By: Jennifer Richardson Holt One topic kept coming back to my mind this week, no matter how many distractions tried to dissuade me. Sure, there were all the nature moments that tug at my heartstrings and make me want to write. There was the smoke rising off distant pastureland, reminding me of my beloved mountains,Continue reading “Where We Fix Our Eyes 8/24/2025”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Beauty, Oddity and the Middle Ground 8/17/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt My daughter is a singularly unique soul. Actually, even that statement feels a bit too broad. Though true, I long for a word better than “unique.” “Extraordinary” comes closer—and I don’t say that merely from the bias of a mother’s heart. She truly is, in so many ways, unlike any otherContinue reading “Beauty, Oddity and the Middle Ground 8/17/2025”
Whispers on the Fence Line 8/10/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I don’t think I will ever be able to stop being amazed by the simplest things in nature. Of course, we’re all awestruck by a mountain view or a thundering waterfall—those are the easy wonders. They require no real effort to appreciate. Even someone indifferent to jewelry can’t deny the beautyContinue reading “Whispers on the Fence Line 8/10/2025”
Of Ice Cream and Sacred Simplicity 8/3/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt My daughter said I should write about ice cream. She gave me this advice one night while we were standing in the backyard, looking up at the sky. I pondered the idea and tried to see where it would take me. I ended up with a stream of consciousness that, honestly,Continue reading “Of Ice Cream and Sacred Simplicity 8/3/2025”
The In-Between Time 7/27/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I heard an analogy the other day that rang very true. This writer described the feeling of that moment when you’re in the last few minutes of a movie or maybe only have one chapter remaining of a novel and you start to worry. There is a certain anxiety that isContinue reading “The In-Between Time 7/27/2025”
Tea with Jack (Sort Of) 7/20/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt We are living in strange days. I suppose, though, if you have any dealings with the popular stories of the day, this isn’t a particularly shocking statement. In fact, I may go so far as to say it’s old news. We’ve come to expect all manner of the unexpected—to the pointContinue reading “Tea with Jack (Sort Of) 7/20/2025”
What She Wanted to Say (and What I Needed to) 7/13/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt This week has flown by, and there’s been a great deal going on. Not to mention, a topic wouldn’t come to me no matter how much random information I threw at myself, hoping something would spark a little creativity. I even came up with the idea to simply ask my daughterContinue reading “What She Wanted to Say (and What I Needed to) 7/13/2025”
Where Liberty Lived–And Still Lives for Good 7/6/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt The concept of freedom has been on my mind as of late. Yes, my nation just celebrated its Independence Day—that’s part of it, I suppose—but it isn’t merely a dose of patriotism that has stirred these thoughts. Honestly, my mind went a million different places, many of which I didn’t expect.Continue reading “Where Liberty Lived–And Still Lives for Good 7/6/2025”
So Ridiculously Much 6/29/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I saw my first truly lovely, colorful sunset yesterday—my first in ages. As I admired the pastel hues, I found myself wondering why it had been so long since I’d seen one. I’ve always been someone who eagerly seeks out a good sunset, yet, aside from yesterday, I can’t even rememberContinue reading “So Ridiculously Much 6/29/2025”
More Than Enough: The Measure of a Man 6/22/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I’m sitting here in the early morning hours, listening to the cicadas sing their unnecessarily loud song. They’ve thrown caution to the wind and are belting out, at full volume, the tones that herald oppressive humidity and afternoon thunderstorms. And as I listen, I’m struck by the fact that I’m notContinue reading “More Than Enough: The Measure of a Man 6/22/2025”
Wrapped Gladly Around His Finger 6/15/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I both am and have produced a Daddy’s girl.I should begin with a qualifier: my mother is my absolute best friend, so I suppose I’m also a Mama’s girl. Is it possible to be both? I think it is—especially considering my daughter may be in the same boat. But that’s anContinue reading “Wrapped Gladly Around His Finger 6/15/2025”
The More the Merrier 6/8/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt There have been balloons hanging in my house for almost a week now. There are cupcakes in my fridge that have been there nearly as long, and a large, themed “Happy Birthday” banner draped across my fireplace. It is framed by the aforementioned balloons. Why, you may be wondering, does myContinue reading “The More the Merrier 6/8/2025”
