Articles written by Barbara Mahler

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About me - Barbara Mahler

Barb is a sixty something wife, mom, retired nurse, and writer. She's been writing a weekly column and feature articles for Wisconsin newspapers for the past year.

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Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: Life: 19 of 275
Aunt Lois and Uncle Maury farmed eighty acres near Ripon, Wisconsin. The year was 1953 and from the age of ten I left my hometown, Fond du Lac, to visit their place for a week or two each year during the summer vacation. It seemed an idyllic setting.I learned early that the work on a farm is never done. Aunt Lois patiently ta... More..
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: The characters that make up my family: 1 of 9
"Ooooo," she warbled through the narrow crack. "Bless my bars and stars!" I looked up from the top step in time to see one eye before the porch door closed again. Grandma and I smiled at each other and waited. We could hear Aunt Leola fumble to undo the anchor glide for the chain bolt. It held the porch door steady against un... More..
Autos > Antique Cars Automotive history: The early years: 1 of 6
The Packard Motor Car Company began manufacturing their luxury automobiles in 1899. They pioneered many engineering advances still in use in today's vehicles. By 1901, Grandpa's twenty-first year, the name Packard was synonymous with quality. Ingenuity, artistry, and attention to detail made the Packard Motor Car one of the p... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Testimonies: Thoughts on death and living: 5 of 28
"Sandra Rogge." I looked up to see Dr. James standing in the doorway on the other side of the waiting room. He was looking at me and I smiled as I got up and walked toward him. He turned and we walked down the hall to an empty exam room. As a nurse who had often worked with Dr James, I felt comfortable as we stepped into the ... More..
Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: Unusual encounters: 47 of 227
It had been a rainy, humid day and the closed-up cottage took on the smell of old seaweed. The four of us were seated around the small kitchen table eating barbecue sandwiches for supper. Mother wasn't exactly a domestic goddess, but she did manage to keep body and soul together. In her world, cooking took a back seat to more... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Memoirs: Early childhood memories: 27 of 99
There once was a magical kingdom at Fourteenth and Main in my hometown, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. There, at the corner, alongside Blamey's Meat Market and Dille's Grocery was Thiel Drug. A small red neon sign above the door spelled out "T-h-i-e-l". The entrance faced the angle of the street corner and the door was big and heavy... More..
Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: Childhood memories: 56 of 117
He was about six foot three, and a cachectic, one hundred twenty pounds, so it was almost comical to watch him tighten a cinch strap. Blackie had the same wispy appearance, and she stood for the procedure with all fours splayed slightly outward so he didn't tip her over with the sudden upward tugs on the cinch. "Hi, girls. Ro... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Memoirs: The miracle of twin foals: 1 of 1
Little in equine circles engenders more excitement than a new Triple Crown winner or the birth of healthy twin foals. There's no replacement this year for Affirmed, but Shane and Susanne Lilly of Bluff View Ranch in rural Arpin are the proud new owners of surprise twins.This story begins more than a year ago when the Lillys p... More..
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Family stories and memories: 131 of 204
Aunt Lois and Uncle Maury Morgan farmed eighty acres near Ripon, Wisconsin. From the age of ten, I left my hometown to stay at their place for a week or two each year during the summer vacation. It was an idyllic setting.The farm was an old one. There, Maury tended a small herd of dairy cattle, several pigs, a clutch of Rhode... More..
Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: Growing Up: 55 of 78
I spent some of my early childhood years in the house at 417 Linden Street in my hometown, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The character of the neighborhood was such that we kids always had something interesting to see or do. One of the quaint and oddly out-of-place occurrences on Linden Street was the periodic appearance of the ragm... More..