Thanksgiving is near, and I am gearing up for the big day. I can hardly wait to see my family, and this year will be extra special because my brother Doug, who has not been home for ages, will be joining us. He will get to meet my two littlest grandchildren for the first time.Continue reading “Exploring Thanksgiving Traditions”
Tag Archives: children’s books
An Author Celebration!
The wonderful thing about being part of a critique group is the chance to grow with other writers. I’ve enjoyed working with many critique partners over the years, and though some of us are scattered across the United States and only meet face to face on ZOOM, several have become my very dear friends. EachContinue reading “An Author Celebration!”
Time Traveling on Trains
My husband and I traveled to Boone, Iowa, to ride an old train this week. The Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad operates over an 11-mile section of the former Fort Dodge, Des Moines & Southern Railroad, between Boone and Wolf, Iowa, a former junction with the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway. Visitors can see severalContinue reading “Time Traveling on Trains”
Writing Contests: A Rite of Spring for Children’s Authors
So many of my blog posts revolve around the inspiration I get from family, childhood memories, and my time in nature. These are the things that motivate me to write children’s books. But I am also greatly encouraged by all those wonderful people who have been in the same difficult writing trenches and have climbedContinue reading “Writing Contests: A Rite of Spring for Children’s Authors”
Spring Chickens
Now that my husband and I have returned to rural life, my old habits from previous years of country living are returning to me. Ever since I first lived in the country about twenty-five years ago, I have raised chickens and ducks for a short time. Five years ago, we moved to be closer toContinue reading “Spring Chickens”
Finding Hope in Hard Times
Illness, home repairs, and despair over America’s current political antics descended on me like a heavy grey cloud this month. So, I missed the boat in posting a Valentine’s Day-related essay. Thankfully, I’m back in writing mode now, and the slightly longer days of sunlight and the first spring songs of birds have had aContinue reading “Finding Hope in Hard Times”
A Year of Firsts
One year ago, on January 15th, during a nasty winter storm, my sweet little grandson, Owen, came into the world. I remember the anxiety I felt because, for days, heavy snow and ice were forecast. My daughter and her husband lived in the country and had a 30-minute drive to the hospital for the baby’sContinue reading “A Year of Firsts”
Without Words
I had just been looking at photos of my beautiful grandchildren on the Frameo that my daughter and son-in-law gave us for Christmas a couple of years ago. It’s a bittersweet gift for which I’m grateful. Sweet –because I love having photos to glance at every day, making me feel like my family is near. Continue reading “Without Words”
Little Seeds Read 