difficult for my parents to see that I got to college, even for a two-year teacher certification program in which I was enrolled.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

06/30/2010
Always a Time of Challenging Weather
Last December, when we were complaining about the blizzards sweeping across Iowa and dropping the thermometer readings lower than we could imagine, summer seemed a very long way off. I was sure I would not be at all upset when warm weather arrived. And yet with all the heat, humidity, and rain we’ve been having as summer begins, I have found plenty to complain about. more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

06/23/2010
A Nice Relaxing Flight Back to Eppley
Whenever I travel on an airplane, I think of those pioneers who took so long to travel overland from the Midwest to Washington, Oregon, and California.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

06/16/2010
Porcupine Balls and Nick's Graduation
Just a week ago, Robert and I arrived at the home of our son Craig and his family in Edmonds, Washington. We had made the journey from Iowa to attend the eighth grade graduation ceremony for our grandson Nick.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

06/09/2010
Bathtub or Shower? It's All in the Genes
I am a bath person. I like nothing better than to fill the tub up and stretch out full length and spend time soaking in hot, hot, water.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

06/02/2010
An Enjoyable Visit to Brownville
Recently I had an invitation to speak at the Lyceum Café in Brownville, Nebraska. The trip there gave Robert and me a chance to see some of our favorite countryside, to reconnect with good friends, and to meet some new people with very interesting stories.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

05/26/2010
From My Letter Basket
Several months ago I wrote a column about Japanese-American service man Dick Hayashi. Just before World War II began, I was spending some time in Minnesota and one evening went to a dance at a local YMCA.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

05/19/2010
'Three Cups of Tea' Hits the Spot
"You should read 'Three Cups of Tea,'" Lynn Benson told me several months ago. "I'll keep it in mind," I told him, adding that I like it when people tell me about books they’ve enjoyed. At the time, though, I had other books to read, places to go, and subjects to research. The months slipped by.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

05/12/2010
Oh, Those Special Prom Memories
Prom time is here again and each spring brings back memories of my own experiences. In 1934-5 I lived with my family in Waukee, Iowa, then a small town about 10 miles west of Des Moines. I was a junior in high school. For our Junior Senior banquet my mother made me a lovely white organdy dress which we designed ourselves.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

05/05/2010
Springtime – Graduation, Parties and Weddings
I always look forward to springtime events in Iowa's communities. Graduation parties, bake sales, and even a wedding or two highlight the season. I especially enjoy our town's annual SPLASH week. The letters stand for Sidney Public Library Amazing Spring Happenings.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

04/28/2010
One of My Favorite Moments in Hawaii
If you asked me for my favorite moment during our recent trip to Hawaii I would be hard pressed to pick one, but a really delightful and unexpected experience came late one afternoon when Robert and I went for a walk with our three sons.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

04/21/2010
Emotional Visit to Pearl Harbor
Of many highlights during our recent family trip to Hawaii, nothing stands out more than the day we spent at Pearl Harbor with our sons. Robert and I had never been there, and we both found that being in a place so important in our lives brought back many memories and emotions.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

04/14/2010
Up a Coconut Lane in Hawaii
Since I'm writing this from Hawaii, my sons think I should call my column "Up A Coconut Lane." And they may be right. I've been enjoying my stay on Maui with my family so much that may never want to leave.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

04/07/2010
And Now the Rest of the Story...
We all know those Paul Harvey radio messages, The Rest of the Story. He tells about people in remarkable circumstances, then adds a surprising twist at the end.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

03/31/2010
Spring has Finally Arrived
Spring finally came tiptoeing around the corner. I know it is here because my calendar told me so: MARCH 20, 2010 FIRST DAY OF SPRING. I also know it is spring because Robert balanced eggs on the kitchen counter, a sure sign the equinox has arrived once again.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

