Janet and Bob Halliday in Lover, England – SWNS While other places go all-out on decorations at Christmas and Halloween, one village called Lover pretty much owns Valentine’s Day. Dubbed the world’s most romantic village, it has drawn visitors from across the UK to send Valentine’s Day cards with a special postmark. Thousands of cards … Read more
– credit, Iconic Media, via SWNS A long-lost sport once feared dead is being dusted off and played again in the villages where it was born. “Knurr-and-spell” was once played widely in pubs across England’s South Yorkshire, but had all but vanished by the 1970s. The quirky ball game which bears a similarity to golf … Read more
Adeline Sutich and Maeve Ritchotte in their igloo – reprinted with permission While millions of Americans hunkered down in their homes after ice storms encrusted the mid-Atlantic, two young teens got busy building community spirit—by building an igloo. They constructed their igloo in front of a house that was destroyed by a house fire a … Read more
Champion Scrabble player Natalie Zolty – SWNS A math teacher recently became the top female Scrabble champion in the UK—scoring 1,000 points more than her opponents. Natalie Zolty outsmarted scrabble grandmaster Gary Oliver to claim the top spot by playing the word ‘zendiks’, which means heretics or unbelievers. The 61-year-old won the top division during … Read more
House Finch – Credit: James Tornetta via Cornell Lab of Ornithology / Macaulay Library Do you love bluebirds, finches, and chickadees? Why not count birds in your community with your kids and friends during the Great Backyard Bird Count in 2026. Our mental health is nurtured by nature—and it will take under an hour to … Read more
Mark and Carol Benson renovated The Old Station in North Yorkshire – SWNS A train-crazy couple have spent the last 30 years restoring a derelict railway station in England to its former glory. Mark and Carol Benson spent tens of thousands to transform Ebbertson Station in North Yorkshire, after purchasing the property in 1996–four decades … Read more
Robin snuggles with photographer Fay Wadsworth In England -SWNS A wildlife lover shared her heart-warming encounter with a robin last Monday. Photographer Fay Wadsworth from Sheffield, England, was visiting a park in Doncaster when the friendly bird came over and nestled right atop her camera near the warmth of her jacket. “I was blessed by … Read more
Carter Allen proposes to girlfriend via Shrek mashup (see Prince in bottom left) –SWNS A guy proposed to his fiancé by editing himself into the wedding scene of Shrek—a perfect way to totally surprise his girlfriend, and honor their love for the movie. Carter Allen spent five hours adding a clip of himself seamlessly running … Read more
Confetti in Times Square January 1 by Anthony Quintano / Flickr (CC BY 2.0) As the famous New York City ball dropped downward to deliver 2026, a deluge of hopes, dreams, and wishes rained down in Times Square. I wish for more love and kindness in 2026… I wish for a good year with good … Read more
Credit © Ursula McDermott / Queens Zoo The Queens Zoo released a short, heart-warming video this week featuring two young Andean bears having fun with a tree branch. The video captured by a guest at the zoo shows the moment the bears found a limb and discovered how to turn it into a playful see-saw. … Read more