Tag Archive | Memories

I’m Puzzled

Apr29

I LOVE putting together jigsaw puzzles. If you’ve followed my blog for a while, then you already know this. You could say that I’m addicted to them. I find that putting pieces in place relaxes my mind and gives me a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment. Plus, I think they help keep my brain sharp.

I’ve been gifted quite a few puzzles (thank you, Julie–my sister, and several other friends), and I’ve purchased many more. Some puzzles I buy new, however, I love finding them at antique malls, yard sales, and Goodwill. Of course, when I purchase an already opened box, I resign myself to the fact that pieces may be missing. Or better still, will likely be missing! Whenever I get down to the last few pieces in the box, I wonder…will I have them all?

Whenever I put that last piece in place, I do a little happy dance. Not literally, but internally. Lots of joy!

Recently, I came across something I’ve never had happen before. While putting this lovely puzzle together, I kept grabbing a piece out of the box that I swore I could place. The area that had similar colors and design was nearly completed. However, I couldn’t find a spot for the piece, so I’d toss it back in with the other pieces, assuming I’d eventually find where it went.

I finished the puzzle, and that one piece remained. How could that be? I stared at the lonely thing. This particular puzzle had come from Goodwill, so on one hand, I was thankful that all the pieces were there, but where did the extra piece come from? My first assumption was that whoever donated it had inadvertently tossed in a piece that belonged in another puzzle box. But the piece had the design, shape, and texture of that completed puzzle.

I showed the puzzling piece to my husband and even indicated the area of the completed picture where I thought the piece should have fit. He agreed with me. He then pushed it to the exact part of the picture that it seemed to belong. Low and behold, it was a duplicate piece! Is it possible that when it was manufactured, a piece belonging in another box jumped ship and joined my box? Did someone out there purchase a puzzle that ended up missing this piece? Hmm…

So, yes, I’m puzzled. I’m thrilled that I have all the pieces to my puzzle, but I feel badly for whoever was shorted. I’ve had that happen before when I finished a newly purchased puzzle, but in those cases, I accepted that my dog likely got hold of a stray piece and ate it. It can happen! I’ve found half-eaten ones in his dog bed, and that has made me more careful when working my puzzles.

Oddly, I didn’t have the heart to discard my extra piece. When I took the puzzle apart, I kept both identical pieces. I imagine that the next time I put this puzzle together, I’ll smile at my ‘extra’ piece and remember just how puzzled I was about its existence.

Has this ever happened to you?

Get Happy!

Oct6

I’ve written many posts over the years, and I know I mentioned the Partridge Family at least once in previous posts, but here I am, ready to talk about them again. Soon…

The 70s really were my era. I wholeheartedly embrace those years. I became a teenager during that decade, and I still get all mushy inside when I hear certain songs that remind me of those initially ‘uncomfortable’ junior high dances. I was the tallest girl in my class, and it was nearly impossible to find boys tall enough to slow dance with. It wouldn’t have been an issue if I didn’t mind having a boys face eye level with my chest. At that time, I barely had a chest at all, still… A girl had to set standards! Fortunately, their were two boys tall enough to accommodate by long, lanky form. Thank you, Brent and Terry!

I’ve been listening to a lot of 70s music lately, singing my little heart out, right along with the radio. Thanks to a free trial of satellite radio that I received when I got a new ‘used’ car, I found a station that plays only 70s music. Woo-hoo! This girl is dancing again! Not in the car, but I wanted you to understand my enthusiasm.

I’m surprised how many lyrics I remember. Of course, it helped that I sang in several bands for a while that covered some of those songs. There’s just something about a song that lingers in the brain longer than anything else. I’m sure you can recall certain commercial jingles from ‘way back when.’ Somehow, by putting music to words, our brains retain them better. That comes in handy for opera singers!

All that brings me to the Partridge Family. Since I’ve been listening to the 70s station for about three weeks now, during that time, I’ve only heard one Partridge Family song. I Think I Love You. Yes, it was probably their most popular song, but what about Echo Valley 26809? Or Rainmaker? Or how about Point Me in the Direction of Albuquerque? (Whew! Can’t believe I spelled that right the first time!) If you’re from my era, you’re probably singing those songs in your head right now. Do you have a favorite?

