Category: From My Book
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Mountain Lake Lodge
When I moved to Virginia, I was determined to see the famous landmarks near me by searching for local events and holiday traditions in the region. When I ran across an ad for Mountain Lake Lodge in Pembroke, Virginia, I could not believe what I found! This rustic lodge and resort are nestled in the Read more
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Christmas Poetry
Preparing for holidays can be hectic, but the flurry of activity leads to good times ahead. Decorating the Christmas tree with red beads and shiny ornaments, placing the lighted wreath on the front door, setting out holiday knick-knacks, and gathering the Christmas teddy bears to sit on the hearth bring back treasured memories of celebrations Read more
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Falling Spring Falls
Before I moved to Virginia from Oklahoma, I spent hours searching online for awesome sights to see once I settled into my new home. Moving to southwest Virginia meant exhilarating adventures on winding roads through forest-covered mountains leading to rivers, valley streams, and waterfalls. I showed photos to my best friend, Sarah, and told her, Read more
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Fishin’ with My Dad
Father’s Day is next Sunday, June 15, 2025. Fathers everywhere will be celebrated and enjoy a special day to be spoiled by their kids. When I was in college in Oklahoma City, my parents moved to the east coast, and a long-distance relationship was what we had from then on—a once-a-week phone call, letters and Read more
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Mother’s Day
Happy Mother’s Day to all moms around the world, including our feathered friends. It’s springtime, and birds are busy gathering twigs and grasses to build their nests and lay their tiny eggs. Some sparrows have already had a new brood, and we’ve caught them feeding their fledglings and teaching them how to fly. One year, Read more
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Easter Egg Hunt
This year, Easter occurs on April 20th. This day celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ in the Christian religion. It also brings us Easter bunnies and Easter eggs, symbolizing rebirth and the new life of springtime. I remember my folks hiding my Easter basket filled with jellybeans and a chocolate bunny somewhere in the house Read more
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National Poetry Month
April is National Poetry Month. Launched by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, National Poetry Month marks the importance of poets and poetry in our culture. Over the years, it has become the largest literary celebration in the world, with millions of teachers, students, librarians, booksellers, and, of course, poets recognizing the impact of Read more
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Mardi Gras
I never thought much about Mardi Gras until I met a gal who lived in New Orleans. When I lived in Oklahoma City, I worked as a traveling marketing representative for a nationwide insurance company, and she was the company’s marketing rep in Louisiana. Quarterly, we had to fly to San Antonio, Texas, for meetings. Read more
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Shopping
I’ll show my age in this blog, but you already know I’m retired, so I’m obviously old. As a child growing up in Wisconsin, my mom would dress my sister and me in our Sunday best to go shopping in Milwaukee. Mom didn’t drive, so we took the city bus from the suburbs where we Read more
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Hiking and Biking
With frigid winter weather keeping us indoors, I thought it might be uplifting to start making plans for some fair-weather activities. The Roanoke Region in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains is the place to visit if you love the outdoors. The area offers more than 700 miles of trails for hikers and bikers, including the Appalachian Read more