When the jonquils bloom in the spring, I think of her–my sister Helen. Maybe it’s because of her March birthday, maybe it’s because those first flowers are so welcome after winter and are such a cheerful sight. My sister was a cheerful, upbeat, lovely person. Some people make the world a better place simply by being. […]
Dec 27, 2019
The Life of an Old Barn
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Arkansas and Oklahoma are blessed with many beautiful old barns. When I say old, I mean those that were built from the ground up, not pre-fab or metal. It is painful to see a barn that is 80 or 100 years old slowly crumbling with no one to care for it. When it’s gone, […]
Feb 16, 2019
Just Who Do You Think You Are?
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Do you ever feel like a tiny Who in Dr. Seuss’ beloved book, Horton Hears a Who? Don’t let anyone ever make you think that you’re unimportant. You have infinite worth and value. So, hold your head up, put on a determined grin and move forward with life. Whether you are on the west or […]
Oct 5, 2018
Things My Mama Taught Me
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All the good things that I believe and am, came from my parents. And the not-so-good? Well, I’ve managed those things on my own. This morning I was thinking about things my mother taught me. I had never really tried to itemize them, they were just there. To list them would be like trying […]
Aug 21, 2018
A Celebration of a Life Well Lived
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I think of my dad every day but on this day, there is a particular vacancy, because Dad isn’t here and I can’t hear him sing those old songs, see him dance a jig, or bake him his favorite pie. But, I can remember. And I do. I’ve written about him a lot, both here and […]
Aug 13, 2018
Summer School at Etta
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Times have changed and so have school terms. Today’s blog is the conclusion of the segment begun yesterday about the summer term at Etta Bend around 1915. This is taken from my book, The Heritage of Etta Bend. Although the picture is of an old-time school, it isn’t Etta. The words and story are my mother’s, […]
