Blog

secondary_page_flower_photo

As a curious observer of life, I blog on writing, marketing, my prairie - anything that interests me in the moment. I like to have conversations with readers, so don’t hesitate to leave a comment. I'll respond.

Poems are a declaration of hope

By Carol / 31 May 2024 /

  “Poems are a declaration of hope in language” – Maya Chung   voices echo, beckon, come; even tree frogs sing, cicadae’s fiddle, coyotes howl. If we but sit quietly, listen attentively, though we believe…

Read More

A new creative venture – poetry

By Carol / 03 October 2023 /

I’ve undertaken a new creative venture – poetry. Inspired by Poetry Palooza, a poetry-focused event I attended last April, I’ve joined friends who are also interested in giving poetry a try.  Most people I mention…

Read More

Standing up for justice & equality

By Carol / 29 August 2023 /

Human rights have been under attack in Iowa. The onslaught of abortion bans, book bans, and laws targeting LGBTQ+ children – all laws passed by the Iowa legislature this year – has been soul crushing.…

Read More

She Had No Regrets

By Carol / 12 June 2022 /

“What epitaph do you want on your tombstone?” the workshop facilitator asked. After a little thought, I scribbled down, “She Had No Regrets.” At that time I’d recently experienced a moment of clarity about my…

Read More

Go out and do something

By Carol / 27 April 2022 /

“Go out and do something, even if it’s wrong!” That was the advice my husband’s mother gave to her eleven children.  While the ‘even if it’s wrong’ part leads me to imagine all sorts of…

Read More

I’m sorry

By Carol / 19 April 2022 /

This is now I feel today. I’m sorry What does the future look like? For my granddaughters, my step grandsons, the children in pre-schools, the young adults in college? North Korea launches another missile. Is the target South…

Read More
Crystal Bridges - We the People opens exhibit integrating art and racial history

Integrating art and racial history in America

By Carol / 14 March 2022 /

How can integrating America’s art and racial history tell a broader and more accurate story of our country than we commonly see? A remarkable exhibit at Crystal Bridges Museum encouraged me to see it can be…

Read More
mystery, love of reading

“Eighth Day” reflects a love of reading

By Carol / 28 February 2022 /

“Let’s be reasonable and add an eighth day to the week that is devoted exclusively to reading.” – Lena Dunham After reading my post on struggling to read and write, my friend Jean Balser shared…

Read More

Waking up to white privilege

By Carol / 24 April 2018 /

The recent arrest of two black men at a Philadelphia Starbucks raised again the issue of how people of different races are treated in the United States. It’s highly unlikely two white men sitting in…

Read More

Women who teach and encourage – International Women’s Day

By Carol / 08 March 2018 /

On International Women’s Day I salute the women who made the greatest impact on me. They were teachers and encouragers. All of them. My mother, Ruby Denter. She was strong and determined. Until she married…

Read More