03/24/2010
Catching up on the Birkby Family
Our sons Bob, Jeff, and Craig were with us in Des Moines last week for the Iowa Public Television Festival events. It was wonderful to have them there, and very fun to get first-hand updates on the rest of the family.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

03/17/2010
An Exciting Day for the Birkbys
Last Thursday was a very exciting day for our family. Our three sons flew in from their homes in Seattle and Missoula, Montana, to be with Robert and me at the studios of Iowa Public Television for the premier airing of the documentary, "Iowa's Radio Homemakers: Up A Country Lane."
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

03/10/2010
My Once a Decade Meeting with a Reporter and Friend
Jane Palmer came down from Omaha last week to renew our long-time friendship. Twenty years ago when Jane was food editor for the Omaha World-Herald, she wrote a review of my book "Neighboring on the Air."
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

03/03/2010
Iowa's Radio Homemakers
For the last year the talented professionals of Iowa Public Television have been putting together a documentary entitled "Iowa's Radio Homemakers: Up A Country Lane."
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

02/24/2010
Providing Answers for the Food Goddess
A long-time friend, Mary Jeanne Maynard, sent me a copy of the Atlanta Journal Constitution newspaper. Mary directed my attention to a letter that was sent to one of their food columnist known as the Food Goddess.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

02/10/2010
Green Cans of Bag Balm
Anyone who has been around this part of the country very long has seen the distinctive square, green cans of Bag Balm.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

01/27/2010
Looking Back Through the History of The Valley News
As we welcome new publisher Barb Trimble to The Valley News Today, I've enjoyed looking back through the history of this venerable newspaper.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

01/20/2010
Ephemera are Glimpses from the Past
Ephemera was not ever part of my vocabulary. In fact, I needed to look it up in my dictionary to find out that it means "lasting a short time." It's used to describe items such as newspapers and magazines that are only intended to be used briefly.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

01/13/2010
Remembering my Dear Friend Erma and Her Rolls
"Where did you find your recipe for Hay Hand Rolls?" an acquaintance asked me recently. "I have connected that recipe to you ever since I first heard you give it on the radio, and I always wondered where it came from."
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

01/06/2010
My First Nine Decades
In 1999 I wrote a series of columns about the first eight decades of my life. Now, as I turn the calendar to January of 2010, I am reminded it is time for me to take a few moments and look back on the decade we've just completed, my ninth.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

12/31/2009
A Blow by Blow of the Christmas Blizzard
This has been quite a week, highlighted by a blizzard sweeping through the Midwest. I made notes before and during the storm. Here's how events unfolded at our house at the edge of Sidney.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

12/23/2009
Making Room in Our Lives for the Christ Child
Suddenly it is Christmas time again. Why does time go faster the older one becomes?
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

12/16/2009
Never Boring Weather in Iowa
One reason I like to live in Iowa is because of the changing of the seasons. If the weather stayed hot all the time, or cold, I would find it boring.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

12/09/2009
Holiday Traditions Sure Has Changed
Oh, how holiday traditions have changed through the years! When we lived on Cottonwood Farm south of Farragut in the early 1950s, Thanksgiving dinner preparations began weeks ahead of time as we fattened up two of our home-raised chickens into lovely roasting birds. Robert would catch and butcher them, then pluck off the feathers. I would finish cleaning them and getting them ready for the oven.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

12/02/2009
A Rich Visit to the Northwest, Including an Evacuation
November is the rainiest month of the year in Seattle. For us it has also been a time of celebrations as we have visited our family in the Northwest. Through a number of overcast days, some drizzly afternoons, a few heavy downpours, and even some sporadic sunshine, we settled in for our time in the Northwest to enjoy our family.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

11/25/2009
Celebrating 60 years of Up A Country Lane
On a cold, drizzly November day 60 years ago I first walked into the Shenandoah Evening Sentinel office to see publisher Willard Archie about an ad he had printed in the paper that week.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

