Subscribe to our newsletter
Enter your email address below and subscribe to our newsletter
Essays
Share this
Read It: July 2020
Happy July! It is officially summer, so as you pack your sunscreen for a day at the beach, make sure to also pack these books in your beach bag. This month has some incredible new releases.
Jaybirds at the Beach
So, as soon as the weather breaks, and there is even a hint of summer, I’m digging out the beach umbrella, gathering up a blanket, packing a lunch into a cooler and I’m heading out for a day at the…
Dad’s Work Gloves
After sorting the nails and screws on the top of the bench, a ray of sun burst through the narrow window of the tiny basement room, illuminating the edge of something wedged between the workbench and the wall. Just two…
A Bag Lady without the Bag
The path was stony, littered with manure, and presented many tripping hazards, especially for those of us who were young when Bruce Springsteen was young, which was the whole group. The flight from Cape Town to Kasane was uneventful except…
Anjana Duff: Sharing the Beauty of the World
A successful travel advisor and owner of Travel Connection, specializing in luxury trips to Europe and the Caribbean, mother of two and happily married to her husband of 30 years, Anjana Duff, has built a life of beauty – and…
From the Editor: If Not Now, When?
I am not well traveled, but I have always liked leaving town for a few days in the mountains or, when the children were young, a trip to Disney or even camping (never my idea). But my youngest child, my…
June 2020: Read It!
These three novels stress the importance of friendship. Each book showcases strong, brave women, facing unthinkable life-changing events. These stories will transport you to a different place and/or time. These are books that you will want to read and discuss with your friends.
Cover Artist: Francois Grosliere
Francois Grosliere was born in Clermont-Ferrand (France) and pursued his studies in Civil Engineering. Drawing while continuing evening classes at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Clermont-Ferrand, he began his career at Ecole Brassart in Tours as an advertising draftsman.…
Corona-cation
The past few weeks have certainly been a way to unwind, slow-down, and clean out, while surely being one of the most stressful situations of our lives. “If I only had more time,” “If I could only catch up on…
June 2020: Kids Read It!
The Magnificent Brookgreen Gardens Story House Books teaches children of all ages about nature and how each of us can do our part. These books would be fun paired with an actual visit to Brookgreen.
Helping Seniors Cope with COVID-19
One of the ways senior living communities benefit our elder citizens is by providing fun activities as a way for them to connect with others through shared interests. These newfound friendships are something that residents don’t expect when moving in.…
The Only Way to Fly
There was a time when flying so petrified me that I could barely step into an airport, even if I was just seeing someone off. I love to go on vacation. My problem is the getting there. I hate to…
Breakfast with my Late Husband
Before David could retire, our church was packed for his funeral. I jerked awake alone in our bed meant for two. Donning my robe, I hurried to the kitchen to make French toast in memory of my late husband David’s…
Thelma and Louise (But Safer) Kitti Baker and Lana Pike
The first thing I thought when I met Kitti Baker and Lana Pike, was, these women know how to have fun! And, as our conversation progressed, I saw deep affection and friendship with bonds firmly cemented by time and travel.…
The Mission of Art: Rebecca Zdybel
Like many of us, Rebecca Zdybel found her passion in an empty nest. An award-winning, gifted artist and teacher, Rebecca spent her early years first working as an R.N. and then raising her family with her husband of 40 years.…
Cover Artist: Julie Ryder
Julie Ryder is an Australian mixed media artist with a background in teaching and floral design. Her passion is color and loves to work on canvas using acrylic paint and combine lots of other mediums such as beads, paper, ink,…
Read It: May 2020
Front Porch Diaries
When 2020 began, so many people made yearly resolutions for their lives – businesses, relationships, etc. Going back and doing a search for #2020resolutions, I found the overly popular “workout more,” and “eat healthy,” but some of the other more…
Mom in the Mirror
I couldn’t take the same paths my mom traveled because that would mean acknowledging her choices and agreeing with them. I’m thirteen years old, riding in the backseat of my parents’ Chevrolet Celebrity with my sister. We are headed south…
A Grandpa’s Tall Tail
And then one day it happened. I would be tested to see just how great a Grandpa I really was. I wasn’t lucky enough to have had a real relationship with my grandparents. By the time I was born, my…