By Esther C. Baird Published in the Boston Parent’s Paper Magazine in March 2007: I’d never been called for jury duty. Probably because I’d moved every two years since I was 18. So I knew it was simply a matter of time before the system caught up with me in my stable Northshore existence. And…
Author: Esther Baird
Vermont Invasion Yields Chills and Thrills
By Esther Baird First Published in the Beverly Citizen, March 07, 2007 My friend pulled into our driveway in the largest non-commercial vehicle I’d ever seen — some sort of Suburban/Expedition/Destroyer. “What is this?” I gawked. “Yeah,” my friend sighed. “I wanted a sturdy rental . . . but I didn’t mean this.” We were…
A Sticky Project for a Crafty Mom
By Esther Baird First Published in the Beverly Citizen, February 21, 2007 Last Tuesday I was ‘Craft Mom’ at my daughter’s preschool class. The teacher reminded me the Thursday before. “So, are you still planning on doing a craft with the children next week?” A craft? Me? Was that what that list outside my daughter’s door had meant?
Answering Duty’s Call, But Which One?
By Esther Baird First Published in the Beverly Citizen, February 07, 2007 I’ve never been called for jury duty. Probably because I’ve moved every two years since I was 18. So I knew it was simply a matter of time before the system caught up with me in my stable, Beverly existence. And I was…
Freecycling: Converting Trash to Treasure
By Esther Baird First Published in the Beverly Citizen, January 24, 2007 Last summer I suggested that parents unite to redistribute their oversized and underused plastic toys. I recommended some system that involved signal flags if I recall. A friend remarked, “You know Esther, www.freecycle.org already does that — except they are online and you…
Everyone Geneva in 2007
OK, time for New Year’s resolutions. Hmmm, let me think while I eat these double-stuffed Oreos. Oh . . .sorry, I didn’t mean I was thinking about resolutions for myself. I plan on eating whatever I want and wearing my most comfy clothes, but then I guess it’s time to let you all know that…
Lo, the Fairies Led the Three Snowmen
By Esther C. Baird First Published in the Beverly Citizen, December 21, 2006 Well it’s Dec. 12 and I’m writing this beneath a grove of palm trees. The warm sand of Florida’s eastern coast is a few yards away — because no matter what commercials show, taking your laptop onto a beach is a recipe…
Beverly Holiday House Secrets
By Esther C. Baird First published in the Beverly Citizen, December 07, 2006 I realize that there are many stressful things during the holidays: Gift lists, family road trips, children’s Christmas programs and what have you. But one thing that really consumes me is the house on route 62 just before 128 with the zillions…
Where There’s Smoke There’s Fire – Maybe
By Esther C. Baird First Published in the Beverly Citizen, November 22, 2006 This year we are hosting Thanksgiving. In 10 years of marriage we’ve never hosted so we are long overdue this responsibility. The upside is that we finally get to use our good china and cook in our newly remodeled kitchen. The downside…
Wearing a Vest Has Her Down
By Esther C. Baird/ First Published in the Beverly Citizen, November 9, 2006 The house I grew up in, outside of Philadelphia, was built in 1773. And while electricity and plumbing made their way in, modern heat did not. We heated exclusively by wood stove. As a child, one of my regular chores was to go…