Articles from Jackie
Here you’ll find encouragement, sage advice, and godly counsel I wish I’d had while going through the difficult seasons of life.
Grow Where You’re Planted
Spring never fails to bring me surprises: every year, a random flower blooms in an unexpected spot. My daddy always said the squirrels and chipmunks were his landscape designer. They’re mine, too. I can always count on four-footed helpers to dig up and replant bulbs....
Hide and Seek
Do you remember playing hide & seek as a child? I could find some of the most amazing spots to hide because who wants to be IT? Not I!
Front Porch
Why is a front porch swing so enticing and relaxing? Is it the rhythmic swaying back and forth? The opportunity to greet neighbors as they pass by? A swing certainly offers an ideal place for appreciating and listening to the sounds of the neighborhood – children...
August On The Farm
Farm to table. This trendy term isn’t new to those of us who live on a farm. Many meals prepared here come directly from the field to the table daily. No shopping at a grocery store or warehouse. And if I am fortunate to grow the right herbs, there is no need to add...
July On The Farm
A century ago, forty percent of Americans lived on a farm. Oh, how times have changed – dramatically. Now only one percent of us live on a farm. So, I’m not surprised that people I meet are curious about farm life. “What do you grow?” “Do you raise cattle and hogs? Or...
What’s an Author?
I am rarely at a loss for words. I love words. Words that inform. Words that inspire. I love to speak, sing, read, and write words. Ask anyone who knows me, and they will acknowledge, “Jackie loves to talk, sing, read and write.” My passion for words blossomed as a...
Go Outside! Stop Whining!
How often have you heard yourself say to your children, “Go outside! Stop whining. Use your imagination. When I was a kid, we….” I could go on, but you get the picture. These are some of the exact words said in 1965 to the children of the Pritchard family who were...
June on The Farm
The smell of freshly mowed hay makes this farm girl smile! Summer is just a few weeks away, and my three sons have already finished the first cutting. That fragrance of green and growth is intoxicating! I’m so grateful not to suffer from hay fever because I love everything about hay season: the warm sun on my face, the crickets chirping, and the birds singing. Just listen to the hum of that tractor as it crawls over the rolling hills.
Seed Packets
The information on the seed package reads: Seeds germinate in 6 to 10 days Growing height- 3 feet Best sown in a sunny location after the danger of spring frost Thin seedlings when they are 2-4 inches in height Garden hints: Keep moist and water frequently. I follow...
May On The Farm
This spring, we planted Macintosh and Delicious apple trees to replace an old tree that fell this winter. The fruit from that tree was tart, suitable only for making pies. And, speaking of pies makes me think fondly of my mother-in-law, who held the gold seal in the...
April On The Farm
Spring sunshine and warm breezes energize me. Some days I feel like a tornado whipping around, cleaning and organizing inside and out. My exercise regimen also jump-starts every spring, just like daffodil shoots. But invariably, a remnant of winter blasts through the...
Finding Joy As You Journey Through Grief
I’ve learned that we never get over grief. It becomes a traveling companion as we proceed through our lives. We discover that despite our losses, life does go on. And one day, when we hear the name of that special someone, and we smile instead of cry, we know we have...
March On The Farm
Spring officially began last week. I feel the warmer breezes, I have started my annual search for green shoots poking up from the dirt, and I hear the squawks of the Canada geese as they fly back to the pond. Sure-fire signs of spring that don’t require a calendar. I...
