Update: A winner's name was randomly drawn and she has been contacted. Back on February 1st of this year, Karen Witemeyer posted about National Texas Day. She thought, since all her books are set in Texas, that it would make a great post. And it did. I loved reading her list of fun facts. So I wondered if there was a National Idaho Day, especially since I set (almost) all my books in … [Read more...]
Three Celebrations in One Weekend
This past weekend was packed with family celebrations. I think it will take a week to recover, but they were such a blessing. Event #1 - Graduation My future daughter-in-law, Katy, graduated with her master's degree in Economics from Texas A&M on Saturday night. She and Peter will marry in November. She's worked so hard and has earned both her bachelor's and master's degree in only 4 … [Read more...]
New Seasons of British TV
We are huge fans of British TV, mostly for the depth of character in the storytelling. And the accents. And the scenery. Anyway, a whole slew of our shows—almost all of them murder mysteries (which at this moment are not the intense police drama kind) are in new seasons so I thought I’d share. Note: we have both BritBox and AcornTV streaming services. Some of these shows might be … [Read more...]
The Love and Lore of the Seaside in Jane Austen’s Time
This past weekend, I had the pleasure of giving a talk to members of the Minnesota Chapter of the Jane Austen Society of North America. I shared highlights from my research into English seaside resorts and customs during the Georgian and Regency eras, from the rising popularity of resort towns, their social activities and amenities, bathing machines, bathing costumes, beliefs about the medicinal … [Read more...]
Practice Makes…Better
It's been almost a year since I got my piano. (You can read that story here.) And I must say, my childhood piano teacher would be so proud of how diligently I've been practicing this past year. I've also been very pleased with how I'm learning to read music better. In January, our youngest daughter challenged me to learn to play a pretty song she'd discovered, Handel/Halvorsen's … [Read more...]
Inspired by Scripture
Thank you, Lord, for the godly mothers who have shown us your ways and taught us your paths. Today, we remember and honor our mothers and those who have been like mothers to us. This Sunday feature is brought to you by ClashVerseoftheDay.com. You may sign up to receive a beautiful photo with Scripture in your inbox each morning or view the verse each day online. … [Read more...]
Sisters Trip to Mexico
In November of 2021, I traveled to Scottsdale, Arizona with my husband to celebrate my 50th birthday. My two sisters and my parents joined us there. I LOVED marking the occasion of my birthday with such a memorable trip. When my sister's 50th rolled around recently, we had the perfect reason to take another mini-vacation. This time--Cabo, Mexico! I grew up in California and have lived in … [Read more...]
How Authors Stay Sane
Hi friends and happy Wednesday. I hope your day is off to a fantastic start. Writing is not easy. I believe Hemingway said it best in the following quote. “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” While writing is a joy for me and a passion, that doesn’t negate the rough days or even rough seasons. The times when you have a word or page … [Read more...]
In Memory of Mandisa
This is a post I originally published on August 30, 2011, long before I had the joy of meeting Mandisa in a Bible study we both attended in a friend's home here in Nashville a handful of years ago. As everyone says, she was—and still is—the real deal. I'm heartbroken over her passing, but her openness and transparency encouraged me then, and still does today. I originally entitled this August … [Read more...]
Mary Had a Little Lamb . . . and so did I!
I don't know if you saw the hilarious picture of lamb cakes that was going around on Facebook . . . This photo makes me laugh every time I look at it. But because I love baking, I decided I had to make a lamb cake this year. Only I wouldn't make it at Easter, but at Passover . . . and I'd bake a cake with no yeast, baking powder, or baking soda, so there would be no leaven. (Pound cake fits … [Read more...]
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