Yesterday afternoon was mostly cloudy with a chance for rain. But gathered around the old cherry wood table, we three women did our best to lighten up with lemon cake and coffee. Jane brought the lemon cake; I provided the coffee and Jane, Peg, and I lightened up the day with laughter. Peg brought […]

Starting Points
Sometimes I think back to Etta Bend, to the middle child in a family of three girls and one boy who grew up there, as the starting point for my family, at least for my mother’s branch. Then, of course Dad’s side had another starting point in Mena, Arkansas. From those beginnings came (so far) five, […]

Strawberries, Sugar, and Cream
Curly-locks! Curly-locks! Wilt thou be mine? Thou shalt not wash dishes, nor yet feed the swine; But sit on a cushion, and sew a fine seam, and feed upon strawberries, sugar and cream! This nursery rhyme is from long ago, maybe in the days of King Charles and written as a satire, but […]

When the Quiet Becomes a Bit Much
It’s awfully quiet in my little corner of the world this morning. A small breeze stirs the maple leaves. Nemo snoozes, the refrigerator clicks on, and even the birds are still. The dog walker strides up the hill, her furry, four-legged charge trotting to keep up. No lights shine from any windows besides mine. My […]

Thoughts From An Antique Little Girl
I have an appreciation for the word antique in recent years that I’ve never had before. I looked up antique in the dictionary. It means, in part (only the positive part) “desirable because of its age, beauty, and rarity…” An antique also represents a previous era in human society. I think, although I’m […]

The Magical Mystique of Mushrooms
I don’t believe in fairies. Of course, I don’t. They show up only in children’s stories of years ago, those magical little folk who can zip through the air, who appear and disappear at will. And yet, when I wandered through the yard yesterday, I noticed the loveliest mushrooms that had appeared out of […]

