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”
Tag Archives: family
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”
A Heaping Helping of Normal, Please 12/15/2024
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I do not promise much by way of length today. This was one of those weeks that, while it should have been generically busy with for the most part standard goings on, it exploded into a chaotic, stressful, worrisome and draining week for my whole family. No, it wasn’t something lifeContinue reading “A Heaping Helping of Normal, Please 12/15/2024”
Small, But Mighty 11/24/2024
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt As I sit here, it looks like it is snowing. Now it most certainly is not since in my neck of the woods we are not often blessed with such pleasantries. And I do realize that snow is not necessarily pleasant in the opinions of all my readers however if youContinue reading “Small, But Mighty 11/24/2024”
The Blessing Unsaid 11/17/2024
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt Maybe it is the time of year. Have you ever had those moments when you were doing something simple, maybe a routine activity and you are suddenly struck by how overwhelmingly blessed you are? Is that just me? I have had several moments like this lately when I was almost reducedContinue reading “The Blessing Unsaid 11/17/2024”
Just a Thought… 9/1/2024
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I think this week I shall be brief. I have said that before and it tends to be an almost foolproof guarantee that this will prove ridiculously lengthy. I assure you that I am not making this statement in any attempt to employ reverse psychology to be able to produce quantity. Continue reading “Just a Thought… 9/1/2024”
A Dying Breed 8/11/2024
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt It all started with a holiday on the lake. And by holiday, I mean the vacation sense of the word, not so much the specially marked day on the calendar. I am fortunate enough to have a lake roughly thirty minutes from my home that has 750 miles of shoreline. IContinue reading “A Dying Breed 8/11/2024”
Forever and Always 8/4/2024
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt This past weekend I went to a wedding. It was probably one of the most beautiful weddings that I have ever attended. I know what you’re thinking. You think that I am a sucker for elegant dresses and lovely flowers, and you would be completely correct. However, that is not, inContinue reading “Forever and Always 8/4/2024”
Things ‘Round Here 7/28/2024
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt In perusing social media recently, I stumbled upon a refreshing little anecdote amongst the rubble that is current American society. It was one of those lists describing the qualities of a certain area and how if one is familiar with all the traits on the list then they can be certainContinue reading “Things ‘Round Here 7/28/2024”
The Box 7/14/2024
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt In my living room as I am writing this, there is a large box. There isn’t to my knowledge, anything in the box. Well, when I left for work this morning there wasn’t, but I am not currently there. I do have a cat that could very easily be making meContinue reading “The Box 7/14/2024”
One Generation After Another 6/16/2024
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I come from good stock. To call my people salt of the earth doesn’t seem a generous enough description. I come from the simplest of professions. There were moonshiners and preachers. There were steel mill workers and farmers. Acres of picked cotton and fields of harvested peanuts are the stuff ofContinue reading “One Generation After Another 6/16/2024”
Marketing Memories 5/26/2024
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt It all began with a lemonade commercial. This particular brand has stuck with a certain motto for years now and I completely understand why. It is really just a perfect slogan that is unbelievably endearing. I don’t even think I was technically watching tv, it may have even been on theContinue reading “Marketing Memories 5/26/2024”
Beyond the Face on the Screen 3/24/2024
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I was already at the end of the week and hadn’t the slightest idea what I should write about. When I am all the way to Friday and don’t even have a settled topic, there may be a slight bit of panic that creeps in. I’ve been writing this blog forContinue reading “Beyond the Face on the Screen 3/24/2024”
Prose and Possibilities 