11/18/2009
The Journey from Newspaper Columnist to Radio Homemaker
In a frame on the wall of our family room is a large black phonograph record. It is nearly 60 years old, and the grooves hold the sounds of my very first radio broadcast.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

11/11/2009
From Sidney, USA to Hawaiian Luau
Way back when Robert and I were first trying to make it as farmers, Robert worked with his brother-in-law Oliver Bricker in raising hogs.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

11/04/2009
Birkbys Celebrate Wedding Anniversary
Sixty-three years ago, Robert and I stood in front of the altar of the Sidney United Methodist Church and repeated the vows that made us husband and wife. We promised to love and be faithful to one another "until death do us part."
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

10/29/2009
Looking at the Present and Towards the Future
Two meetings held in the past two weeks attracted my attention. One dealt with the past while the other looked at the present and toward the future.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

10/21/2009
The Changing Face of Sidney
Several remaining buildings that stood on the north side of Sidney's downtown were demolished last week. Bulldozers and trucks came in and took down the gas station that stood where the old Legion/Ettleman/Taylor building used to stand.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

10/14/2009
Area Families Busy Searching for Information About Their Past
A huge flock of black birds descended on our yard one day last week and spent several hours pecking at grass seeds, eating insects, fighting with one another over the water in the bird bath, and keeping up a constant chatter with one another. Then, as suddenly as they had come, they flew away. more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

09/30/2009
Remembering Norman Borlaug
I was deeply saddened to read recently that Norman Borlaug had died at the age of 95. His contributions to the science of agriculture continues to improve the lives of millions around the globe and makes us all proud to be Iowans.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

09/23/2009
Branching out for First Day of School
Half way up our lane stands a maple tree, one of many in our yard that Robert planted soon after we moved into our current home some forty-six years ago.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

09/16/2009
Enormous Talent on Display this Weekend at The Gathering Place
What makes a vibrant small town? My son Jeff recently sent me a newspaper article exploring why some small towns thrive and others fade away. The central message in the article was that thriving small towns find ways to get things done.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

09/09/2009
Thoughts of Dick Hayashi
The first time I remember being in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was in 1940. I was teaching school in northeast Iowa and had come to Farragut to spend the summer with my parents. August arrived and I was having a difficult time with my hay fever so I decided to get on the bus and head north.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

09/02/2009
Jelly Time!
I feel all sweet and sticky as I write this column for it has been making-grape-jelly-week at our house. Late August and early September is Concord grape season here on Honey Hill.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

08/26/2009
Enjoying Some Quiet Time With 'Monkey-Picked Tea'
I am sitting in my small, quiet study in Iowa drinking a cup of tea made with leaves from a far-away Chinese province. Legend holds that generations ago this kind of tea was harvested by specially trained monkeys able to climb high in the tea bushes to pick the most tender leaves.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

08/19/2009
Sidney Scout Photo Appears in New Boy Scout Handbook
Note: We just received a package from our son Bob containing an autographed copy of his latest book, the centennial edition of the Boy Scout Handbook. I've asked Bob to write about it for this week's column.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

08/12/2009
An Afternoon at the Farmer's Market in Missoula
I'm sitting in the Break Espresso coffee shop in Missoula, Montana, enjoying some coffee cake and a good cup of coffee. This old brick building has high ceilings and old-fashioned light fixturess, and the tables in the long room are full of college-aged people using laptop computers.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

08/05/2009
Montana's Flathead Lake a Perfect Setting for 90th Birthday Celebration
I ended my column last week by saying Robert and I would be joining our family somewhere special to celebrate my 90th birthday on July 31.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

07/29/2009
Golden Oldies?
With a milestone birthday approaching, this columnist wonders when 'old' officially begins.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

07/22/2009
Facebook is the Modern 'Hollow Tree'
My college psychology teacher back in the 1940s imprinted me with certain information. For example, I still remember what he said were some basic needs in every person's life:
1. Security
2. Recognition
3. New experiences
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

