-
Reverse. Refocus. Run.
I held on tight. Dale maneuvered Dolly’s reins as she slowly plodded around Grandpa’s barnyard. This morning, I smile while reminiscing that as 10-year-olds, my cousin and I assumed “we” were in control of Dolly. She plodded slowly with the precision of an ancient clock, habitually knowing the approved barnyard path for all young grandchildren.…
-
Get Your Shoes On
“But, I don’t want to wear those shoes! Can I wear my pink ones or my tennis shoes?” The wail was familiar, and so was the response, “Just get something on your feet, now!” A million shoes scattered in the closet (Yes, a slight exaggeration, but under stress, who cares?); too many choices. How often…
-
Wild Things
Eryn Lynum’s sparkling eyes and broad smile captivated me. I wanted to sit at the same table with this soon-to-be-published author. I wanted to bask in her enthusiasm and soak in a bit of her knowledge. I hoped to discover the secret of a successful website. How did she finally break through as a writer?…
-
Hats in My Memory part 4 – Unexpected, Versatile, Integrity
The third and final hat in this series ushers in the “unexpected.” This hat is a Tilley all-weather, washable, floppy hat. According to Tilley’s website, Tilley’s are “designed and engineered for travel, so you are ready for the unexpected turn in the road ahead.” http://www.tilley.com/us_en/why-travel-clothing/ The Tilley wearer I love has many titles: husband,…
-
Grandma Tanner’s Fold-over Rolls
Every family member can attest: Grandma Tanner knew how to cook! Her fold-over dinner rolls or homemade biscuits were found at most meals. Every day was like a savory feast: mounds of whipped potatoes, fresh green beans, a rhubarb pie, seasoned corn and fried chicken or smothered steak. When I was young I remember…
-
Hats in My Memory part 3 – Farm and Fun.
The second hat, wide brimmed and woven of straw, belongs to a man of the farm, my Grandpa Tanner. How could 30 plus years have possibly whisked by since Grandpa was asking about my first days of teaching? His voice is clear like yesterday. As I slipped into the back door of the farmhouse,…
-
Hats in my Memory part 2 – Routine, Nature, and God
HATS IN MY MEMORY part 2 — Routine, Nature, and God I pull the blue-striped engineer’s cap down from high in the closet. A dusting of starch covers my hands as I cradle muted shades of blue and cream stripes. The hat is still surprisingly stiff from its last upkeep years ago. I find…
-
Hats In My Memory part 1 – An Introduction
HATS IN MY MEMORY — an introduction, part I. Three hats hang in my house, two more in my memory: a tattered blue and white striped engineer’s hat, a wide-brimmed straw hat crumbling from years of wear, a billed John Deere cap spattered with oil, a Kansas City policeman’s uniform hat, and a durable floppy…
-
Meditations Of The Heart
I reached for my Bible as I sipped the hot coffee. Thank you, God, for awakening me before anyone else is up and about in our busy house. Silence. Where would I begin? My Bible automatically fell open to the tattered edge of a familiar psalm. Psalm 19 spoke to me. Skimming the page,…