bonniekchapman

Disney Magic; Making dreams come true

Much to my chagrin, my run as a North State Voices columnist will finish with this entry. When mentioning this to friends and family, many have asked what I will do next. My immediate thought echo’s the sentiments of winning Olympians and championship sports teams and is spoken with pure gleeful joy; “I’m going toContinue reading “Disney Magic; Making dreams come true”

I am a runner-and you can be too!

I am a runner. These are words I literally never thought I would string together in describing myself. I always hated running. I was the girl who walked the mile test in junior high P.E. I never played an organized sport unless you count my elementary school league championship in handball. To be clear, I’mContinue reading “I am a runner-and you can be too!”

Girls on the Run Gets Empowerment Moving

Hands reach to pile one atop another in a loose circle of our team of 11 girls at Neal Dow Elementary. Faces shine from the perspiration of running and from the afterglow of having completed practice for the day. They chant in unison, hands bouncing to the beat of the words. Quietly, louder, then shouting;Continue reading “Girls on the Run Gets Empowerment Moving”

RV Life; Another Pandemic Pivot for the Better

Featured Post On the Road Again… We put on our sunglasses, click our seatbelts, and prepare to launch in our new motorhome. Once ready, we start to belt out “On the Road Again.” Despite the fact that we are neither country music nor Willie Nelson fans, this catchy song has many lyrics that now ringContinue reading “RV Life; Another Pandemic Pivot for the Better”

On July 4, Eat All of the Ice Cream You Want

It’s 7:08 a.m. and I stand at the counter with a pint of Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia and a spoon. Without a doubt, it’s the 4th of July. Our family tradition decrees that on this holiday, ice cream is allowed in unlimited quantities, all day long. The unbridled gluttony begins before breakfast and wrapsContinue reading “On July 4, Eat All of the Ice Cream You Want”

Oh the Sting of it; The Bear and The Bee

An eerie orange pall filled the still dark sky, despite it being a time of day when bright daylight is the norm. It looked creepy and surreal and was way too familiar, reminiscent of the horrific Camp Fire skies. The Bear Fire had flared the day before and was searing the land in southern ButteContinue reading “Oh the Sting of it; The Bear and The Bee”

A Great Getaway with a Posse of Goats

As I jogged up the Vallombrosa trail from the One Mile parking lot in lower Bidwell Park, around this time last year, I was delighted to see the low white fencing that penned in a herd of goats. I had fallen in love with these underbrush devouring, tree climbing, peaceful creatures that have become anContinue reading “A Great Getaway with a Posse of Goats”

You Can’t Put a Price on Our Little Free Library

Little House and Little Libraries I ease my car up to the curb, parallel parking adjacent to the Little Free Library at DeGarmo Park as I do every week. I hoist my overflowing book bag out of the backseat. In my mind, this spot should be an actual parking space with a painted “reserved forContinue reading “You Can’t Put a Price on Our Little Free Library”