What Is Family?

What Is Family?

I want my readers to feel a sense of belonging, a part of the world of Darcy and Flora or Ned. As these intrepid sleuths sit down for coffee or watch the flames dance in the fireplace, or face danger and dreaded possibilities,  I hope that sense of family, friendship, and sharing reaches out from […]

Hats Off to Galveston

Hats Off to Galveston

Yesterday was the anniversary of the 1900 hurricane that wiped out a good portion of the island of Galveston, Texas. I couldn’t let that date go by without mentioning it. If you haven’t read much about it in history, let me tell you that it is an amazing, true story of devastation and horror and […]

A Memory Stone

A Memory Stone

It rests in my herb garden, a memory stone, reminding me of where it came from and the reason it is here. It’s a reminder of a time past–a slower, quieter time when life was different from the way life is now. It brings memories of the strong, good people who owned the farm where […]

Celebrating Labor Day

A question–why is a day we don’t have to work called Labor Day? Shouldn’t it be called Non-Labor Day or Fun Day or Put Your Feet Up and Read a Book Day? This Labor Day will be different for many because of the new regulations. Not so different for me.  Each Labor Day, as an […]

Apple Picking Time

Apple Picking Time

In September, I begin to think about apples. At Manos Meadows, we had two apple trees. One was a dwarf Jonathan apple tree in the yard. Apples from this tree made delicious pies. Sometimes, I’d pick them before they got completely ripe, wash and core them, slice them, and put them and an adequate amount […]

Tell Me a Story

Tell Me a Story

Most of us like to listen to a good story. Some of my earliest memories are of Dad’s stories about when he was young, and then, Mom’s stories which we put into a couple of Etta Bend books. Storytelling is the oldest form of entertainment. Can’t you just see early day people gathered in round […]