I long ago gave up the idea of being the cool parent that all my kids’ friends would adore. Since I make up stories and talk to invisible people, I’m much better suited to being the “weird mom.” As a writer, I probably spend too much time locked in my house, or hanging out with … Read More
kids
Friday Book Pick: The Girl’s Guide to Your Dream Room by Sherry Kyle
My eleven-year-old’s room is in a pretty sad state: Beatrix Potter curtains, pale pink walls, scattered piles of forgotten toys, and stacks and stacks of books… It doesn’t match the young woman she’s becoming. After a long day of middle school, ballet practice, and an evening chatting with friends on FaceTime, the last thing she … Read More
Old-Time Soda Fountain Drinks @Home: The Brown Cow
While writing my Prohibition-era novel, Mistaken, I did plenty of research on 1920s soda fountains. And tasty research it was, too! If you’ve always wanted to sample some of these old favorites, you’re in luck. I’m going to be running a series of posts on old-time soda fountain recipes you can make @home. Just so … Read More
Friday Book Pick (and bonus interview!): THE HEART STONE by Sherry Kyle
I love reading novels that feel like they reflect the seasons, and as summer begins, my thoughts always turns to the beach. I recently finished reading The Heart Stone by author Sherry Kyle, and this lovely California novel was as pleasant as a walk on the shore. Sherry Kyle is a friend of mine, so as … Read More
How to Balance When Your Life is Spinning
My family is going NUTS. It’s Nutcracker week for the Barnett household and everything is spinning around my ten-year-old daughter, the ballerina. It started back in September with auditions and ends this week with tech rehearsals, dress rehearsals, and five performances. We rush home from school and go into production mode. Hair, makeup, a rushed dinner, … Read More
Finding my smile…
I had a super-grouchy day a couple of days ago. For me, the bright spot about crab-cake days is they’re often followed up by spots of sunshine, a little touch of joy breaking through the emotional clouds. Here are a few things that made my smile break through. The sun shining through the brightly-colored fall … Read More
Braiding a Story
Yesterday, my 10-year-old daughter taught me how to do a fishtail braid. I twisted, gathered, and plaited her long, blonde hair, as a familiar tension gathered in my chest. I would glance to the left, knowing I needed to gather a lock from over there and weave it to the right, somehow combining it in … Read More
Listen in at my house…
Yesterday, my son ran up to me, an accusatory tone in his voice, “Mom, she LICKED the dog!” “Sweetie,” I glared at my daughter. “Don’t lick the dog.” (I added this to my list of things I never thought I’d have to say). She retorted, “HE licked the dog first!” *** My nine-year-old smiled at … Read More
A Conversation with a Repentant Pup
Hmm. Where is the dog? Doesn’t she usually meet me at the door all wags and slobbers? Mystery? Where are you? Oh. So why are hiding behind the sofa with your head between your paws? Is that a hair clip? Or, should I say, WAS that a hairclip? Bad dog. Oh, well. It was just a cheapie … Read More
Playing at History
Courtesy of Colonial Williamsburg Foundation How did you learn about history? Did you memorize lists of dates from dusty old textbooks or did you dive into historical novels like Little House on the Prairie and The Red Badge of Courage? Today, history is refusing to stay confined within the covers of books and teachers and history … Read More