07/15/2009
Rollin' Down the Salmon
Our son, Bob, just called from Seattle where he has returned to his home after a seven day rafting trip in Idaho. I asked him to write about his adventures.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

07/11/2009
Special Visit at the Birkby House
Last week was a special time in the Birkby household for we had our son Craig and his family here for their summer sojourn.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

07/01/2009
Books Make the World Go Around
Garage and book sales are great fun for people who like to search out bargains, sell odds and ends they no longer need in their homes, and visit with neighbors and friends. Each year the Sidney library hosts a big book sale.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

06/24/2009
Debut Effort Offers New Take on Christian Music
Several weeks ago I wrote about our niece Luanne Mannon. She was in Sidney for much of the month of May to visit her mother, Ruthella Barnard, and other relatives. Luanne told us that when she returned to her home near Seattle, she would be attending a performance to celebrate the release of the first music CD of her daughter Mollie Mannon Ziegler.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

06/17/2009
Bird's Eye View of Honey Hill
On sunny summer mornings, I love to sit on our back porch with a cup of coffee and watch what's happening in the yard. The bird bath under the shade of big trees attracts blue jays, robins, orioles, and a bright red cardinal. more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

06/10/2009
Walk Of Fame Induction was Quite an Honor
What a wonderful event we enjoyed last Saturday in Shenandoah as the new inductees for the Iowa Walk of Fame were announced. I was honored to be included. more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

06/03/2009
Galapagos Adventures
I love to travel. Even when I'm not going somewhere, I like to hear about the places other people are going. A destination of recent interest has been the Galapagos Islands, six hundred miles off the coast of Ecuador. more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

05/27/2009
Vancouver, a Lovely City
Our sons, Bob and Jeff, recently traveled to Vancouver, British Columbia. Jeff was attending a Canadian geothermal energy conference and Bob took the train from Seattle to spend several days with his brother. more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

05/20/2009
It's Good to be With Your Family
I'm sitting in the family room of the home of Craig and Sharon Birkby in Edmonds, Washington, enjoying an afternoon cup of tea as I look out over Puget Sound. It is clear and cool today, and the Olympic Mountains on the other side of the water are spectacular. It has been a very good day. more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

05/14/2009
A Wonderful Visit With Luanne
Our niece Luanne Mannon is in Sidney and we're delighted she is here. She has been coming back from her home near Seattle twice a year—spring and fall—to be near her family.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

05/09/2009
Take Time to Smell the Tulips
When we built our home here at Honey Hill in Sidney, we planned the rooms so that the kitchen windows would look out at the cheerful morning sunrise. I especially appreciate the view in May when the tiny green leaves are showing on the trees and the tulips lift their bright heads above the fresh spikes of grass.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

04/29/2009
Some Encouraging Words... It's best to roll with life's punches. Just ask "Amazing Amanda"
A couple of years ago our son Craig and daughter-in-law Sharon gave me a small notebook. "This is for writing down your sayings and favorite thoughts," they told me. Life is always demanding, but the past few weeks have been unusually challenging for our family.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

04/22/2009
Now Amanda is Much Better, too, Thanks
Last week I reported on how I was getting along after my experience with the stroke-like symptoms of a TIA. I'm happy to say that I've continued to improve and am feeling almost like my old self again. On Thursday I did my regular radio broadcast at KMA. That felt like a big step, especially since I love to talk. I have also been practicing using a walker to give me more confidence in getting around.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

04/15/2009
Mom's feeling much better, thanks
This is Evelyn's son Bob writing to explain that in our family, we tell the end of health stories first. And so I'm happy to report that my mother is recovering well from what may have been a TIA—not quite a stroke, but with some of the same symptoms. As I've visited with her yesterday about her recent experience, I realized that the story she was telling me was much like her columns—personal, straight-forward, and about the moment. She was delighted when I suggested that I write down our conversation and share it as this week's Up A Country Lane column.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

