One thing they never tell you about child raising is that for the rest of your life, at the drop of a hat, you are expected to know your child’s name and how old he or she is. ~Erma Bombeck That’s true for mamas and also for writers. I’ll be giving a book talk and somebody will ask something about one …
Cloud Pictures, What Do You See?
August 11, 1965 Jocie Brooke here, reporting from Hollyhill, Kentucky. Do you like trying to see things in clouds? I do sometimes. I took this picture. Well, not really on purpose. Zella would have a fit if she thought I was wasting film on clouds, but I slipped when I was trying to take a cow picture for the paper …
On the Hunt for Bargains
Bargain – a thing bought or offered for sale more cheaply than is usual or expected. Folks all along US 127 have been either offering or looking for bargains all week. The worlds longest yard sale goes from Alabama to Michigan with Kentucky right in the middle. Last week, scenes like the one above were scattered all along the road …
Time for Front Porch Visits
True luxury is being able to own your time – to be able to take a walk, sit on your porch, read the paper, not take the call, not be compelled by obligation. ~Ashton Kutcher Do you have a front porch? I grew up in a house with a front porch. We didn’t have chairs on it. That would have …
Can You Give Me a Name?
August 4, 1965 Jocie Brooke here reporting from Hollyhill, Kentucky. It’s hot. Really hot. In the nineties. Aunt Love says it’s supposed to be hot like this in August. I guess she should know. She’s been around for a lot of Augusts. Wes, on the other hand, says it’s never this hot on Jupiter – too far from the sun, …
A Bee and a Winner
I finally stumped some of you with my mystery picture. Last Sunday, most of you got the polar bear underwater right away, but this little bee had some of you coming up with great guesses that were fun but not exactly right. Linda and Danie had the sharpest eyes, although Linda thought the bee was on a sunflower. The most …
Can You Guess the Mystery Photo?
My plan was to post this early, but best laid plans. Sigh. I just have to admit it. I’m a burn the midnight oil writer. But tonight I have excuses. Really!! First we had a fellowship supper at church. I had to cook something. You can’t go to a potluck supper with an empty dish, now can you? I took …
Words in a Jam
July 28, 1965 Jocie Brooke here reporting from Hollyhill, Kentucky. You remember those blackberries I talked about picking last week. Well, they’re in a jam now. (Ha. Ha.) Wes says I’m getting to be a regular comedian. I tell him that’s only because I hang around with him so much. He laughs about that. Says a Jupiterian has to have …
Mystery Picture Giveaway Fun
Are you ready for a new giveaway? I’ve got books that want a new home. The prize is an autographed copy of Karen Kingsbury’s The Chance and the winner’s choice of one of my books shown in the photo below. And you can have my autograph too. Mine is sort of plain compared to Karen’s interesting autograph. She must have …
A Penny from Heaven
Have you ever read about people finding pennies after a loved one dies? I’d read the stories and thought it was great that these people had found something to help them through their grief. Did I believe the pennies were really from heaven? Did I think the person who had passed on had somehow found a way to manipulate a …






