Holey Moley

By Pat Nelson, January 23, 2008
Reprinted with permission, South County News/The Daily News, Longview, WA
Gardeners like Woodland’s sandy soil because digging is easy and rocks are seldom encountered. Moles like it too. That became obvious after I landscaped a few years ago. Almost before I had time to stand back and admire the yard, brown [...]

A return to sweet and simple things

By Pat Nelson, January 2, 2008
Reprinted with permission, South County News/The Daily News, Longview, WA
I see a diet in my future, but today, I still have a few pieces of rich, dark chocolate in a box, a Christmas gift from our nephew, Paul, who lives in Amsterdam. When Paul said he was coming for a [...]

Recycle trees through Jan. 10

By Pat Nelson, January 9, 2008
Reprinted with permission, South County News/The Daily News, Longview, WA  
When you take down your Christmas tree, the story doesn’t end there. Your tree still has to be undecorated and disposed of, and it usually leaves confetti made up of needles and glitter and possibly a few pieces of broken ornaments [...]

Mother Nature gets a helping hand

By Pat Nelson
January 16, 2008
Reprinted with permission, South County News/The Daily News, Longview, WA

Rain-soaked rows stretch across the 125 acres of fertile farmland at the Holland America Bulb Farm at 1066 South Pekin Rd. in Woodland. It’s hard to image now, looking at the brown rows glistening in the sunlight after a morning shower, that in [...]

New Book on Depression…Written by my Writing Instructor!

January 2, 2008
Today is an exciting day for my writing instructor Julie Fast! Her book “Get it Done While You’re Depressed” was released today, and she’s working hard to achieve a high ranking on Amazon. See her letter below mine. Maybe you can help.

Julie, whose bipolar disorder kept her from working until she created and [...]

South County News team gets in holiday spirit

By Pat Nelson
Reprinted with permission, South Sounty News/Daily News, Longview, WA

Reporter Leila Summers brought South County News contributors together in Woodland on Dec. 18 for a Christmas party at Los Pepe’s restaurant. When I entered the room, I saw two familiar faces: those of Noel and Nancy Johnson.Noel’s Web site, www.lewisriver.com, is a leading source [...]

Thankul for Memories

By Pat Nelson, November 28, 2007
Reprinted with permission, South County News/Daily News, Longview, WAWhen I was growing up, my mother would get up Thanksgiving morning around 5 a.m.to “put the bird in the oven.” She had worked hard the day before making pies and preparing side dishes. In those days, you made your own pies [...]

Christmas angels give gifts

By Pat Nelson December 19, 2007
Reprinted with permission, South County News/Daily News, Longview, WA
Weeks of effort by volunteers for the Woodland Community Center culminated in a two-hour gift-giving party Saturday at the Woodland High School Commons.Volunteer Portia Brown, who is on the center’s board of directors, headed up the giving tree portion of the event. [...]