Category Archives: Life

Flying A Drone. It’s Way Harder Than It Looks

Posted on February 24, 2022 by Barb

My shortcut through our community college, revealed 6 people standing on the baseball field 10 feet apart. They flew drones to the outfield, then back. This was a class in Wilderness Firefighting. Here in Oregon, aerial surveillance can be a … Continue reading →

Posted in Cats/Dogs, Change, Choices, Feel Good Books, Life, Small Town Mysteries, Writing | Tagged Before Morning Breaks, Cats/Dogs, Change, Choices, Drones, Feel Good Books, Little Irritations, Small Town Mystery, Writing | 8 Comments

Hardly Any Shooting Stars Left

Posted on February 9, 2022 by Barb

I’m so blessed…. Here’s what they’re saying about Hardly Any Shooting Stars Left: A wonderful read for anyone who enjoys action and memorable characters with larger-than-life personalities. The story unfolds against the background of contemporary life in the American West … Continue reading →

Posted in A Laugh, Change, Choices, Hope, Humor, Inspirational Fiction, Life, Satire, Women, Worries, Writing | 13 Comments

The Gift for Someone Who Doesn’t Need Anything

Posted on December 15, 2019 by Barb

This came out 6 years ago, but my 2 brain cells don’t remember it, so maybe you’ll enjoy it again, too. Many of the readers of Before Morning Breaks are folks who’ve tromped the by-ways and vine-littered trails of life. … Continue reading →

Posted in A Laugh, Appreciation, Change, Choices, Enough, Humor, Life, Smiles | Tagged Before Morning Breaks, boats, Change, Gifts for the hard to get, good souvenirs, healing hearts, life journey, the best gift, Valentine gifts, yachts | 48 Comments

Tell Me It Isn’t So

Posted on May 7, 2018 by Barb

So a few days ago, I’m at the post office mailing three packages. The twenty-plus-year-old behind the counter asks the usual question. “Anything perishable, fragile, etc. etc.?” “Nope. Only books,” I say. She stops and looks at the size of … Continue reading →

Posted in Appreciation, Change, Choices, Life, Literature, Writing | Tagged books, Books I remember, Finishing a book, Game of Thrones, Libraries, Mother's Day Gifts, murder mysteries, Reading, Summer reading, The Great American Read | 36 Comments

How to Survive Your Spouse’s HighSchool Reunion or “I’m Ready For My Close-Up, Mr. DeMille”

Posted on December 14, 2016 by Barb

Hey! Let’s go on a book tour…and add relatives, and people we haven’t seen or kept track of in years and years. Won’t that be fun? First Stop: A Texas High School Reunion. (Go Eagles!!) Now, I’m sure many of you have … Continue reading →

Posted in A Laugh, Change, Choices, Hope, Humor, Life, Satire, Smiles, Traveling | Tagged aging, following the rules, journeys, Kia Rio, Kilgore TX, parties where you don't know anyone, poor farm, reunions, Texas, Traveling, yearbooks | 37 Comments

Ending the Summer with Weird

Posted on August 1, 2016 by Barb

Here’s another thing you’ll have to explain to me… Hair has become the new art medium. I understood why Tom Hanks used his hair to weave a rope in The Castaway , but why…. Are people using their hair to … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Choices, Enough, Humor, Life, Satire | Tagged artists using hair, hair scupltures, Hiar, really strange, Save your hair, Too much time on your hands, wearing hair, wierd | 31 Comments

A Tube of Tea, please?

Posted on July 1, 2016 by Barb

I don’t get it. You’re going to have to explain it to me. Sure, sure, when it comes to a hot day on the beach nothing’s better than a cooler of drinks. You’ll find me head down, bottom up, clawing … Continue reading →

Posted in A Laugh, Cooking, Humor, Life | Tagged bubble tea, canning, Change, ginger ale, homemade root beer, summer, sun tea, tapioca, Tea | 29 Comments

And Where is Your Final Resting Place?

Posted on October 27, 2015 by Barb

If you haven’t selected one yet, you may want to contact your favorite university. Because this blog is about change…AND…I dug this up while researching another book…I’m sure you’ll want to know… Campuses are constructing columbaria—Walls which will hold cremains. The first … Continue reading →

Posted in A Laugh, Choices, Lent, Life | Tagged Columbaria, Cremains, Halloween, Homecoming, Resting Place, support you school, university trends | 14 Comments

Change Your Mood With the Right Shoes

Posted on April 1, 2015 by Barb

There is a gumpy little saying cruising the internet. It’s all over facebook, adorned with rainbows or kittens. To be a rebel, I’m attaching my saddle oxfords to it…or I would if I had any. First…the saying. If you are … Continue reading →

Posted in A Laugh, Appreciation, Cats/Dogs, Change, Choices, Enough, Hope, Humor, Life, Satire, Smiles, Worries | Tagged Change, Forgiving Yourself, Happy Childhood, Memes, Saddle Oxfords, Shoes, The future, The Past, The right attitude, Worry | 35 Comments

Laugh till You Cry

Posted on April 1, 2015 by Barb

Usually I’d rather come up with original posts. But parts of this made me laugh so hard, I was crying. I share it here, in case you need some light heartedness. Be inspired by these blunders. We’re all wonderfully human. … Continue reading →