Sixteen Years of This & That on One Writer’s Journal

Ann H GabhartAnn's Posts, One Writer's Journal 8 Comments

Back in 2008, blogging was the new thing on the block. Well, maybe not all that new to many, but totally new to me. Blogs, a term that came from the original weblog that a blogger back in 1990s posted as “we blog.” And boy, did “we” ever as individuals started keeping online journals and companies decided blogging was a …

Writing the Stories I Want to Write

Ann H GabhartAnn's Posts, One Writer's Journal 34 Comments

“Help me to continue writing through those black moments of discouragement when I feel that nothing I write is good or worthwhile or will ever be read by anyone.” (an excerpt from A Writer’s Prayer by H. Joseph Chadwick) From the time I got hold of my first notebook and pen, I wanted to be a writer. All those lines …

Getting to The End for Bailey’s Bug

Ann H GabhartHeart of Hollyhill Leave a Comment

  July 5, 1966 Jocie Brooke here reporting from Hollyhill, Kentucky. Wow, did you see fireworks on the 4th? Leigh talked Dad into taking us to Lexington to the drive-in to watch the fireworks. We got to see the movie too. Sound of Music. It was wonderful. I loved it even more than the fireworks which were really neat and …

Summer Time and the Water’s Fine

Ann H GabhartAnn's Posts, Heart of Hollyhill 2 Comments

June 15, 1966 Jocie Brooke here reporting from Hollyhill, Kentucky. Well, actually I’m reporting from the swimming hole out in the county. A lake swimming hole. A beautiful place to swim and now that school is officially out – Yay!! – I can go swimming there with a couple of girls from church. Their grandparents own a house alongside the …

Memorial Day in Hollyhill & More of Bailey’s Bug

Ann H GabhartAnn's Posts, Heart of Hollyhill Leave a Comment

May 30, 1966 Jocie Brooke reporting from Hollyhill, Kentucky. This picture wasn’t taken in Hollyhill, but you knew that. It’s a picture Dad showed me of a cemetery in France to help me think about what Memorial Day really means. It’s not just picnics and the local swimming pool opening for the summer and school being out. Memorial Day is …

Tests are the Price You Pay to Get out of School

Ann H GabhartAnn's Posts, Heart of Hollyhill Leave a Comment

May 23, 1966 Jocie Brooke here reporting from Hollyhill, Kentucky.  School is almost out! Yay!! I really do like school, but I’m always really, really glad when summer comes calling. We have about one more week. Five and one-half day to be exact. We have tests and more tests. You have to take tests or summer can’t come. But nothing …

A Blind Man Healed with Mud

Ann H GabhartAnn's Posts, Heart of Hollyhill Leave a Comment

May 17, 1966 Jocie Brooke here reporting from Hollyhill, Kentucky, the town where not much ever happens. Sigh. Dad says I should be glad not much happens in our hometown. Wes says I need to pay attention and see that things are happening all around me. And Zella says I need to quit making so much happen and stay out …

Good Mothers Don’t Grow on Trees

Ann H GabhartAnn's Posts, Heart of Hollyhill Leave a Comment

May 10, 1965 Jocie Brooke here reporting from Hollyhill, Kentucky on the day after Mother’s Day. Everybody always makes such a big deal out of Mother’s Day. I guess that’s good. Most mothers need a day when they are a big deal. But I don’t much like Mother’s Day. You see, not everybody has a good mother. I didn’t.   …