A Gem in the Middle of Nowhere 6/1/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt A friend of mine from work recently discovered my favorite locally owned grocery store. He’d heard about it for ages—not just from me, but from nearly everyone within a sizeable radius. Calling it a “supermarket” feels a bit exaggerated; perhaps “weemarket” fits better. Yes, I like that—*weemarket* it is. It mayContinue reading “A Gem in the Middle of Nowhere 6/1/2025”
Ghosts of Summers Past
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt My daughter has now finished her 3rd grade school year and summer is upon us. Even she commented on how quickly it seems to have gone by. It feels like we should be maybe mid-February or early March in the school year. Like we’ve been back since Christmas for a whileContinue reading “Ghosts of Summers Past”
The Weight of Dates and Dashes 5/18/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I have long had a fascination with cemeteries. I have actually written here about this before. I have talked about how this is an inherited trait since my parents share this interest. I think once you understand our reasoning for doing so it won’t come across as quite so macabre ofContinue reading “The Weight of Dates and Dashes 5/18/2025”
Different Hands Held Down Different Halls 5/11/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt They are tearing down my old school. If you’ve read here for a while you know that I live in an achingly rural community and the school that my daughter attends is the same one I attended. In fact, this community is so small, there was only one school for theContinue reading “Different Hands Held Down Different Halls 5/11/2025”
A Mystery 5/4/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt You would be surprised how difficult it is for me to not force upon you the same ideas over and over. If nothing else, writing has informed me of just how much I think about the things that have a deep impact on me. And every time I see or hearContinue reading “A Mystery 5/4/2025”
Everything Changes and Nothing Does 4/27/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I have heard it said more than once lately that the world is in trouble with this next generation coming up. No, it isn’t the most encouraging thing to hear. The thing is, I work on a major university campus, so I do get a very up close and personal samplingContinue reading “Everything Changes and Nothing Does 4/27/2025”
Resurrecting Easter 4/20/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I have very fond memories of Easter. The reminiscence from my childhood has me recalling some aspects that remain unchanged as well as some that only remain in my mind as I no longer have the pleasure of enjoying them. For some reason this year I am lending this holiday moreContinue reading “Resurrecting Easter 4/20/2025”
Tests of Our Mettle 4/13/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt Last week I waxed a bit philosophically, or at least I think it can safely be called that. I figured this week might be a better time to have a bit of a lighthearted story time. Now the tale I am about to tell does come with a bit of aContinue reading “Tests of Our Mettle 4/13/2025”
Warm, Fuzzy, Falsehood 4/6/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I had a topic all settled on. It wasn’t exactly what I wanted to write on, but it would work. It was a good story to tell and as I have told it to many people I know, and they all found it intriguing I decided to go with it. AndContinue reading “Warm, Fuzzy, Falsehood 4/6/2025”
Experimental Exploits 3/30/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt At my daughter’s behest, I suppose I owe you all a story. I wrote a few weeks ago about an experiment that my family was going to undertake. And, as conclusions drawn from experiments often are, the results were a fascinating mixture of somewhat unremarkable and rather surprising. We attempted ourContinue reading “Experimental Exploits 3/30/2025”
Pros and Cons 3/23/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt Springtime has the distinction of being a mixed bag that can sometimes prove challenging. The season is the epitome of a love-hate relationship. I know some people that tend to lean further to one side or the other of those two extremes at this time of year and I must admitContinue reading “Pros and Cons 3/23/2025”
The Gales at Hand 3/16/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt There are storms coming so today will try to be brief. I have said I would be brief before, but I may just mean it today. Dangerous times are heading my way. They will come in a variety of forms, and I have no idea what exactly to expect. There willContinue reading “The Gales at Hand 3/16/2025”
Very Curious Indeed 3/9/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt This week, while driving either to or from work, I can’t remember which, I saw a man fishing. Now, I know what you’re thinking. How is this something significant enough for me to write about? People fish. It’s spring in the South and someone fishing seems a terribly reasonable thing. ButContinue reading “Very Curious Indeed 3/9/2025”
Prose and Possibilities 