One day in 2020, when we lived in West Virginia, my Sunday afternoon was interrupted by a knock on the door. People didn’t come to our door very often, especially during the pandemic, so at first I assumed it was one of my boys. Called to the door by
If you’ve been keeping track, you’ve probably noticed that I’ve posted less recently. You might assume that I’ve been writing behind the scenes working on my bigger writing project, but unfortunately I haven’t made recent progress there lately either. Due to some other responsibilities I’
I wanted to like this book much more than I did, partly because I think the cover is extremely cute. :) It’s a romance between a young woman who inherited a bookstore, but doesn’t read and a romance author. The story is basically what you’d expect it to
I picked up this book off a sale rack in a bookstore in Chicago a few years ago. It caught my eye because I considered myself to have one foot in the fashion world (albeit hand-made fashion). While I am less in that world now, I did finally pick
I made an error of judgment and only brought one novel on our Nova Scotia trip, which I finished before the trip was over. So, I looked through my wish list for books that were available to read in the Kindle app, which is how this one was added to
I am a morning person, and as a morning person, I begin most days excited about the day ahead and what I might be able to accomplish in it. Morning me writes blog posts in my head while I drive to work. Morning me thinks about how I will totally
I was intrigued by this book, but honestly didn’t know much about it when I started it. It did not disappoint. It is set in a sci-fi world with enough bits of imagined history, culture, and technology woven in to make it feel complete. The political intrigue touches
Assuming I recorded all of them in my StoryGraph account, I read 17 books last year. It’s not a lot, but it was just over the goal I had set for myself. According to StoryGraph my top mood was “emotional,” with 10 books fitting that category. This was followed
I have realized that I would absolutely read way more books in a year if I decided to devote my reading time solely to romance. These are quick reads for me, the ones I am most likely to stay up way too late reading, or pick up on a weekend
This book begins with a stillbirth, a tragic loss, yet the woman who had just left the tiny body behind in the wilderness seemed somehow cold and distant to me. When I first started reading this book, I didn’t make it very far before setting it aside. But eventually
I saw a moose who wasn’t there and thought of you. Yesterday, he had been there—standing tall and majestic. My breath caught in my throat as I came up over the rise where the trees give way to the blueberry barren and caught sight of him walking towards
Before I dove back into the darkness of the other book I am still trying to make my way through, I took a break to enjoy something light and happy. Romance novels are a favorite of mine, even though I’ve had to reach my middle adulthood to feel like
On Sunday, October 20, 2024, I sat on a rock listening to the waves rush against the rocky point of Western Head in Cutler. I couldn’t help but be grateful to be in this wild and beautiful place. The waves rushed back and forth in their never-ending dance
Oddly, I set aside a book I had started that felt too dark and then somehow managed to read two other fairly dark books. This is the second of those. While it is definitely dark, it is also one of the most engaging books I have ever picked up. The
Part historical fiction and part magical realism, this book is full of the stories of black women and the sacrifices they made for freedom for themselves and others. There’s a lot of beauty in the book, but also a lot of ugliness, which is not surprising considering the topic.
Welcome to all new and old readers. If you are a new reader, please check out my About page for more details of who I am. I recently made a commitment to devote two full afternoons a month to writing. It may not sound like much, but in the midst
Handmade Hobbies
It’s raining again as it has off and on for the last few days and many other days for this entire month. A wind ruffles the new leaves of the apple tree outside my living room window. Pink and white flower buds cover the tree, a few tentatively opening
Uncategorized
1. Anniversaries are somewhat meaningless in measuring wisdom. We cannot expect someone to have the answers to healthy relationships just because they have been married a long time. And though I don’t think it is wrong to recognize and celebrate certain milestones, I also feel strongly that longevity is
Personal Growth
At the end of last winter, I remember going for a walk during the season of Lent, down one of the rural roads near where we live. I walked through the forest—overgrown and tumbling cabin walls marking the remains of long abandoned homesteads. It was bitter cold, and everything
Healthy Living
Two weeks ago, I drove 15 minutes to a nearby CVS to get my COVID booster and my flu vaccine. This is only the third time that I’ve gotten a flu shot. The first time was in 2005. That was the year I gave birth to Emma Anne. Because
Personal Growth
Fall is my favorite season. Or at least it always has been. I’m experiencing my first Fall in New England this year and I was surprised to find that while all the essential elements are there—breathtaking color, crisp mornings and warm afternoons, and occasional whiffs of woodsmoke—the
Family Updates
My favorite view of Morgantown is the short, but spectacular glimpse I get of the whole town spread out on the hillside as I round the curve on Monongahela Boulevard coming down from the Coliseum to Morgantown proper. The mood changes depending on the season and weather, but I never
Personal Growth
The meal was over. The kids disappeared quickly back into a game of Mario Kart and John retreated to the quiet of our bedroom downstairs. I found myself sitting alone at the table staring at the overflowing counters and empty tablecloth. Dietrich flitted back and forth as he explained to
Uncategorized
Many of you who know me know my background. I was raised in the conservative evangelical tradition of Christianity. Instead of girl scouts, I went to AWANA. AWANA, for those of you who are not familiar with it, stands for “Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed.” The focus was on Bible