Sundays—”S’s in Order” [a study of I Peter 5:10]
Mondays—Maintenance [keeping up with necessary facets of life]
Tuesdays—Tales [original stories]
Wednesdays—Writing [a history of my novel series]
Thursdays—Thinking Back [personal & historical events]
Fridays—Fractures [how to heal from life’s injuries]
Saturdays—Slogans [true sayings and how to live by them]
Slogans Reviewed & Repurposed
The Slogan. It usually is introduced like this: “Well, you know what they always say… “…when the going gets tough, the tough get going.” “…never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.” “…those...
Fractures Fixed
Thanksgiving Day, 1999. The meal was ready. The house was clean. The guests were due to arrive. My then-husband had helped with the preparations by cleaning the bathroom floor (fire station style)...
Virginia’s Own Words
A fitting conclusion to this story to let my mother speak in her own words. Here is what she wrote to my father on their 50th wedding anniversary February 1, 2002. At her request, I included...
Who Said What When
Dream an impossible dream, set to work, watch it materialize, see it just beyond your grasp… almost within reach…falter…demand of yourself what you think you’re doing, and conclude if you could...
The Hog Holler Radio Station IV
I’ll admit I was madder than a wet hen when I stormed out of the kitchen and climbed into Zeke’s truck. By that time, I was so put out with the whole situation I forgot to take off my apron and had...
Maintain Your Well-Being
Most of us frown upon the philosophy: “You’ve got to look out for No. 1.” Our parents brought us up to be responsible, generous, and self-sacrificing. And we watched them do the same. That’s how we...
The Blessing of Being Settled
We have reached the conclusion of our study of the Four S’s in 1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a...
Something is Better than Nothing
Naomi knew the truth. [Ruth 2:16.] So did the widow. [Mark 12: 42; Luke 21:2] If you don’t have a lot, a little makes a big difference. I refer to the handfuls of purpose Naomi told Ruth they...
Shattered Feelings
If there’s one thing 2020 has taught us it is: Mr. Monk was right. It really is a jungle out there. Who knew always having a wipe within reach and only drinking his own bottled water (Sierra...
Mrs. Arends in Her Heyday
This story will not be complete until I tell you the beginning, who my mother was and still is, somewhere in the deep places of her soul. Virginia Wilson was born in Amarillo, Texas, on May 17, 1929...
Write Right
On the off chance a future or fellow writer is reading this installment, I thought it might be helpful to include some of the mechanics of getting a book from “brilliant idea” to book signing. These...
The Hog Holler Radio Station III
Don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against the five-string banjo or four-string banjo or any instrument for that matter. There isn’t a single person in Hog Holler or the surrounding countryside who...
Maintain Confidence
The Mother Superior had just told Maria she was to become a governess to seven children. Maria said, “Seven?” And then she put on the dress “the poor didn’t want” and packed her bag and picked up...
Being Strong
We are continuing our discussion of I Peter 5:10—But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish,...
Slow and Steady Wins the Race
I am by nature a plodder. School did not necessarily come easy for me. I was a good reader and eventually became a good writer, but science and math challenged me throughout my academic career. I...
Refurbished Roles
My favorite ever production is the Royal Shakespeare Company’s version of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby [1980’s]. As with all Dickens’ works, there is a host of memorable characters,...
The Elusive Culprit XI
As of this writing, mid-October 2020, virus restrictions are still in place for all of us, and my mother is still safe under the oversight of the Benton House and their protocols for quarantine. We...
Enter Agnes Quinn
If you have seen The Man Who Invented Christmas, starring Dan Stevens as Charles Dickens, busy writing “The Christmas Carol,” you will have observed an accurate portrayal of how the writing process...
The Hog Holler Radio Station II
Blinking, I sat there, staring, open-mouthed, while my flannel-shirted, jeans-bedecked husband—grease still under his fingernails from where he had changed the oil in the tractor only hours...
Flexibility Is Youth
Among the sports my children tried were t-ball, baseball, basketball, swimming, skateboarding, rollerblading, surfing, and karate. Each experience left behind its own set of memories, but the one...
Made Stable
We continue our study of I Peter 5:10—But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish,...
You Have to Start From Where You Are
Janie opened her eyes and looked at the clock. 6:15. She had overslept…again. Throwing back the covers, she raced to the bathroom and hopped in the shower. Then, bathrobe-clad, and wet hair wrapped...
Fractured Expectations
One of the most irksome aspects of the recent quarantine was: the stay-at-home order, taking place during late spring as it did, ruined many special occasions and rites of passage normally occurring...
The Elusive Culprit X
We were living contentedly in a new rhythm. I visited the Benton House at least twice a week, sometimes more. Ordinary days came and went. Holidays came and went. And we had our sad as well as...
Perchance to Dream
Once I began blogging in a consistent manner, I queried my reading public about what kinds of topics they would like to explore. One suggestion was that I discuss the writing process and what it...
The Hog Holler Radio Station
Of all my characters Maybelle Higginbottom has been a part of my life the longest. Why or when I created her I cannot now remember. Sometime in my 20's. For some reason I featured her in a...
Maintaining Balance
Do the laundry, clean the house, mow the yard, vacuum the car, and within no time at all, it is all to be done again. You look around at the progress you made yesterday or only a few hours ago, and...
When Comes Suffering
With the exception of the Psalms, no book has brought me more comfort in the midst of pain of all sorts than the first epistle of Peter. In this book is the go-to verse for “what to do when you...
Use the Brakes, Not the Horn
How many times this past week have you found yourself spouting off some wise and pithy saying, beginning with, perhaps, “Well, you know what they say…” ? When the going gets tough, the tough get...
Facing Fractures
Own a home, a car, a computer, a phone, a tool, appliance, or gadget of any sort, and you run the inevitable risk of something sometime going wrong. Humans can be as conscientious as they wish, but...
The Elusive Culprit IX
From July 2018 to March 2020 (the beginning of quarantine) I learned through trial and error how to navigate our new life. Be advised: the learning curve for facing and dealing with a loved one’s...