04/08/2009
Cooking Up a Traditional Easter Favorite
When I decided to marry Robert I resigned from my work as Director of Youth Activities at the Chicago Temple and returned to southwest Iowa and my mother's home in Shenandoah. For the next two months, Mother and I were busy getting ready for the wedding and filling in information I would need as a new bride, such as cooking.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

04/01/2009
It Being a Minister's Daughter had its Perks over the Years.
Being a minister's daughter had many advantages, but it had disadvantages too. You can judge whether the dinner table conversations about early evangelists counted as one or the other. more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

03/25/2009
It Must Be Springtime in SW Iowa
Each year I am delighted to greet spring as March moves out to make way for April. With the severe winter days behind us we can enjoy every bud, every blossom, every tiny green sprout of grass that comes to brighten our days. I even welcome the dandelions and their bright yellow blooms. more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

03/18/2009
Sounds of bagpipes bring memories...
When my great-great grandfather William came to the United States from Scotland in 1822, I'm sure he brought with him a love of bagpipe music. The Scottish heritage he handed down to future generations continues to stir my blood whenever bagpipes are played.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

03/11/2009
Modern Conveniences Have Changed Way We Do Laundry
Today was wash day. I took the soiled clothes out of the bathroom clothes hamper and carried them through the bedroom and put them into the automatic washer. Right there on the same floor. No steps. No hassle. I poured in the liquid clothes soap, guaranteed to lift soil, stains and keep the colors bright and the whites white. Then I turned on the water and let-her rip.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

03/03/2009
If Stranded, I'd take The Good Book and the Trusty Boy Scout Handbook
Recently The Valley News ran the story that asked people what two books they would want to have along if they were stranded on a desert island. What an interesting question and what fascinating answers people gave the newspaper. more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

02/25/2009
Edelman's Book Suggests we're Neglecting our Children at our own Peril
The Sea is So Wide and My Boat is So Small, Charting a Course for the Next Generation," is a book I'd like to give to every teacher, every politician, every pastor, every parent in the entire world. Author Marian Wright Edelman's theme is that in this huge complex world (the sea) we are neglecting our children (in their small boats) and we are doing so at our own peril.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

02/18/2009
Memories are Precious, but Working with Today's Youth Equally Rewarding
When I was just 15 years old teachers for Sunday school were hard to find so I was drafted to teach a class of kindergarten children. It began my lifelong love of working with children and young people. more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

02/11/2009
February is for Friendships
February is known for its emphasis on Race Relations, Boy Scouts, Valentine's Day and Brotherhood. If we are honest, every month should include such loving concepts. If I could I'd emphasize the friendship aspects of all these celebrations.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

02/04/2009
An Apple a Day (and No Falls)
You have a good report. You should live ten more years if you don't fall down," my doctor said some time ago at the conclusion of my yearly physical.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

01/27/2009
Tom Murphy had Great Role Model
The news of the death of Tom Murphy brought back a myriad of memories about the Murphy family, especially that of Tom's mother, Doris.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

01/20/2009
Our Family's Presidential Memories
Woodrow Wilson was President the year I was born. It was at the conclusion of World War l and a year before women had the right to vote. Since that time, 16 presidents have come and gone. more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

01/13/2009
Winter Weather Brings Fond Memories
The windows on the porch are all frosted over this morning reminding me of a time now long gone. Robert and I lived at Cottonwood Farm set back from the road and up a long country lane that gave this column its name. more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

01/06/2009
It's Back to School for this Columnist...
An e-mail from Cindy Flegenheimer arrived shortly before our family left for Edmonds, Washington, for our holiday visit. The message read "I'm the lucky language arts teacher for two 7th grade classes in Brighton School which your grandson Nick attends. Would you consider coming to talk to my classes about your experiences writing? This would be a wonderful experience for our students and for Nick alike. We'd love to have you visit!" more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

