A special joy in springtime is watching the plants leaf out, and flower. I enjoy walking around the backyard, observing the daily growth. The gooseberry bush has little berries, but it will be a while before they are ripe. When I make applesauce, I will add gooseberries to the apples.…
Recently I read An Untamed Land, a novel by Lauraine Snelling. The story follows two families that immigrated to the United States from Norway with the goal of acquiring a homestead. The work of clearing land, establishing a home and managing to find the food and resources to survive was terribly…
Recently I watched a documentary about Alexander Hamilton, learning about his contribution to our country and the tragic death of his son, as well as his own untimely death. When I noticed the book, My Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton, at the library, I picked it up. It…
During a recent trip to Galveston, Texas, our family enjoyed time on the beach. The young ones walked into the crashing waves, riding the waves. I was content to listen to the rhythm of the waves while sea gulls and pelicans made designs in the sky, traveling in groups. We…
During my college years at the University of Michigan I regularly attended church and participated in Bible studies. I valued the relationships that I had through church and Intervarsity. Along with a roommate I attended a Bible study led by former missionaries to China. It was a time period to…
The crocuses and snowdrops are blooming. It is time to tour my yard and see how my plants have weathered the winter. During the frigid temperatures I saw rabbit tracks in the snow but I didn’t know what the critters were up to. I am dismayed to see that the…
Today I am participating in Five Minute Friday. We write for five minutes with a prompt. Kate’s prompt is UNUSUAL. It is unusually cold today. The thermometer outside of my window registers -10 degrees fahrenheit and that is -23 celsius. It reminds me of the year that I went on…
Recently I attended a concert that my granddaughter sang in. As I listened to the choir sing Angels from the Realms of Glory, my thoughts lingered on the second verse. Shepherds, in the field abiding,Watching o’er your flocks by night,God with man is now residing;Yonder shines the infant light Why…
Chocolate is my favorite sweet treat. Sometimes I will have a bit while reading a book. But that is dangerous. Chocolate tends to melt on fingers and soon there is a smudge on a page that must be quickly addressed. My worst disaster with a book was not caused by…
Today is the final day of our local farmer’s market. It is a pleasant outing and I go almost every week to purchase fresh produce. I will miss it. Many of the vendors had crates of apples. The apples are beautiful and abundant this year. I was delighted to find…