Blog
How to Have a Crazy Sleepover
Have you ever wondered how to have a Crazy Sleepover? Better yet, do you even know what a Crazy Sleepover is? Unless you live in my house, probably not. The Crazy Sleepover tradition started when my oldest granddaughter (Anna) was just two. She was spending the night and a terrible thunderstorm was headed our way.…
Angola Balloons Aloft Hot Air Balloons
How did you start your morning today? We woke to a 6:30 a.m. alarm, jumped in the car, and headed to the annual Balloons Aloft event. My husband and I went for the first time last year with our then 4-year-old grand daughter, Anna. This year, the three of us jumped into the car and…
Cooper Moon: The Calling FREE on Nook, Apple, and Kobo!
I am very happy to announce that the first book in my Cooper Moon series, Cooper Moon: The Calling is now available as a FREE ebook for Nook, Apple, and Kobo. The ebook is NOT yet free on Amazon and is currently priced at $3.99. The paperback is also available through Amazon. I am so…
New Book Covers for the Cooper Moon Series!
One of the most difficult things for a writer to do is to choose a book cover. A cover needs to capture the attention of a reader and convey the message and “feel” of a book. A writer spends months (sometimes years!) creating a novel and then has to convey all of those words in…
Mile Marker 84: Proud Daughter of a Truck Driver
I grew up at Mile Marker 84, just off the Indiana Toll Road. Or at least, that is how my Dad always described the location of our home whenever anyone asked where we lived. Other people might have mentioned our home town or street address, but my Dad thought in terms of mile markers. My…
Adding Feathers To My Empty Nest
My husband and I live in an empty nest. An empty nest. I’ve never given that phrase much thought, but lately it has been on my mind a lot. Empty – that certainly has a negative connotation doesn’t it? And it did take some getting used to. When my son entered college, it was exciting. He entered…
Hiking With Scarlett on the Colorado Trail
The Colorado Trail is a 471 mile hiking trail that stretches through the Colorado Rockies from Denver to Durango. It passes through seven national forests and six wilderness areas, crosses five rivers, and eight major mountain ranges. It is a hiker’s paradise. It is a trail of grandeur and uncommon beauty. I first hiked part…
My Guiding Light: Coming Home After School
Every day, when I came home from school, my Mom was at home waiting for me. It was a simple fact, like the sun rising in the morning. I never gave it much thought back then. I didn’t realize the value of that gift. As I recall those afternoons, it is never winter, but always…
Are You an Obsessed Grandparent? Take the Quiz!
#1 You live in an empty nest, but have a playpen, crib, or highchair in your house. Extra obsessed grandparents have all three. Give yourself one point for every item you have in your house. 3 points possible #2 Ninety percent of the photos on your cell phone are of your grand child/children. 1 point…
Attractive and Functional Way to Reduce Paper Towel Usage
Years ago, when I was struggling to make ends meet, paper towels were a luxury. I used to joke with a friend of mine, telling her when money was tight, “Paper towels are the first thing to go.” Now, I can afford to buy paper towels, but I’d still rather be spending money on something…
How to Organize Your Kitchen Spices
Spices! No matter what our level of cooking expertise, we all have spices in our kitchen or pantry. If you are like me, you have tried various ways to organize your spices. I have tried those cute little spice racks that come with adhesive labels. Some of them looked fairly attractive on my counter, but…
Clever Way to Display and Use Your Cookbooks in the Kitchen
Tired of getting your cookbooks dirty? Have a favorite cookbook you would like to display? Is your counter too small to hold your cookbook, mixing bowls, and ingredients all at once? I have a solution! I don’t know why I didn’t think of this years ago (maybe you already did!). Not too long ago, while…