During the colder months of the year, the minute our goats hear me outside in the morning, they begin crying out very loudly for their hay ration. Mmmmaaaaaaaaa echoes round and round the dark barnyard until their breakfast hits their … Read more

Surprise! After three and a half COVID-free years, I had just tested positive. I had hoped that I would continue to be one of the few who would not contract COVID, but it was not to be. I had been as reasonably cautious as anyone in … Read more

Earl Grey came to me after two other families had failed to collect him. He is a grey tabby, and he loves to get into everything. I have discovered him everywhere from inside my mop pail to inside a cloth bag that had been left on the … Read more

Some things simply cannot be explained because information is missing. Complex sentences are composed of one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. Like my being dependent on my parents until I reached legal status, the … Read more

Feelings don't always mirror reality. Frank had hit bottom. He couldn't imagine losing any more than he had already lost. His roller-coaster ride began with his wife's confession of unfaithfulness. He'd had his suspicions, and he had … Read more

These days, we live in a society that is so litigious — "unreasonably prone to go to law to settle disputes". No matter the cause, whenever anything bad happens to someone, the first thought is often, "Who is to blame for this misfortune? … Read more

When my brothers and I were young, we avidly collected chunks of mica and pyrite. Because the minerals sparkled and were beautiful, we assumed that they were valuable. Pyrite is known as "fool's gold", because its metallic shimmer and gold … Read more

As a former coin collector, I have always had a fascination with gold, which is one of our most precious metals. There are several YouTube videos on the Internet that show the painstaking refinement process by which all the dross and … Read more

Fog! Thick, swirling, engulfing fog! And I was hopelessly lost. I had decided to take a shortcut home to save time, but now I had absolutely no idea where I was. My GPS was in a drawer somewhere in my house, and I no longer carried maps … Read more

I used to keep today's verse taped to the steering wheel of my car, especially on long trips out of state, because, as you perfectly well know, guys like me don't often ask for directions. Whenever I got lost anywhere, … Read more

As I was thinking about making a jack-o'-lantern, I realized that the poor pumpkin has to go through some pain in order to become a jack-o'-lantern. Yes, I know the pumpkin can't feel anything. Imagine with me, though, for a … Read more

Frances Ridley Havergal is perhaps one of the most well-known hymn writers of the nineteenth century. Her hymn of consecration and service, "Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee," is included in most hymnals. During her … Read more

I'm sure we have all had times with family or friends when we need to reason things out with them. I remember a few years ago when I was trying to reason some difficult things out with some friends. None … Read more

Recently, I went to the cupboard to find a muffin to eat. I had baked some a few days prior. Oh my, was it ever dry! I immediately stuck it in the microwave, and it came out nice and hot, … Read more

Recently I turned on the television. Selecting a channel at random, I found a documentary recording the Alaska earthquake. My mind sped into action. I remembered it as though it were yesterday: my husband and I were northbound up the … Read more

Life is a test, and we take a pop quiz on putting our faith into action each day. On the back of my car is a sign that reads, "Erin Presbyterian … the best wee church in town." I want … Read more

I stood looking at the small, austere grave of Frances Ridley Havergal in the graveyard of the church of St. Peter, Astley, Worcestershire, England. I remembered that she not only wrote hymns and composed music, but also set herself the … Read more