Granted, the only members of the Partridge Family who actually sang were David Cassidy and Shirley Jones, but still…those records shot up the charts! We should be hearing them on all the ‘golden oldies’ stations.

To my utter joy, I recently discovered reruns of The Partridge Family on Tubi. My husband rolls his eyes when he walks in and hears me singing along with the TV. He’s nine years older than me, and he doesn’t share my passion for ‘my’ decade. He’s a Beatles fan! Oh–and Rod Stewart. I like them, too, but they don’t tug at my heart the way the Partridge Family does. Well, maybe sometimes they do. It just depends on the song.

For a time, I tended to flip on the news when I wanted background noise in the house. I’d even listen to it in the car. I like to stay informed, but listening to so much negativity brought me down. I still keep up with current events, but I’d rather ‘Get Happy!’

The older I get, time has somewhat smooshed together. It’s hard to remember some exact dates, so I don’t recall the year I went to Nashville and saw David Cassidy in concert. It had to have been at least twelve years ago. I felt like a kid again going to that concert. I took an old poster I had of him, hoping for a possible autograph. I was so foolish. I left that concert feeling sorry for the man. Women my age crowded the stage, trying to reach him. I was afraid to get close to that mob, let alone lift my poster and pen toward David. The women acted crazy, and it interrupted his excellent performance. It got so bad that he stopped singing and said something to the effect of, “do you really expect me to go home with you? I’m married, you know.”

It broke my heart that he died so young. I wished I could have told him how much his show inspired me in my youth. I was young and innocent (only eight when the show first aired), and at that time all I knew was that I loved their music. My mother searched all over Seattle to find me a tambourine like Tracy’s. Little did I know that her tambourine didn’t actually jingle. It makes sense to me now. They lip-synced after all, and they couldn’t have the sound of an off-tempo tambourine messing things up. Still, I believed it was real back then, and that’s what mattered. A friend and I would put her record-player speakers outside her front door, and we’d stand on her porch and sing along to the Partridge Family. I’d play that tambourine like there was no tomorrow and belt out the words to the songs. I still have the tambourine, but it sits idle. I tried to play it when I was singing with the band, Jambeau, but our drummer told me I was off beat and I needed to let him keep the time. (grin) He made me promise to leave it home! I should have found one that didn’t jingle. At least then, I could have looked the part.

Still, I became a singer, and now I’m a writer. I pour out all the heartfelt songs I once sang, and I weave the memories they provoked into my work. Sometimes, I do actually sing. Music brings memory-packed joy and takes me back to my youth. I may not be up on a stage any longer, but I love sharing my experiences. I hope that this post has taken you back in time. Maybe you were a Partridge Family groupie like me! I just hope you don’t end up being one of those crazed women I saw at that concert. If you are, I do understand. We all want to embrace what makes us happy, and David Cassidy turned many heads. I was too young to have my head turned the way the older viewers saw him. I thought he was cute and I loved the way he sang, but I was thoroughly smitten with Donny Osmond. That’s another story! I got to meet him face to face. Almost got a hug. Sigh…

That’s me with Jambeau in 1992! Our drummer, Ted Williams, could play the bass guitar and drums at the same time. He sang, too! Chuck Borris played the guitar and sang. We had a great time working and singing in harmony at the Coeur d’Alene resort in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on their floating stage. Great memories with these two wonderful friends! I treasure them and the time we spent bringing happiness to the listeners at the resort.

So, what music takes you back to your best memories? I’d love to hear your comments!

FREE eBook! “Forsaken by Love”

May7

If you haven’t had the chance to read “His Heart’s Long Journey,” this is the perfect time to grab a copy of “Forsaken by Love,” which is the first book in the three-book series. May 7th thru May 11th, you can get a free eBook copy on Amazon! And don’t worry…book one doesn’t end with a cliffhanger like I do in several of my other series. You’ll be happy to find a satisfying ending. However, I hope it will inspire you to move on to book two and three for the continued story of Vern Harpole. He has some incredible adventures!

This series is based on the true story of my friend, Ann Wood’s, ancestor. Annie told me the story when we met for lunch one day, and she kindly gave me permission to write about Vern’s life and helped me with as many details as she could remember from things passed down through the family.

