The Loss of a Friend

One of my grade school classmates died suddenly this week from some yet-unknown health issue. Eventually, after the autopsy is finished, family and friends will know what struck down the man liked by so many, but now all we can do … finish reading The Loss of a Friend

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The Buffalo Chip Lady

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I love looking at old photos collected on historical  internet sites like KansasMemory.org. One of the most famous photos, that of a woman gathering cow chips, depicts the typical life of a pioneer woman in many people’s minds. Here’s this … finish reading The Buffalo Chip Lady

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Why were these Quilts kept?

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We had a warm sunny day this week, so I pulled out a tub of quilts I inherited from Lois, my mother-in-law. They had been stored in a cedar chest, made as a high school project by her future husband … finish reading Why were these Quilts kept?

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Orphaned Quilt Blocks find a new Home

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I found three quilt blocks, tucked in different drawers in different dressers, when sorting for my parent’s move from the farm into town recently. I wondered when these orphaned blocks were sewn, and why they were not incorporated into a … finish reading Orphaned Quilt Blocks find a new Home

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Pick a Trail of Thread for your Christmas Gift

Need to finish your Christmas shopping? Or maybe start your shopping? I heard from one reader that bought a Kindle as a gift, and was downloading books for the recipient to read right away. She had downloaded my TRAIL OF … finish reading Pick a Trail of Thread for your Christmas Gift

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A Great Story is a Great Gift

I got an email from another author with this headline today and I thought—this statement is so true. The author was promoting his books for the Christmas season, and it was a good opening line. I like the statement because … finish reading A Great Story is a Great Gift

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The Pioneer’s Cyber Monday Sales

While we’re ordering our holiday gifts online today because of Cyber Monday sales, I can’t help but think of the contrast of now, versus 150 years ago, when Kansas was being homesteaded by pioneers of several different nationalities. Think how … finish reading The Pioneer’s Cyber Monday Sales

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Our Family’s Thanksgiving Table

As we get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow, my mind wanders back to the simple Thanksgiving days of my youth—50+years ago—when my mom, grandma, or aunts hosted the noon meal. Each year we rotated to whose house we would go … finish reading Our Family’s Thanksgiving Table

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Flooding Memories

(This month I’m posting excerpts from my books and telling you the story behind them.) I remember several floods while growing up on the farm I featured in my Butter in the Well book series. The creek runs through the … finish reading Flooding Memories

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The Story behind the Immigrant’s Journey

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When researching the history of our family farm for my book, Butter in the Well, I found stories written down by Julia Olson that her mother—Kajsa Runneberg—had told her about their homesteading days. Julia was our neighbor to the north, … finish reading The Story behind the Immigrant’s Journey

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