Andrew Jackson pulled his half-ton truck up to the front of the machine shop on the Jackson farmyard. He reached for the key, but then sat for a minute without turning it, waiting for Mick Jagger to finish belting out “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” on the radio. “Some songs are too good to turn off in
Secrets to a happy marriage in the age of technology, and football
The Jacksons from the Dec. 3 issue of the Manitoba Co-operator
Politics, hairstyles and the glaucoma connection
The Jacksons from the Nov. 19 issue of the Manitoba Co-operator
Brady Jackson set his beer down on the arm of the bright-yellow Adirondack chair in his parents’ sunroom and grinned. “Oh, there’s going to be some changes folks,” he said. “We young people have voted and you aging hippies are going to have to get used to a new way of doing things.” “Like what,
Drama teachers, mailroom clerks and politics
The Jacksons: From the Nov. 5 issue of the Manitoba Co-operator
The early-morning sun slanted in through the eastern windows of the Jacksons’ sunroom, turning to fiery gold the leaves of the single birch tree outside, alone among the oak trees already barren and looking ready for winter. Andrew and Rose were ensconced in their favourite chairs, each with a cup of fresh coffee beside them,
Thoughts on a long election campaign finally coming to an end
The Jacksons: From the Oct. 22 issue of the Manitoba Co-operator
Andrew Jackson whistled a cheerful tune as he walked briskly up the sidewalk, away from his house, in the direction of Main Street. Sparrows, chickadees and redpolls launched themselves out of the hedges as he approached, only to return seconds later, chirping their displeasure, when he had passed. A tiny dog yapped at him from
“It’ll be a good Thanksgiving… if the potatoes are edible”
The Jacksons: From the Oct. 8 issue of the Manitoba Co-operator
This year Thanksgiving came early. At least it did for the Jackson family. With the kids all grown up and saddled with spouses and boyfriends and kids, finding five hours where everybody was available at the same time turned out to be like drawing up the regular-season schedule for the NHL. Complicated, in other words.
Cookies for breakfast? Maybe just for dessert
The Jacksons: From the Sept. 24 issue of the Manitoba Co-operator
Rose Jackson sat at the dining room table in the old Jackson farmhouse, a book propped up on the table in front of her and a steaming cup of coffee beside it. She paused in her reading to gaze out of the window, where the warm autumn sun lit up the big old elm tree
The ‘goodnight’ app and patent trolls
The Jacksons: From the Sept. 10 issue of the Manitoba Co-operator
Hi Dad.” Jennifer Jackson pulled her hair back into a ponytail and rubbed sleep out of her eyes with the back of her hands as she crossed the dining room, heading for the coffee pot on the counter. Andrew looked up from the newspaper he had spread out on the table and gave his daughter
Elections and good vs. evil on the Internet
The Jacksons: From the August 27 issue of the Manitoba Co-operator
Andrew Jackson ambled up the street in the direction of the coffee shop, adjusting the peak of his John Deere hat to keep the sun out of his eyes, and nodding to the few people who drove by on their various Saturday errands. He paused at the door to the hardware store, then turned to
Andrew Jackson, genius and problem-solver
The Jacksons: From the August 13 issue of the Manitoba Co-operator
Rose Jackson carried her coffee cup and her toasted bagel into the new sunroom at the back of the house and headed for the bright-blue Adirondack chair facing the backyard. Andrew was already seated, steam curling up from the coffee cup on the arm of his chair and a newspaper spread out on his lap.
Love, and the secret to good barbeque
The Jacksons: From the July 30 issue of the Manitoba Co-operator
There is nothing better than the smell of charred meat!” Brady Jackson sat down in a chair downwind from the barbecue and inhaled deeply. His wife Amanda sat down next to him. “That does smell amazing,” she agreed. “It’s all in the coals,” said Andrew, who was standing over the barbecue, holding a stopwatch. “Hickory-infused
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