Vern Harpole was only eight years old when his mother left him on the porch of a bakery in Kansas City. She abandoned him and disappeared. Though Vern was taken in and raised by the kind baker and his wife, Vern still struggled with his abandonment. Once he became a grown man, he felt compelled to go West.

This story tells how he found his true love–who had her own troubled past–and how they supported each other and found a way to move forward together.

Grab your free eBook today! Here’s the link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082QWKM56

Have You Taken the Journey Yet?

Jul22

It’s the perfect time for summer traveling, but with today’s high gas prices, it’s not always feasible. So, here’s an alternative!

Take a journey with me through the pages of “His Heart’s Long Journey!” This series is based on the true story of Vern Harpole. At the age of eight, Vern is abandoned by his mother and left on the porch of a bakery in Kansas City. The kind baker and his wife take Vern in after they’re unable to locate Vern’s mother.

They teach Vern everything he needs to know about baking and running a business. They also grow to love him, and vice versa. Yet, the need to know why he was abandoned troubles Vern, and he can’t let it go. In addition, something keeps compelling him to go West. His life’s journey takes him on quite an adventure.

Today thru Tuesday, July 26th, book one, “Forsaken by Love” is available as a FREE download from Amazon. Here’s a little more about the book!

Ready to read?!

Why Read?

Apr27

Since you’re reading this blog, that tells me you do read! Excellent!

I’m curious, do you read books? I’m not asking as a means to tell you to go out and buy mine, (although if you decide to do that, that’s okay, too😊), I’d like to know because I hear more and more that people swear books are becoming a “thing of the past.”

Simply pondering that idea hurts my heart–and not only because I’m an author. Books have played a big part in my life. I have my favorites from my childhood like the “Little House” books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, and “The Chronicles of Narnia,” by C. S. Lewis. I used to love getting those little flyers in school with the order forms allowing us to be able to buy books and have them delivered right to the classroom. What a wonderful treat! I don’t know if they even do that anymore.

As I got older, I still read the previously mentioned books (many times), and expanded to “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings.” The list of what I’ve read is vast, so I’m not going to put you through reading that. However, I treasure every hour spent with my nose in those pages.

I’ve discussed the subject of declining readers with several of my author friends, and they’ve told me that at in-person events, people will ask them, “When’s the movie coming out?” and go on to say, “I don’t read.” Ouch!

We’d all love to have our books turned into movies, and I hope I see that happen before I leave this earth. However, even if that does happen, I can guarantee that there’s so much more to experience by reading the book and not just seeing the movie. Movies have a limited amount of time, so a lot of details are whittled down to accommodate the time constraint.

I understand the entertainment value of movies. I happen to LOVE movies. They’re a quick entertainment fix. Maybe people are reading less because they feel it takes too long, or perhaps they feel pressured to keep busy and won’t allow themselves the time for it. I sure hope that society hasn’t made people feel that they’re not permitted to slow down long enough to indulge in the experience of really “living a story.”

When you open the pages of a book, or fire up your e-reader, your mind will take you to another place, and maybe even another time. It’s important to keep our minds sharp and active, and extremely crucial to use our imaginations. Movies offer the interpretation of the screen writers, directors, set designers, and actors. As a reader, you become those people and even the costume coordinator if the author doesn’t go into a lot of detail in that regard. Some are more descriptive than others. You paint the picture in your mind’s eye, and if the author has done their job, you’ll also feel what the characters are experiencing.

I refuse to believe that our need to have everything quickly in our grasp means the death of reading. There are thousands of books that will never be made into movies, and if you only allow yourself that format of experiencing a story, you’ll miss out on so much.

So please, pick up a book and remind yourself what it’s like to dive headfirst into an adventure. The original “virtual reality.” No helmet required, just your brain. You might be surprised to find that you have an amazing imagination!

I prefer a paper book!

Whispers from the Cove

Mar11

When I first visited Cades Cove in the Smoky Mountains, I was taken back in time. If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you’ve likely seen many posts about the smokies and my passion for the history of the cove and the people who lived there.

I’m excited to share this beautiful video produced by Vince Pinkerton! He captured the feel of my story and gave me abundant chills in the process. It’s incredible to see this come to life, if only for a brief 30-second clip!

