By: Jennifer Richardson Holt Something about this time of year makes me—and I daresay a great many people—especially reminiscent. Traditions are built by pulling meaning from years of moments, and if Christmastime is anything, it is filled with tradition. And if I am anything, it is a sucker for tradition. So I have a lifetimeContinue reading “The Fragile Things We Keep 12/14/2025”
Tag Archives: family
Second Breakfasts and Other Small Comforts 12/7/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt It’s a dreary grey day outside. The light rain is falling in drops so tiny they’re nearly invisible. In fact, I wasn’t even aware it was raining until I opened the door to the back patio and heard what I thought was wind in the trees. After noticing their complete lackContinue reading “Second Breakfasts and Other Small Comforts 12/7/2025”
Not Quite Ready–But Getting There 11/30/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I don’t think I’m quite ready. Every year I’m so sure that I am — that excitement is the only thing stirring in me — but this time, I’ve stumbled into new sentiments. By the time you’re reading this, Thanksgiving will already be tucked away and we’ll be well on ourContinue reading “Not Quite Ready–But Getting There 11/30/2025”
Under Oaks That Remember 11/16/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt It was a brisk Tennessee Sunday. The sun was doing its best to warm things, but the wind insisted on reminding us that it was, in fact, November. We kept an eye on the gathering clouds along the horizon, having heard whispers of snow in the forecast. It didn’t feel coldContinue reading “Under Oaks That Remember 11/16/2025”
The Welcome Glow 11/9/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt This is something of a disclaimer. Perhaps that isn’t the right word—maybe explanation would be more appropriate. You see, I caught a fair amount of flack this past weekend, and it wasn’t the first time either. It wasn’t particularly traumatizing, as I’ve heard the fuss before. I will say that thisContinue reading “The Welcome Glow 11/9/2025”
Cornbread and Cool Points 10/12/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I’m in the midst of doing something rather unique, and every time I mention it, I end up having to give the backstory. There’s always a long tale of how things came to be, and I can never quite tell if people are genuinely intrigued or if they secretly find theContinue reading “Cornbread and Cool Points 10/12/2025”
Hopelessly Hospitable: Our Favorite Kind of Trouble 9/28/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt My husband and I may have a problem. We knew it was an issue early on, and yet we’ve mostly ignored it, hoping for the best. It can be a lot to manage at times. We know this, and yet we always circle back to the same pattern. No matter howContinue reading “Hopelessly Hospitable: Our Favorite Kind of Trouble 9/28/2025”
Perils of Home (and Other Lightly Exaggerated Accounts) 9/7/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt The times around my home are perilous indeed. Dangers lurk both indoors and out, and it is a wonder I am even here to write about them. Perhaps I exaggerate ever so slightly—but only slightly. Some of the goings-on truly are dangerous, or at least could be under the right circumstances.Continue reading “Perils of Home (and Other Lightly Exaggerated Accounts) 9/7/2025”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
Gifts Outside the Box 3/2/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt While I am and have always been a very dedicated procrastinator, my delay in writing this week hasn’t exactly been due to my usual gleefully pushing things until the last minute but moreso due to the fact that it has just been an insanely busy week. Maybe you can relate toContinue reading “Gifts Outside the Box 3/2/2025”
Experimentation 2/23/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt In a few weeks my family will be conducting an experiment. It is something with which I am relatively familiar and an undertaking in which my husband has a great deal of experience. My daughter, however, has the faintest inkling of this enterprise much like someone who has looked at aContinue reading “Experimentation 2/23/2025”
Heralds, Omens and Signs 2/9/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt At this time of year my mother becomes very impatient. Really once a new calendar year begins, she has an immediate goal that she is set to attain. And if you’re thinking I am referencing some sort of resolution or the like, you are way off base. Once the year beginsContinue reading “Heralds, Omens and Signs 2/9/2025”
People, Places and Things 2/2/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I think I might be a bit different. Anyone reading this who knows me well probably finds that statement an obvious and terribly delayed announcement. I decided to make this statement because of what happened in my brain as I was trying to think of a topic for today. I hadContinue reading “People, Places and Things 2/2/2025”
A Rare Day 1/12/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt Today is not your average day in most senses of the word. As I write this I am snuggled on my couch with a cup of coffee and a snoozing dog next to my leg. We are both tucked under a warm blanket. She stirs and gives a dramatic sigh fromContinue reading “A Rare Day 1/12/2025”
Prose and Possibilities 