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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
As I anticipate the arrival of the seeds ordered earlier this month, I remember the Parable of the Sower, recorded in Matthew 13. Jesus told about a farmer who scattered seeds randomly. Some fell along a path where they were trampled and consumed by birds; they never...
Looking out over the snow-filled fields at first light, on this cold January morning, I shiver at the sight of gray skies and the sounds of howling winds that have ushered in another winter on the farm. The horses are blanketed, the heater is plugged into the water...
Some years, turning the pages on the calendar comes more easily to me than other years. Seasons change, and I change with them. Labor Day rushes past, and I start baking with apples and winter spices. By Halloween, I’m pulling out scarves and mittens and writing to-do...