If you’ve not yet delved into the Smoky Mountain Secrets Saga, I hope you’ll consider giving it a read. Book one is just the beginning. After all, the series is a ‘saga.’ My prayer is that we’ll learn from our history and not repeat the same mistakes.

“Whispers from the Cove” is available on Amazon in paperback, ebook, and audiobook. Here’s the link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06ZYYY5WK

Are You Puzzled?

Jun17

For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved puzzles. Mainly, jigsaw puzzles, but I’m also fond of word games like crosswords and word searches. I’ve heard that doing those keeps your brain active, and as I grow older, that becomes more and more important. My parents are in their eighties and still sharp as ever, so I’m hopeful that I’ve inherited their sharpness genes.

So what is it about jigsaw puzzles that draws me in? Maybe it’s because I like to fix things, and if I see something all discombobulated, I want to make it right. Plus, it’s so much fun watching an image come together. I don’t know about you, but I get a happy thrill every time I put a piece in place. I guess it’s good that it doesn’t take much to amuse me!

My first puzzle memory is from when I was about six years old. We lived in Spokane, Washington at that time, and there was a local fair a short distance down the road from us. It was one of those sorts that was likely put on by the high school and run by teenagers. They had all kinds of games and activities for children. I can’t remember what the particular game was that caught my eye, but the prize for winning the game was a puzzle. They were used puzzles donated by the organizers of the event. Used or not, I didn’t care. Trouble was, I didn’t have any money and couldn’t play the game. So, was that a good memory? Oddly, yes, since it makes me smile to remember it. I didn’t get a puzzle from that fair, but my desire for jigsaw puzzles never left me.

I have quite a collection now, and many of my puzzles have been put together more times than I can count. Most of them have 1,000 pieces, and I can usually put them together in a few days’ time. I like to work on them in the evenings after a day of writing. It helps me relax, but it also allows me time to gather my thoughts for my next day of writing.

I like the puzzles that have interesting pieces–those that aren’t a typical shape. They make the entire process more challenging. However, I also appreciate pieces that fully interlock. So, I guess you could say, I love any type of puzzle.

I recently put together the most tight-fitting puzzle I’ve ever encountered. So tight that I could hold it up in the air while it still had a lot of pieces missing. Hopefully, you can see what I mean in this photo.

Yep! You can see right through the middle, and nothing fell apart when I held it up. Crazy! This is the kind of puzzle that wouldn’t even need glue if you decided to frame it.

I always start by putting together the border. I think that’s pretty typical, thought my son tells me it would be more challenging if I didn’t. From the picture on the box, I also know what it’s supposed to look like when it’s done. Again, my son tells me not to look at the image to increase the challenge of putting it together. I try that sometimes, but there are certain puzzles that stump me and I have to look.

I think my writing style is similar to the way I construct puzzles. I know how I want a story to start, (thus the border), and I know how I want it to end. (Like the finished picture). But the middle often takes me in different directions. I may add a piece that takes me down an unexpected road. Those little surprises makes the process so much fun! A character who I think is minor becomes a major part in putting together the puzzle of my story.

I suppose I also like to fix the discombobulated lives of my characters. I promise a happy ending–eventually–but they usually go through many challenges on their way to attaining it.

Thank you for reading, and I’d love to hear your ‘puzzling’ stories, too!

Write on!

The Love of Cotton Candy

May3

Isn’t it amazing how a simple smell or taste can take you back to your childhood? Of course, some of those reminders might be bad, like the flavor of nasty-tasting medicine, or the odor that lingered when you accidentally stepped in a pile of doggy doo while out trick-or-treating. Yep, that happened to me!

However, I want to talk about a good memory!

When I was a child, my parents would take me to one of those home-town carnivals that came through town every year around the Fourth of July. The carnival was part of a community festival called Frontier Days. In addition to the carnival rides and games, there was also a parade. I’ve seen photos of me and my siblings dressed up as pioneers in a make-shift covered wagon. I was very young then, but it was memorable enough that I recall thinking we were pretty awesome.

Now, back to the whole smell and taste thing. The simple thought of that particular event immediately sparks memories of an assortment of smells: Popcorn, the sawdust spread on the ground beneath some of the stomach-churning rides, mud from the rain that always seemed to dampen the celebration every year, beer, and cotton candy.

Cotton candy.

