No one comes here by accident. ~Frontier Nurse saying These Healing Hills is the first book that I set in the Eastern Kentucky Appalachian Mountains and featured history of the region. In hunting for a new story idea I read about Mary Breckinridge and how she started the Frontier Nursing Service and brought midwives to go up into the hills …
When life gives you too much snow, make snow angels. One of my favorite snow scenes that I almost forgot about when I started thinking about sharing snow scenes from my books is from The Believer, my second Shaker story. In this book I wanted to share more about the Shakers’ history and beliefs. They were very rule centered. They had …
“It is the life of the crystal, the architect of the flake, the fire of the frost, the soul of the sunbeam. This crisp winter air is full of it.” — John Burroughs I’ve known some Januarys where snow has been off somewhere to the north, where you could only find ice in the freezer, and winter coats were hardly …
Sometimes I wish that I was the weather, you’d bring me up in conversation forever. And when it rained, I’d be the talk of the day. John Mayer (Source-brainyquote.com) Oh, the weather. What would we talk about if not for the weather? This week the weather has dominated the talking. Forecasts started several days ago, maybe more than several, about …
There are days for everything. Eat Pizza day. Walk your dog day. Call your mom day. Well, maybe I made that last one up just now, but moms appreciate those calls. Today I noticed a tiny picture of a squirrel in the Search area along the bottom of my screen here. Curiosity aroused, I clicked on it and discovered it …
This morning on the way to church, I spotted some clothes blowing in the wind at a house we passed. And I thought, hmm, her dryer must be on the blink. Back in the day, I would have never thought that. I might have been surprised to see clothes on the line on a Sunday morning because back then folks …
“When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive -to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.” – Marcus Aurelius Br. Fred, our preacher for many years at the little country church I attend, used to always tell us how he woke every morning thankful for a new day. Each new day …
Why do we love reading? Why do you love reading? Why do I love reading? Let me count the ways. Oh wait, I asked my newsletter readers to do that for me, and have they ever been counting up the reasons and sharing them. That’s great. I’ve loved every response I’ve received. Here’s one that just grabbed me as such …
Welcome to Flight 2026 We are prepared to take off into the New Year. Please make sure your attitude and blessings are secured and locked in an upright position. All self-destructive devices should be turned off at this time. All negativity, hurt, and discouragement should be put away. Should we lose altitude under pressure during the flight, reach up and …
Some people at the beginning of each new year like to pick a word for their year. Perhaps kindness. Or peace. Or perseverance. Or patience. Something that the individuals want to improve in their day to day life. I’ve never done that. Never picked one word. I think I have too many words zooming around in my head to settle …