Patty's Place

I have a friend whose daughter needs to learn some HTML for school. She asked me to help because I write for blogs. Well, I’m flattered but writing for a blog is not the same as knowing HTML. When I finished explaining how little HTML I really know, I realized I should learn a few things. So … More Practicing My Citations

A hearty meal is a healthy meal, my grandmother used to say. She grew up during the Great Depression and she had a point. Eating too little is not healthy for children or anyone. But I think the lesson has outlived its usefulness because now every meal we serve appears to lean too much on … More Eating Healthy Does Not Have to Be Expensive

Every week husband or I receive a new email from a service we use. We share responsibility for our bills. We never use autopay. They are constantly suggesting we use autopay. Autopay doesn’t benefit you, the customer. It benefits the merchant. Autopay guarantees they will receive money whether you have it in your account or … More Autopay is Not for Your Benefit

Boxes are the bane of home life. You never have enough and yet you always have too many for the space available. I’ve devoted half my adult life to innovating new ways to store things. I should probably give them to charity. I am a clutter magnet. Husband is a clutter ball. Children are collectors … More I Wish I Had Known This the Last Time I Moved

The husband came home with a late Christmas present: an old vending machine. Oh the things men buy when you give them money! This monstrosity is from the 1950s. It was used to sell snacks. It looks like an aquamarine rust bucket. I immediately named it “Edsel”. If you know what an Edsel is you … More How to Buy a Vending Machine

Ever since I was a little girl trivia games fascinated me.  My mom and I watched game shows on TV every afternoon after I came home from school.  She was great at guessing the answers and I learned as much from Mom as I did at school.  I became interested in other things as I … More Trivia Games Everyone Can Enjoy