My first memory of popping some of that fluffy confection into my mouth comes from one of those Frontier Day’s celebrations. I clearly remember my aunt, Judy, telling me the proper way to eat cotton candy. She said that in order to avoid getting completely sticky, you needed to pull off a small amount and literally pop it into your mouth, doing all you could to avoid touching your fingers to your lips and getting them wet. Putting your mouth directly on the spool of fluff was a no-no. Especially if you planned to share your treat!

I didn’t do such a good job instructing my grandson.

The photo is a little blurry, but you get the idea! I tried to teach him to ‘pop,’ but he dove right in!

Now that I’m older, I like getting sticky even less, but I still love cotton candy. Recently, I discovered a new kind of ice cream that has rocked my world! Kroger brand has cotton candy flavored ice cream called Mermaid Sparkle. It’s to die for. Best of all, you can eat it with a spoon and you won’t get sticky.

Sure, there are many foods I enjoy, but I can’t think of any others that produce so many wonderful memories. Our lives are a patchwork of memories, and I feel it’s important to cherish all of them. I’ve learned a lot from my past. Not only how to properly eat cotton candy, but after my other experience, I know to watch where I walk on Halloween.

Life is a journey, and I want to thank you for sharing these memories with me!

God bless!

Appreciating the ‘Simple’ Things

Apr15

I’ve lost count of how often I’ve said, “We’re living in crazy times.”

For anyone who has lost a loved one from this virus or is currently ill with Covid-19, I’m sure the words to describe it would be much harsher than ‘crazy.’

We’ve all experienced loss. As it is with this new virus, sometimes it’s unexpected and tragic, other times, it comes from a lengthy illness or simply because we’ve reached the age that our bodies shut down. But even when we have the chance to prepare ourselves emotionally for the moment we’ll have to let go of the person we love, we’re never ready. We don’t want to lose anyone we cherish.

Life never guarantees another day. That’s something else I’ve heard and said for as long as I can remember. The older I get, the more I appreciate the wisdom in being told to appreciate the simple things and enjoy every moment with the people I love.

Since there’s more than enough gloom and doom in the media, I don’t want this post to be about the negative aspects of what we’re facing. I want to express the good I see in being alive every day. In addition, I’d love to hear from you and know what you enjoy the most in your day-to-day living.

I love that first sip of coffee that’s waiting for me the instant I walk into my kitchen. I’m grateful for the electricity that continues to flow through my home, even when I’m sleeping, so that my automatic coffee maker comes on at the right time. And speaking of electricity–that alone is something to cheer from the rooftops!

I have hot water for my shower and to readily wash my hands umpteen times each day. Electricity powers my laptop, so I can continue to write, and it recharges my phone, so I can stay in touch with family and friends. It keeps my refrigerator cold, so my food doesn’t spoil, and it keeps the food in my freezer frozen for the long haul.

I have a sweet husband who’s happy to go out and do the grocery shopping and other necessary tasks like picking up the mail. As for me, I stay comfortably at home, writing. And what a blessing that is! I still get to escape with my characters to other times and places, and I’m graced with wonderful emails and messages from readers who thank me for taking their minds off the current issues. If that’s not a good reason to smile, I don’t know what is. Thank you, readers!

I have a loyal dog who gets me moving when I’ve been sitting too long. We may only go out into the yard, but at least I’m getting out of the house for a few minutes. He’s been overly happy lately, because I never leave him.

I bought the ‘Stay at Home Dog’ shirt months before this virus came to be. At the time, I thought it was simply cute, but now, it’s fitting. He loves being at home, and I’m thankful he’s here.

I have word games on my phone to entertain me when my brain needs a rest from writing, and jigsaw puzzles that I love to put together. The bigger the better. I even dug out some puzzles that I’ve had since I was a little girl. The photo at the bottom of this post is one of them. I try to challenge myself by not looking at the picture while I’m working them, but I still like to start by putting the border together. My son says I shouldn’t do that. He’s trying to get me to work them from the middle out, but I have yet to try that. With one exception… I found a border-less puzzle that not only didn’t have a border, it also had five additional pieces, just to throw me off! It was called an “Impossible” puzzle, but I’m happy to say that I mastered it. Such fun!

