Sign Post
Author is announcing a short break, a temporary hiatus from blogging. “Be back soon” she tells her readers today.
What Are Your Favorite Smells from Childhood?
10 Scents from My Young Life 1. Saffron in Grandma’s pot pie Grandma used burnt-orange threads of saffron from a white packet. Mine comes in a tiny glass jar from Homegoods, more expensive, of course. 2. Tomatoes on vine in our Bainbridge, Pennsylvania...
Our 58th Anniversary with Advice from Jay Leno
August 5, 1967: How I Learned What it Means to Obey The summer Cliff and I got married I served as a secretary in the office of Pastor Deane Ballard at Calvary Presbyterian Church. As our wedding day approached, I got to choose the wording of our marriage vows....
Mother Longenecker: Her Life in Pictures
Today, July 23rd, is my mother's birthday. If she were still alive, she'd be 107 years old now. Ruth Landis Metzler grew up in a Mennonite family on a farm near Manheim, Pennsylvania, the first daughter of Abram Hernley Metzler and Sadie Landis Metzler, born after...
The Tale of the Squirrel and the Bird-feeder
Squirrels steal bird-seed from the new bird-feeder in our backyard. How can we fix the problem? Read to discover our attempts at a solution.
The Best Hostess Gift Ever
Flowers, a bottle of wine, a box of candy, even a potted plant---these are the gifts guests often choose to present to a gracious host, responding to an invitation. My neighbor Mila offers both gifts when she comes to our house for lunch or supper. Mila...
Ten Snapshots from My Day
My home is open today. You are welcome to step inside. Come on in! After breakfast, I move to the blue velvet chair, the one I use for meditation, Bible reading and prayer with names of people I know and care about written on a prayer card. Sort...
How Nature Heals: The Gift of Spring
Once Upon a Time . . . . . . in a land far away lived a king and queen in a beautiful palace. They had everything in the whole world to make them happy, but the queen was sick and very sad. She sat in her chair by the window and thought, “Oh, I wish I...
True Love Finds a Way: Walking the Salt Path
What if you lost your home? lost your livelihood? had a dire diagnosis? With triple trauma, Raynor Winn, armed with Paddy Dillon’s guidebook and husband Moth with a copy of Beowulf, embark on a 630-mile walk on the sea-swept South West Coast Path. From Somerset...
Our Sago Palm Saga: Thank Goodness for Change
This post shows how a dying palm tree can be resurrected. It also illustrates how nature can restore itself with parallels to humans.
Sarah and Isaac, mother and son: Wordless Wednesday
Ninety-year-old Sarah with son Isaac demonstrates one of the miracles of God in the Old Testament of the Bible.
Too Much of a Good Thing
It's sometimes easy to spot too much of a good thing! An Overeaters' Tanka Fried chicken and pie Burger with bun, cookies too Huge slice choc'late cake Oh, you sure must wish to die Too much of a good thing—fie! ©MLB 2025 A Tanka is a Japanese lyrical...
Belle da Costa Greene: A Woman of Two Worlds
In Honor of Women's History Month 2025 Belle da Costa Greene, courtesy of J. P. Morgan Exhibitions My Review In the lush world of literature and the arts, librarian Ms. Belle da Costa Greene rises along with the fortunes of New York financier and...
Should I Write a Novel?
When I retired from college teaching, my colleagues gifted me with an illustrated Alice in Wonderland. Last week when I pulled this book from the shelf, I flipped through the illustrations, focusing on the characters, especially the March Hare. Why?...
February Fun Fax
In January 2025 I didn’t make New Year’s resolutions. At least not consciously. Last month I thought, “I’ll just do what I have been doing, but maybe try to do it better”—blogging, Pilates, making meals, keeping up with friends and gardening. This year (I’m thinking...
Oh My Gosh, the Wash!
How well I remember the sensation of the twin rubber rollers on the wringer of Mom’s white enamel washing machine pressing down hard on my young flesh from hand to lower arm—my screams—then Mom’s quick thrust, disengaging my arm from the wringer....
Stitching Memories: Fabric Art
From January to June 1967, creating my wedding gown kept me in stitches. Before my August wedding date, I was thrilled to first find a pattern, purchase fabric, and then fashion a white peau de soie dress on a budget. My roommates in the little bungalow on Middleton...
Breakthrough: Broken and Healing
Breakthrough “What a gorgeous day to take a walk,” I exclaimed to Barbara, my walking partner for years as we ambled down the streets of our neighborhood. “Yes, and isn’t it great: 65 degrees in December, and we don’t have to wear jackets” was her reply. We both pride...