My America

My grandparents once owned a store and lived in a house across the road.  I remember being in it as a child and it seemed awfully big, dark, and exciting. The candy counter and the bright-colored sweets with the scales my grandfather used to measure a penny’s worth, the tiny brown candy sacks, were a […]

Dangerous Encounter

The sun played hide and seek with the clouds, casting flitting shadows across the overgrown lawn as I got out of my car and walked to the back. Amazingly, remnants of my old rope swing still clung to a sturdy limb of the oak. The rope was frayed and gray, looking like it would disintegrate […]

Least Said, Soonest Mended

Least Said, Soonest Mended

“Least said, soonest mended” is an idiom I think of a lot. It’s useful in many situations. Something is more easily forgotten if it’s not mentioned; feelings are less apt to be hurt if thoughts are kept to oneself; words once spoken can’t be taken back; angry words left unspoken don’t have to be forgiven. […]

My Grandfather’s Barn

“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8) That verse reminds me of my grandpa, Levi Latty. I can picture him going to his barn to milk, morning and evening, […]

Lessons From Nemo

    Food is good. Enjoy it. Any time is a good time for a nap. If you don’t catch a squirrel today, there’s always tomorrow. A short walk restores the soul. Sniff everybody; if they smell Ok, they’re a friend. Things that can’t be avoided are best dealt with graciously. (No snapping or growling.) […]

Courtesy of Calendar

Today, spring sweeps in with flowered skirts. She is a capricious thing, apt to change her mind on the spur of the moment. Today, here in NW Arkansas, spring is trying on some warmer temperatures, but wait’ll tomorrow…she may show her stormy side.  Spring sometimes just doesn’t show us her good manners, so we have […]