When I was a child, Dad had a pond below the house by the barn. I used to drop a rock in that pond and watch the circles spread. Small circles at first, but spreading wider and wider. Life experiences are like that rock. They disturb the small surface of the pond and spread, sometimes […]
Retreat to the Front
When life gets to be a bit much, I retreat to the front porch, my grandparents’ porch. It isn’t far–just a thought, a smile away. The porch is cool and shady, the rocking chair is comfortable. I see past the rock steps at the foot of the yard. I see across the road to Pappy’s […]
Ned and a Date with a Possible Murderer
·We’ve had so much rain this month and last! And, who knows about today? Things look mighty damp out there. Reading, writing–both go much better with rain. So, I’m going to grab a second cup of Folgers and see what Ned is doing over in Ednalee this morning. Last night she was about to […]
Saying Good-bye to a Cozy Critter
·(Cover picture is by Jane Barron.) We filled the round booth in the back corner of the cafe. A bouquet of flowers sat on the table. Gathered around were five Cozy Critters, Carolyn, Peg, Nancy, Jane, and me. We laughed, took pictures, and ate. But, at the center of it all was a bit of […]
Frustrations and the Herb Garden
·We’ve had so much rain lately, that I hadn’t been able to stick the last of my little herbs into the ground. I didn’t want to dash out between lightning flashes and plant them in the mud. But, finally, a sunny day. I pulled up the grass and weeds that had dared to poke up […]
When the Storm Becomes Vicious
·This time it was Dayton, Ohio, who received the fury of a turbulent storm. As I read about this, I thought how quickly and without warning people’s lives change; often, that change is forever. In a few moments time, a violent, twisting wind, or rising flood waters devastate lives and rearrange the future. Arkansas and […]