I’ve been taking the time to experiment with new recipes, and I’ve also cooked things that I hadn’t made in years. Like old-fashioned tapioca pudding. It’s so good when it’s hot off the stove! And if you want a wonderful treat, cook up some stove-top chocolate pudding and put it over vanilla ice cream. It’s delicious. Even better than hot fudge.

I’m grateful that I’ve not lost touch with my church friends. I sing in the church choir, and we’d been practicing for an Easter cantata, but of course, that didn’t happen. Still, we meet once a week on Zoom. We don’t sing, but we lift each other up in prayer and share how our lives are going. Eventually, when we can get back together again, we’ll sing the cantata. Easter should be lived every day of our lives, so even though the date might not be the ‘right’ one, the message always is. God is gracious and still in control, and though we might not understand why we’re going through these troubled times, He knows. His love never leaves us.

Maybe we all needed the opportunity to take a deep breath and slow down. Even so, I hate to see anyone suffer. I’d like everyone to be able to get back to work and doing what they love.

So, tell me what makes you smile, and what you love the most! We’ll get through this together and be stronger for it.

For the Love of a Chihuahua

Sep3

I got my first furry pet when I was in elementary school. Second grade, I think. She was a solid black cat named Midnight, who I found on the school grounds and brought home. Originally, Mom insisted she stay outside, but when the first rainstorm rolled in and Midnight pawed at the back door, Mom’s heart melted and she brought her inside.

From that day on, we had cats. Lots of cats. We did what we could to come up with the most unusual names for them. After Midnight, we had Precious, (not so odd), Googey, Silmarillion, (my sister is a Tolkien fan!), Sarazar, Lithwaite, and Smokey. There were a few others, too, but these stood out the strongest in my memory.

Even after I left home, I continued to have cats. Luna was a big favorite. She was a beautiful Himalayan who went to live with my mom when I moved across the country. Upon arriving in the south, I had a cat adopt me. Spooky (another black cat) showed up on my doorstep on Halloween. Coincidental? Probably.

Spooky was a very cool cat, but three years after my arrival in Tennessee, I met my current husband. A man who is severely allergic to cats! Dog gone it! When we got married, Spooky went to live with a friend of mine. Sandy, my friend, had a pet hedgehog, and soon, Spooky and the hedgehog became best buddies.

Many years have passed since then, and for a long time, I was utterly petless. Then, my son left for college, and my husband and I became empty nesters. I never thought I would be affected by the quietness of our home with just the two of us in it, but it hit me hard. Because of my blues, my husband brought home Sophie, a sweet black Labrador. Eventually, Sophie had a litter of puppies, and we added Misty and Dusty to our home. They are the yellow Labs in this photo. Cute, huh?

I discovered I was a dog person, and I finally felt content giving up my love of having a cat in the house. My new big babies eventually weighed over 90 lbs. each, but that didn’t stop me from cuddling them. Labradors are incredibly lovable. They enriched our lives for over thirteen years, and when they died–all within a year of each other–my heart broke.

I decided I wasn’t going to go through that pain again.

BUT . . .

Odd how things change. A friend told me she was looking for a home for her Chihuahua. I never thought I’d like a little dog, after becoming so fond of the big ones, but Jax changed my mind and my heart. He has wormed his way in deep! This little guy has brought abundant joy and love into our home. He’s my companion when I write, and he does a great job of getting me off my rump every hour to take him outside. It’s easy to get caught up in my stories and lose track of time, and I used to set an alarm. Otherwise, I’d sit for so long, my legs would fall asleep!

Because of Jax, I’m moving a whole lot more, and I have no need for the alarm. He has his daily routine, which includes getting up at 5:30am. I don’t mind. He starts my day with joy, and in the evenings, when I’m relaxing and watching TV, he curls up on my lap and keeps me warm. His disposition is generally good, but he hates my telephone and gets jealous if I’m talking on it or playing games. (I love playing word games!) He wants the attention and whines when I give it to anyone or anything else. Maybe I’m spoiling him, but one thing’s for sure. I’m feeding off his unconditional love.

I still like cats, but since I can’t own one any longer, I’m grateful to have discovered the love of a Chihuahua. He’s about the size of cat, so maybe in that way, he’s a better substitution than the Labradors. He’s definitely easier to cuddle.

I heard that petting an animal can lower your blood pressure and reduce stress. I totally agree!