A message that is spoken quietly with a smile at the end is more powerful than shouting with a raised fist. Love means I am more interested in your well-being than I am in my own. Even if something is true, if it is hurtful, I will not repeat it. Each state should take care […]

Look What They Started
Yesterday, descendants of Ben Willis and Levi Latty flocked to Tahlequah to honor our ancestors and get better acquainted with each other. Today is Father’s Day, a good time to remember the values, the strength of character, and the love of family these men left us. Many fathers were in the room; men who worked hard for […]

Roamin’ in the Gloamin’
Does anybody possibly remember a very old song entitled, “Just Roamin’ in the Gloamin’”? It’s a Scottish song popular more than a hundred years ago but I still know it! Now, what does that tell you? Since the “gloaming” is twilight, I did my roaming before then, actually. And, I didn’t roam far–just my front […]

Books to Cut Their Teeth On
I ended that title with a preposition but it sounds stilted to say, “Books on which to cut their teeth.” Don’t you think? Anyway, sometimes what with all the iPads and tablets and laptops, I fear for the good, old-fashioned book, especially children’s books. That is, I fear until I go into a library or […]

Coffee Mugs and Early Morning
I sit at my computer, looking at the sun slant across my neighbor’s lawn and am grateful they didn’t cut their blue spruce when, a few years ago, it didn’t look too well. I don’t think blue spruces particularly favorite warm climates, preferring states cooler than Arkansas. However, this tree looks beautiful particularly in winter […]

Nettie’s Mansion
For some reason, houses have always fascinated me, especially old houses, houses with character. On Pinterest, I have a board named “Houses With Character.” Pinterest.com/blanchemanos On that board is a house that is rather like Uncle Javin’s in my soon-to-be published book, Moonlight Can Be Murder. It is the house labeled “old Victorian homes”. Except, […]

