Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Ann’s Posts”
One of the questions I am asked when I give a talk about writing stories set in my fictional Shaker village of Harmony Hill is whether there are any Shakers today. When I would say three, somebody in the group would usually speak up to say no wonder since they were celibate. While that does cut out the chance of …
January 1, 1967 Jocie Brooke here reporting from Hollyhill on New Year’s Day. Can you believe it’s 1967? Sixty-seven!! I’m fifteen. Grown. Old enough to behave myself, Aunt Love says. Old enough to fall in love, Leigh says. Old enough to take a trip to Jupiter, Wes says. Old enough to understand a few things about life, Dad says. Tabitha …
Each New Year’s Day is like starting a treasure hunt again from scratch, with a slightly altered map. ~Terri Guillemets Happy New Year! Can you believe it’s 2017? Some of you may be like me and remember thinking of how old you’d be at the turn of the century when you were a kid. It seemed a terribly old age …
“Christmas is far and away my favorite holiday. I love everything about it, from the event that inspired it, hoping for a white one, to wrapping presents. But mostly I love having family and friends gathered, and sharing traditions.” ~Ellen Hopkins I hope you all had a merry and joyous Christmas with your families and friends. And if you couldn’t …
I wrote this little story in 1997 for our local electric co-op magazine. I shared it on here a couple of years ago, but here it is again. Hope you enjoy Joey’s letter to Santa. Dear Santa Claus, It’s the day after Christmas and I guess you’re wondering why I’m writing you now seeing as how I didn’t write you …
Oscar and I say Merry Christmas as I share one last reader Christmas story before we head into the New Year. I’ve shared Sandi’s stories on here in the past. She’s has a way with words that makes her memories come to life. She says her granddaughter has quite suddenly grown up and at sixteen has started her first paying …
Sometimes Christmas celebrations with family can be bittersweet times when you miss the ones you love who are no longer here but are celebrating with Jesus in heaven. It was that way for my family this year as we lost two of our family unexpectedly last year. Both were in the prime of life …
My Christmas tree is full of memories. This little snowman was made for me by the young daughter of one of our preachers more than twenty years ago, but I still think of Ana every time I hang it on the tree. That’s how Christmas memories are. They come back to mind each year and I appreciate many of you …
This little heart that hangs on my Christmas tree says “Live well. Laugh often. Love much.” Great advice at any time but maybe especially at Christmas when we gather with family and share so many memories of Christmases together. I’ve got a couple more memorable Christmas stories to share with you this week. The first from Erin is about a …
December 3, 1966 Jocie Brooke here reporting from Hollyhill. Wow! I can’t believe it’s been so long since I did a report. I guess it’s true that when you get in high school, you get really, really busy. Too busy, Aunt Love says. But I still do all the chores she has for me at home. That’s not as many …