Valentine’s Day is coming. Girls everywhere are thinking of romance and guys are wondering which flowers will make their special girls happy. Or candy. Or whatever they hope will bring smiles. But Valentine’s Day isn’t only for the romantic couples. It can be fun for kids and old folks and all folks. Love comes in many flavors. I’m sending out …
Where Did all this Valentine Stuff Begin
February 15, 1966 Jocie Brooke here reporting from Hollyhill, Kentucky. Do you like candy hearts? I do. They always say something even if it’s mostly silly stuff. Be Mine or Yes or Love U or Let’s Go. But you have to read them before you can eat them. I like Valentine’s Day too. I have ever since I started school …
Clean Desks, Newsletters and Valentines
Cleanliness is next to godliness. I’ve heard that all my life, and the Shakers certainly believed it. That had various sizes and shapes of brooms to get back in every corner and crevase where dirt might hide. As one of my characters said in my last Shaker book, The Innocent, those people warred against dirt. They had a place for everything and expected …
Valentines and Cardinals
February 14, 1966 Jocie Brooke here reporting from Hollyhill, Kentucky on Valentine’s Day. Not that Valentine’s Day means much to me because I don’t have a boyfriend. Thank goodness. Boys are nothing but trouble. My girlfriends are always liking this or that boy and then something happens and there’s tears and gripes. But you have to be careful not to …
Nature’s Valentine
Happy Valentine’s Weekend! Here’s a natural valentine I spotted on one of my walks some time last year. I’ve been saving it for this day. A day late, I know, but we can celebrate love any day, can’t we? As far as I know, nobody carved this heart in this tree. It just happened. A gift of nature. But then …
Dime Store Valentines and Cupcakes
“Be Mine, Valentine.” “I Woof You.” “You’re purr-fect, Valentine!” “You’re doggone cute.” “We’re heart to heart friends.” I know Valentine’s Day is past and it’s 50 weeks before it shows up again. The candy’s gone. The roses have drooped their heads. The cards are beginning to look like clutter. The diamonds are probably still glittering in the rings and necklaces …
A Giveaway to Celebrate Summer of Joy
Celebration time! For a writer, there’s not much more exciting than seeing a new book coming out for readers – even when that new book is simply one dressed up in a new cover. With the re-release of Summer of Joy, in a few weeks, my Heart of Hollyhill books will once more all be in print again and inviting …
Gifts of Love
Valentine’s Day has always been one of my favorite holidays. A day for love. I think it moved up on my favorite list when my children were in elementary school and I was room mother for their school holiday parties. I liked it that all the kids got the same number of Valentines so they could all feel like the …