Yesterday, February 24, 2026, Arcadia/Pelican released the third book in my Ranch Girl series, Ranch Girl and the Plan. In this book, Toby Greely’s family faces a bleak Christmas because of his father’s serious illness. Kelsi, Ampara, and Toby devise a plan called Operation Merry Greely Christmas to brighten the holiday, and it is a … Continue reading Release of RANCH GIRL AND THE PLAN
Going to Innisfree
So—2026 sneaked in while I wasn’t looking because I was laid low by what a kind, highly efficient nurse practitioner designated a heavy viral load. The aches, pains, fever, and congestion that started at Christmas have just now loosened their gnarly grip. I am almost back to normal. When I am unwell, I return to … Continue reading Going to Innisfree
Social Ties and a Youthful Brain
Several days ago, I was reading an article about practices that help keep our brains young and memory strong as we age. I don’t remember all the practices, no irony intended, but starting a new hobby you’ll stick with was one of them. Knitting was considered particularly good. Among the other practices researchers touted were … Continue reading Social Ties and a Youthful Brain
Elizabeth Crook, Sharon Creech, and Ann Patchett
I’ve been out this morning watching the deer watch me. At about 6 a.m., I made my coffee and took it outside to go on a stroll around the premises with our cats. The early morning on our farm/ranch is perfect these summer days, and I can’t help but admire God’s lovely handiwork. We had … Continue reading Elizabeth Crook, Sharon Creech, and Ann Patchett
The Stories We Read and Write
I have completed reading two good books the last couple of weeks, and I want to talk about them in a bit. But first, I want to discuss a couple of the writing projects I'm excited about. I just completed writing Classroom Guides for my two middle-grade fiction books, Ranch Girl and the Orphan Lamb … Continue reading The Stories We Read and Write
Making Progress in the World of Words
The Storytellers, Nacogdoches, Texas Carl Sandburg, three-time Pulitzer Prize winner in Literature, once said, “I’m an idealist. I don’t know where I’m going, but I’m on my way.” I find this an optimistic view about doing. Sometimes we have to start doing. In my previous blog post (“Spring Resolutions: Reading, Writing, & Blogs”), I made … Continue reading Making Progress in the World of Words
Spring Resolutions-Reading, Writing, & Blogs
Most people make New Year’s resolutions, but I have decided to make mid-spring resolutions instead. The middle of May seems as good a time as any for resolutions. Some of those resolutions follow: Resume writing consistent blog posts. I enjoy blogging and have published ninety posts since I began on May 20, 2022. Over the … Continue reading Spring Resolutions-Reading, Writing, & Blogs
2025: Week 16 – Bookish
I’ve just finished Lucy Mangan’s latest ‘Bookish’, a lively toddle through her extensive bookshelves with accompanying comments on her journey … 2025: Week 16 – Bookis This post is from a blog I follow called Country Gate. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Click on “Week 16–Bookish.”
Our Daily Work: Ranch Girl and a Boy Named Toby
Literary Texas: Dorothy Scarborough, Part 2
Dorothy Dorothy Scarborough who is best known for her book The Wind is not a familiar name to most readers of today, but in 1920’s Texas, she was famous—or infamous to some in Sweetwater. Part 1 of this blog post, a couple of posts before this one, discusses her birth in Mt. Carmel, Texas, and … Continue reading Literary Texas: Dorothy Scarborough, Part 2