12/30/2008
Snow is Sometimes the Tie that Binds
Our family, scattered as they were this past week across the United States landscape, hunkered down to survive the storms in the way native Iowans know how to do. Son Jeff started out the week in the warmer climes of Arkansas meeting with fellow NCAT workers in that state. more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

12/24/2008
Birkby's Try 'Dinner Ready' for the Holiday
Preparations for holiday dinners can start in many places, in the hands of a grandmother who still enjoys putting a big meal together for her family, in the kitchen of a young couple who are celebrating their first holiday in a new home, and in the happy ease of preparation that can come if you take advantage of a business like "Dinners Ready" if one is near at hand. more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

12/16/2008
How to Make the Perfect Pie Crust
Sydney Sanders, the young woman who is the current owner of my yellow Schwinn bicycle, wanted to learn how to make a good pie crust. Thinking I might know a thing or two about that challenging food preparation, she asked me if I would give her a lesson while Robert and I were visiting in the Seattle area. more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

12/09/2008
Ninety Candles
Twenty years ago on April 1st, 1988, the Birkby family celebrated matriarch Lucretia Birkby's ninetieth birthday at her son Jack's home in Arch Cape, Oregon. The last Saturday of November of 2008, the Birkbys again gathered in Arch Cape to celebrate another ninetieth birthday, that of Lucretia's eldest son, Robert Carter Birkby. more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

12/02/2008
Books Always Make Great Gifts
Among many favorite gifts I have received and given for Christmas are books. This year I am giving several of my favorites to family and friends. For the children on my list I am giving Tasha Tudor books. more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

11/25/2008
It's an Event-Filled Week for the Birkbys
This is an event-filled week. It holds Robert's 90th birthday, a Thanksgiving celebration, and the 59th anniversary of this column. more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

11/18/2008
Holidays Keep Sewing Machine Busy
My sewing machine has been busy the past few days getting things stitched together for my family's Christmas. Since they all seem to have most everything they need, which is good, I make things for their gifts, one of a kind items. more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

11/11/2008
Wartime V-mail Brings with it Wishes for 'Everlasting Peace'
Every year on November 11th our nation observes a moment of silence at 11 A.M., and remembers those who fought and died during times of war. Ninety years ago on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month in the year 1918, the armistice was signed. more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

11/04/2008
Some Election Day thoughts...
At last it is Election Day. For a time I thought this day would never come. The campaign started so early and seemed to go on and on as some of the rhetoric grew more and more intense. What if we did as some countries do and limit the season to just a few months. Would that be any better? more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

10/28/2008
Washington Birkby's Welcome 'Sparky'
The Edmonds, Wash. Birkby family has a new member and life has not been the same since. He is a little white Westie terrier named Sparky by primary owner, our grandson Nick. Craig and Nick found Sparky's owner at a dog show held several weeks ago in Seattle. more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

10/21/2008
Adventures of Robert 'Appleseed'
My husband Robert is a modern day Johnny Appleseed. He has grown fruit trees on his own land and he also watches for apple trees bearing fruit whenever we drive out into the countryside. more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

10/14/2008
Interesting People Sometimes Pop Into our Lives
Interesting people sometimes pop into our lives in unexpected places and at surprising times. Take last Sunday for example when a traveler stopped at our Sidney United Methodist church for services. more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

10/07/2008
Be Careful What You Say to Your Children; Sometimes They Listen!
The year when each of our sons (Bob) (Jeff) (Craig) turned the age of ten, their father said, "Evelyn, it is time for us to plan for him to attend camp this summer." And each time I demurred. "Oh no! He (Bob) (Jeff) (Craig) is much too young to go." "No, he's old enough to begin to become independent." more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

