More Than a Coal of Fire

More Than a Coal of Fire

“What did you come for, a coal of fire?” my dad used to ask if I breezed in and out of my parents’ home for just a short visit. What he meant was, he wished I’d sit down and talk for a bit. Once, long ago, people would borrow coals of fire to get their […]

A Bolt Out of the Blue

A Bolt Out of the Blue

Go inside the house if a thunderstorm approaches. Don’t stand under a tree to get out of the rain. If you can’t find a safe indoor place, hunker down on the ground, making as small a target as possible. We all know you shouldn’t mess around with lightning. Yet, on this date in 1752, Ben […]

Race Horses and Writing a Mystery

Race Horses and Writing a Mystery

On this day in 1973 Secretariat won the Triple Crown in racing, the first horse to do so since Citation in 1948. Will Justify join that exclusive rank today at the Belmont Stakes? Will you be glued to your television set to watch that exciting race? It must be my Irish ancestry that causes my […]

Here, There, and Everywhere (Almost)

Here, There, and Everywhere (Almost)

After many cancellations due to conflicts in schedules, the Cozy Critters finally met again yesterday. As usual, it was a fun time. Jane was brimming with enthusiasm for her recent trip out west. She has been posting pictures on her Facebook page and brought more to show us today. Her and Mark’s first stop was […]

A Secret Shared

A Secret Shared

A Secret Shared with three soon will no secret be. Have you ever heard that old saying? Here’s another: A secret shared with two may prove to be a help to you. There are many exceptions to both of those adages. The point is, if you have a problem, don’t keep the problem to yourself. A […]

A Guest For Coffee

A Guest For Coffee

  A redbird (to this southerner, a cardinal is a redbird) is on my neighbor’s wet lawn. Not finding what he is looking for there, he flies across the street to my yard. He’s so beautiful–bright and flambuoyant. I ask the Lord to protect him from cats. It’s okay to pray for redbirds, isn’t it? […]