Clik here to view.
Blackberries – the Taste of Summer
Blackberry: nature’s candy at its finest. It’s blackberry season here on the farm. Just got back from picking some of those blackberries here on the farm. We got out buckets mostly full before the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
1st Sunday Devotional – Patience
“Have patience with all things but first of all with yourself.” —Francis de Sales All things includes all things. Even dogs. And especially Frankie. Many of you have probably smiled at the story you...
View ArticleClik here to view.
In the Good Ol’ Summertime
Did you ever go to the creek to cool off in the summertime? We’ve been having some hot summertime days around here and plenty of other places are having even hotter days. On those hot days when I was...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A Little Q & A Just for Fun
Time to feed the chickens Some years ago, I did an online interview with a site called The Book Club Network. I came across that tonight while looking for something to share here on my blog. When...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Questions Kids Ask about Writing
“Any man who knows all the answers most likely misunderstood the questions.” That’s a quote that has a lot of truth. Nobody has all the answers, but writers can get asked some interesting stuff. A few...
View ArticleClik here to view.
That Backspace Key & More
Since I’ve been sharing some questions and answers from some interviews and writer talks, I invited you all to ask a question if you wanted to. Lee took me up on that invitation and asked, “Do your...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Mr. Jim and Tinka
I sent out a newsletter last week with some smiles. a giveaway, and an invitation for readers to send me a story about their favorite furry buddy. A few readers took me up on it, and as always I’ve...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A Horse Named China
Photo in the Public Domain Photo in the Public Domain Did you watch Roy Rogers on television back in the day when the good guys always won and Roy Rogers was, without a doubt, one of the good guys?...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Everybody Loves a Puppy
When we see the term “puppy love,” we generally think of young love, but you know, I think plenty of youngsters have experiencec puppy love in a more literal way. I know I did when I got my first...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A Lesson from Crows – 1st Sunday Devotional
When a crow says an intelligent thing, chickens may laugh at it. This is the laughing of the sand castles at the powerful waves! ~Mehmet Murat Ildan I love birds. I like watching them fly in and out...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Comfort of Cherished Pets
When I recently sent out a newsletter with an invitation for readers to tell me about their favorite pets. Most of those who entered my giveaway didn’t share storeis, but some of them did. I enjoyed...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Down Home Mountain and Country Lingo
One of the things I’ve enjoyed when I head to the hills for a new story is being able to hear my characters talking. I grew up country. Not mountain. But many of the expressions I’ve come across when...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Battery Free Fun
Did you ever play with a June bug? That’s the bug in the photo. I don’t like those little brown hardshell bugs that are drawn to lighted doors or windows at night. They used to find a way to get...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Outtakes from The Song of Sourwood Mountain
Illustration from The Circuit Rider: A Tale of the Heroic Age by Edward Eggleston, depicting a Methodist circuit rider. 1906 – Public domain When writing a book, I, as do all writers, need to keep the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Chicory, aka Cornflowers
This is a common flower here on the farm, but one I’m finding out tonight that I didn’t know all that much about. I grew up calling it cornflower, maybe because it’s a weed common in corn fields....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Bringing a Character to Life
When I begin down the road to a new story, usually that trip starts with deciding who is going to be walking that road with me. I have to come up with characters to bring my story to life. For my...
View ArticleClik here to view.
When a Decision is a Quandary
“One doesn’t have to know everything about one’s destination when one begins a journey.” (Quote from The Song of Sourwood Mountain) I shared about how I helped Mira come to life to share her story in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
1st Sunday Devotional – Thank a Farmer
The farmer has to be an optimist or he wouldn’t still be a farmer. – Will Rogers Most of you who read my posts here know I’m a farm girl. I grew up on a farm and have lived on a farm all my life....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Why Read Fiction?
Several years ago, I did an interview with a writer who said he never reads fiction. He didn’t like fiction. He wanted to read true stories and obviously thought fiction a waste of time. I have to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Treasured Memories on Grandparents’ Day
Nobody can do for little children what Grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle starcust over the lives of little children. ~Alex Haley Today was Grandparents’ Day. It’s not something that is...
View Article