October 13, 1965 Jocie Brooke here reporting from Hollyhill, Kentucky. Don’t you think it’s kind of sad when all I have to report on is a pot of burgoo? Even the word sounds weird. Burgoo. I like words and how sometimes they just seem to sound like they should. Like soft. Even the word sounds soft. Or violet. When that …
Seeding Time – A New Contest to Win Some Books
“Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.” (George Eliot) Do you love the season of autumn? What a great time to get outside and enjoy some sunshine. Maybe sit in a glider on your deck or porch and read a book. Now …
The Saga of the Breast MRI
After I wrote a few weeks ago about being diagnosed with breast cancer, I’ve heard from many of you who have fought the same fight. We do have the one in eight statistic staring us in the face. Many of you have shared with me about your diagnoses and how now you are cancer free. You’ve also given me advice …
A Packed Church for Homecoming
October 6, 1965 Jocie Brooke here reporting from Hollyhill, Kentucky. Whew! Homecoming is over. What a Sunday! Everybody and his brother was there. The church was jam-packed. We even had to set chairs in the aisles and open up the doors to the Sunday School room next to the pulpit to let people sit there. Dad couldn’t stop smiling. He …
A Sister Walk Back in Time
“For there is no friend like a sister in calm or stormy weather; to cheer one on the tedious way, to fetch one if one goes astray, to life one if one totters down, to strengthen whilst one stands.” ~Christina Rosetti Took a walk with my sisters this afternoon and we attempted a selfie. Needed an extension on my arm. …
Birthday Stories and the Birthday Giveaway Winners!
This picture is a few years old. My grandson is taller than me now and I can’t pick up both the little ones anymore, but this is the last birthday photo I have of me. Grandkids make a birthday fun, but now my birthday month has come to an end. It’s October. That means it’s time to pick winners in …
Ham or Not Homecoming Committee
September 29, 1965 Jocie Brooke here reporting from Hollyhill, Kentucky. It’s Homecoming time at our church out in Holly County. Next Sunday. This picture is from a couple of years ago. Dad says he hopes we have that big a crowd this year too. The ladies at church have been all in a stir getting everything ready. Last Saturday they …
A Buttered Up Birthday
Have you ever churned butter? We used to have a butter churn a lot like this one, but somehow with the passing of time, the churn is gone. I suppose it was sold when my mother had a farm auction after my dad died. I don’t remember, but we didn’t find it in the house now. Not that I wanted …
Never Say Never
How many of you have told yourself or others to “never say never?” That’s an especially important thing to remember when you’re talking about your kids as in my kid would NEVER do whatever wrong thing we’re seeing some other kid do. Experienced parents don’t let that my kid will never do words out in the open. But people who …
Ever been to a Fall Festival?
September 23, 1965 Jocie Brooke here reporting from Hollyhill, Kentucky. The first day of fall is here. Football games and Fall Festivals. Have you ever been to a chili supper and fall festival at a school? I used to love to go when I was a kid, but now that I’m fourteen going on fifteen, they aren’t as fun as …