9/30/2008
Shenfest Parade Included Special Moment
WELL! That was fun! Saturday was an absolutely gorgeous Iowa autumn day with a crystal blue sky and warm breezes brushing the leaves in the trees. It was ShenFest time filled with enough excitement to make almost every person in the universe want to come to Shenandoah to experience a day to remember. And hundreds came, probably more.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

9/23/2008
It's Time for a Picnic
It's time for a picnic, let's go to the woods," Grandma Dulcy would say each autumn of her long life. Her family would dutifully put together all the items needed for an outing and off we'd go, usually to Waubonsie State Park four miles south of our homes in Sidney, Iowa.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

9/16/2008
Plenty of Insight Available from Tasha Tudor
A number of years ago a friend gave me one of Tasha Tudor's books. It was called "Take Joy," a title that immediately caught my attention. I can take all the joy I can get!
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

9/09/2008
It's Back to School for the Birkbys
September is the month when students go off to school, people start new jobs, and work assignments take others to various locations around the globe. At least that is the situation our family finds itself in at this moment.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

9/02/2008
A Wonderful Italian Anniversary Celebration
Being part of a big Italian celebration is a great experience, one my quieter Scottish/English background finds fascinating and enjoyable. I recently spent a weekend in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with daughter-in-law Sharon and a large number of her relatives sharing Sharon's parents', Joyce and Richard (Richie) Nicolazzi, 50th wedding anniversary.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

8/26/2008
Warm Weather Coming to a Close...
After our evening meal is finished and the dishes are stacked in the dishwasher, Robert and I often go outdoors and sit on the swing on the east patio. We talk of our plans for the next day and of the activities already scheduled for the coming weeks.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

8/19/2008
SW Iowa Ragtime Festival, Anyone?
As I walked out of the Gathering Place following the final ragtime concert I could almost feel the notes following me home. In fact, those sounds have been rolling around in my head ever since and if they lag a bit I get out the new CDs I purchased that day and play some of those remarkable tunes over again.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

8/12/2008
89 and Looking Forward to the Future
This birthday sneaked up on me. Took me by surprise. Yet, the year past has been a good one filled with fascinating and challenging events--the completion of Witching for William, my 10th published book, speaking engagements and book signings, starting a web site, watching my grandchildren grow and continuing to sew gifts for them.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

8/5/2008
What an Amazing Week!
Dear Diary: I need to update these pages so I won't forget all that has happened this past amazing week. more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

7/29/2008
Thoughts of Sidney Rodeo - and Stella
The picture in the old yellowed newspaper from the August, 1969 Shenandoah Evening Sentinel shows 90-year-old Stella Culley standing on her Sidney, Iowa, porch, shaking out a rug.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

7/22/2008
Beebeetown is More Than Just 'A Tiny Dot on a Map'
Beebeetown is just a dot on the map that was printed last week to show the first town the thousands of bikers the Des Moines Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa extravaganza took once they left Missouri Valley.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

7/15/2008
Memories of Scouting Trips
Robert and I were in Fort Benton, Montana, relaxing and looking out our hotel window watching the Missouri River flowing quietly on its way to, eventually, go by Fremont County and our home in Sidney. Suddenly, son Craig came running down the hall from his room and rushed through our open door.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

7/08/2008
A Twinge of Nostalgia
The first time Robert saw the Birkby Montana wheat farm was in 1951. We had fixed our Ford pickup into a primitive "camper" and, along with our daughter Dulcie Jean and niece Luanne Barnard, had left Iowa for the west.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

6/24/2008
When 'the Time' Comes
Back in the olden days before care centers people who needed extra attention moved in with their relatives--or a relative moved in with them. Maybe, just maybe, they went to what was known as Poor Farms. My how times have changed.
more » ~ from "Valley News Today," Shenandoah, Iowa

 

Evelyn's archived weekly newspaper columns from 1949 through 2005 at the
University of Iowa Digital Library (keyword searchable)

A sample of Evelyn's monthly columns for Kitchen-Klatter Magazine from 1958.

 

^ Back to Top ^