“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me.” That’s an old adage that I’m sure you’ve heard many times. You may had said it yourself or told your kids to say it when you were trying to get them past some hurtful words aimed at them at school or on the playground. I doubt …
Don’t you just love a great love story? You all know how much I enjoy how you share your stories with me when I have a contest of some kind. Your stories make me the big winner in those contests. (I’ll be having a birthday contest soon.) I enjoy hearing from you in between contests too and I’m always glad …
August 10, 1966 Jocie Brooke here reporting from Hollyhill, Kentucky. Here we are about two weeks away from starting school. Scary! Summer is sliding away into the shadows. My trip with Wes last week was about the only fun thing I’ve done this summer. Well, I did finish writing Bailey’s Bug. Guess that was something. I even got it all …
“It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men’s hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air, that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit.” (Robert Louis Stevenson) Last week I shared with you that I’d been on vacation to Edisto Beach in South Carolina. …
My Shaker book, The Blessed, is on e-book sale at 99 cents or less for a limited time. When the less than a dollar price disappears, the e-book will still be available for a reduced price for a week or so. So if you e-read and have ever considered giving one of my Shaker books a try, you might consider …
August 3, 1966 Jocie Brook here reporting from Hollyhill, Kentucky. Have you ever ridden on a motorcycle? For a long trip? Your legs can go to sleep and your hair blows around if you don’t put it in a ponytail. Sometimes a bug hits your arm. I love it. I never, never thought Dad would let me take a long …
The Beach Ah, the beach. The relentless crash of the waves. The beauty of their power. The joy of throwing your body into the surf. The happiness of sitting in the sun or walking along on the wet sand letting the ocean nip at your toes. The fun of hearing a child giggle at the first touch of the waves. …
What did you love best about summer when you were a kid? This year when The Innocent released I had a fun giveaway contest and invited readers to share some summer stories with me. I’m always blessed when I get to read these firsthand experiences from you all. Toni was like me in that she enjoyed playing with her cousins. …
Simple Gifts “Tis the gift to be simple, tis the gift to be free.” That has to be the best known line of any Shaker song. Many people change the wording a bit when they sing the song and say “Tis a gift to be simple,” but that little change of the to a does make a difference in the …
July 20, 1966 Jocie Brooke here reporting from Hollyhill, Kentucky. I’m a little itchy tonight. That’s not right. I’m a lot itchy tonight! Have you ever gone blackberry picking and come home with more chiggers than berries? I think I did this weekend. I love blackberries. They have that special tart taste like no other berry and a blackberry cobbler …