Column

Robert’s column

Robert Barron column: Some people have serious gambling addictions

Sean sat plugging money into the machine for hours until he lost almost half

Robert’s column
Rubbing the ends of a cucumber helps remove bitterness. (Metro Creative Services photo)

Mary Lowther column: Habits, folklore and old wives’ tales

If anyone can prove that seeds do grow better during certain phases of the moon, please enlighten me

  • Jan 14, 2023
Rubbing the ends of a cucumber helps remove bitterness. (Metro Creative Services photo)
Jessica Peters is a reporter with the Abbotsford News, and an invasive cervical cancer survivor.

OPINION: Cervical cancer awareness didn’t seem important to me, until it was

January is cervical awareness month and a time to understand how devastating the disease really is

Jessica Peters is a reporter with the Abbotsford News, and an invasive cervical cancer survivor.
Tim Schewe

Drivesmart column: Overdriving low beam headlights

The result is a speed about 40 kilometres per hour

  • Jan 8, 2023
Tim Schewe
Robert’s column

Robert Barron column: Snow days used to be an opportunity for kids to make money

A group of friends and myself would collect our snow shovels and begin going door-to-door

Robert’s column
Saving seed from your own plants can be labour intensive, but it’s worth the effort. (Gazette file)

Mary Lowther column: Saving your own seed worth the effort

One should pick out the best two or more plants and mark them in some way

  • Jan 7, 2023
Saving seed from your own plants can be labour intensive, but it’s worth the effort. (Gazette file)
Tim Schewe

Drivesmart column: Beware the morning after

You may still be legally drunk hours afterwards

  • Jan 1, 2023
Tim Schewe
Some of my seeds saved to plant in 2023. (Mary Lowther photo)

Mary Lowther column: Something to think about when snow too deep to find the wheelbarrow

New seed catalogues will be available soon and I’ll have to contain myself to stay within my budget

  • Dec 31, 2022
Some of my seeds saved to plant in 2023. (Mary Lowther photo)
Tim Schewe

Drivesmart column: Use all your lights!

Driving instructor suggested to develop habit of turning all lights on when you start vehicle

  • Dec 25, 2022
Tim Schewe
Robert’s column
Robert’s column
Wall O’ Water from last year. Each tube is filled with water before placing around new tomato transplants to keep them warmer overnight. (Mary Lowther photo)

Mary Lowther column: With snow on the ground, time to plan next year’s garden

My neglected binder reappears this time of year to be dusted off and revised

  • Dec 24, 2022
Wall O’ Water from last year. Each tube is filled with water before placing around new tomato transplants to keep them warmer overnight. (Mary Lowther photo)
Tim Schewe

Drivesmart Column: If you can’t see, you can’t go!

Ignore drivers behind you that would like to force the issue

  • Dec 18, 2022
Tim Schewe
Robert’s column

Robert Barron column: Search for parents goes awry

Deeply entrenched Catholic upbringing glued us to our chairs

Robert’s column
Kale Colcannon is a great winter dish. (Mary Lowther photo)

Mary Lowther column: Getting the most from your garden in the winter

A good cold frame can greatly extend your growing season in both directions

  • Dec 17, 2022
Kale Colcannon is a great winter dish. (Mary Lowther photo)
Jessica Peters is a reporter at the Abbotsford News and a big fan of Father Christmas.

COLUMN: The magic of Christmas isn’t so unbelievable, is it?

A deep adoration of Santa Claus and everything he represents has led to a life of loving Christmas

Jessica Peters is a reporter at the Abbotsford News and a big fan of Father Christmas.
Tim Schewe

Drivesmart column: The spare tire

Knowing where to find and how to use the jack and tools before a flat occurs is a good practice

  • Dec 11, 2022
Tim Schewe
Robert’s column

Robert Barron column: A little faith in people can go a long way

Even those many consider to be lost causes can turn themselves around

Robert’s column
Labelling and packaging seed for sowing in the spring is a good winter chore. (Gazette file)

Mary Lowther column: The paperwork of gardening

I check each seed packet for recommended days to start harvesting and write that in my agenda book

  • Dec 10, 2022
Labelling and packaging seed for sowing in the spring is a good winter chore. (Gazette file)
Tim Schewe

Drivesmart column: Tire pressure key to safe driving

You cannot tell if your tires are properly inflated just by looking at them

  • Dec 4, 2022
Tim Schewe
A few pomanders; the orange is ready to hang but the others haven’t dried and shrunk enough yet. The quince started off banana yellow but turned brown after being poked with cloves. (Mary Lowther photo)

Mary Lowther column: Making Christmas gifts from garden produce

I am including the usual canned nectarines, relish and tomato sauce

  • Dec 3, 2022
A few pomanders; the orange is ready to hang but the others haven’t dried and shrunk enough yet. The quince started off banana yellow but turned brown after being poked with cloves. (Mary Lowther photo)