Do you ever dance in the kitchen? If not…why not? Who says the kitchen is just a place to prepare and cook food? After all…isn’t the kitchen the place where most everybody ends up when there’s a special occasion? Exactly. That’s where all the good smelling and tasting is. Right? If you make mealtime more fun, you might be surprised at how many health … The rest of the story…
The August sky was hot and blue today here in Colorado. Then, in the evening things cooled off with some rain and mountain breezes. Ahh…it’s so great to live in a place that can be in the 90’s during the day and cool off into the low 60’s at night. If you’re like me, you might enjoy the scent of rain sprinkling on the … The rest of the story…
There’s a moon in my room. Hey, I’m not kidding. There is! And some stars too. A few years ago we had a nephew living with us for a while. We gave him the bedroom at the end of the hall on the front side of the house. He discovered a potential business to get into where he’d paint stars and galaxies on ceilings … The rest of the story…
Do you feel good and happy today? It’s mostly a choice you know. After all, if you’re eating junky stuff that makes you feel bad and unhappy, that’s a choice you make. You can decide to eat a brainy breakfast, a live-food lunch, a dynamic dinner, and stimulating snacks. Or you can decide to eat a sugary toaster pastry for breakfast, a fatty fast-food … The rest of the story…
You may have heard that sleep is good for the brain. And you may already know that kids need plenty of sleep as they’re growing and maturing. But did you know they also need regular sleep times? Yep, a study at University College in London backs up what Grandmother said all those years ago. Get those kids to bed at a decent and regular … The rest of the story…
May I make a recommendation? Listen to the music in the morning. It plays every single day without fail. And it doesn’t matter where you live…it’s there. In the spring, summer, and autumn there’s a symphony outside your home. When you open your windows in the morning, you can hear it. It’s there in the winter, too, but the cold air might keep you … The rest of the story…
There’s a reason so many commercials, movies, TV shows, and billboards use pictures of puppies and kids. They’re pretty much irresistible. Have you ever seen a picture of puppies and kids that didn’t make you say “aw…that’s cute”? Yeah, neither have I. After all, when you take a roly-poly little snub-nosed bundle of fur and put it with a flawless, fresh-faced little kid, it’s … The rest of the story…
When you listen to a recording of a heart, you hear a soft double thump. That’s because the heart pushes out blood and right away pulls other blood in. Put your ear up to someone’s chest and listen very closely. You’ll hear thump-thump…thump-thump…thump-thump. It’s easy to understand what happens as some blood goes out and some blood comes in. But what happens in the … The rest of the story…
Laughter and love stimulate hope. Sometimes you just need a good laugh. And love can shine a spotlight in the darkness and find you a good reason to laugh. Personally, I find reasons to laugh and smile…they appear all around me, above me, and inside my silly brain. For example…a few nights ago my two dogs were watching me make a snack of almond … The rest of the story…
Just imagine a tiny house. Now, imagine it even smaller. And now, smaller…and smaller. Imagine a house so small it sits in the shade of ferns and flowers. Can you see it? OK, good. Now, just imagine you’re sitting on the front porch of this tiny, tiny house. And you’re eating some fruit and taking in the cool, moist air of the garden. Use … The rest of the story…
I remember my first ferry ride across Galveston Bay in Texas. Yes, it was a long time ago. My grandparents had come down from Oklahoma, and my dad was showing them the sights along the coast. He drove the car up on the ferry. And once it took off, we were all able to get out and walk around for the whole trip. I … The rest of the story…
Have you ever started thinking of something funny and a giggle or a big belly laugh just burst right out of your mouth? It just happened so fast you couldn’t help yourself. And it felt so good that you hoped it would happen again right away. Know what I mean? Well, today I’m calling that a Giggle Rocket. I won’t take up any more of your … The rest of the story…
Things sure have changed since I was a kid…way back in the last century. I remember being told not to use my allowance to buy “junk”. And I knew what that meant…no candy bars, no pop, no sugary substances that were sure to fill me with disease and terror. Now…lots of “experts” say we can (and maybe even should) eat chocolate for health. What?! … The rest of the story…
Have you ever noticed when someone’s really happy…how often they use other words for happy instead of happy? I realize the word, happy, is a bit old-fashioned. But I think it still works very well. And it’s being used by millions of people every day. Happy birthday to you…happy birthday to you. See what I mean? Many people like to build up the happy … The rest of the story…
Open your head…I’d like to share a quick story about love and rhythm. My lifelong love affair with words and music is no secret. I traveled America for quite a few years as a professional musician. Despite any hardships, pitfalls, and challenges…I loved the privilege of playing music for a living. And I love still writing and singing after all this time. It’s such … The rest of the story…
Peanut butter and honey is better than peanut butter and jelly! There. I said it…I meant it…and I know it’s true. Because I said so, that’s why. I’m just kidding…sort of. I happen to love honey on a sandwich instead of jelly. And here’s the thing…honey, when you get the kind that’s found close to where you live, is a natural antibiotic. That simply … The rest of the story…
I can still see the rich, plump black berries and blooms next to farmers’ fences in the hot, dry summers in Kansas. I remember picking the berries and hearing the first ones clunk when I dropped ’em into the metal bucket. And I could hardly wait to get back home to wash ’em and make some homemade ice cream. If you’ve never had homemade … The rest of the story…
When I was a little kid, I loved it when my mom or grandmother or basically any adult would read me a story. I had a vivid, colorful imagination (some things never change), and I could create whole movies inside my head. All I needed were the words to create pictures, and at that young age getting the words required the help of an … The rest of the story…
OK…whatever you’re doing right now (including reading my writing) take a few seconds and put a great big smile on your face. I don’t care if it feels weird. Just do it. C’mon, let’s see that great…big…smile. Ahh…there it is. I knew you could do it. Now, I know there are times you just don’t feel like smiling. No worries. I’m the same way. … The rest of the story…
If you’ve ever wondered how to write poems for kids, then I have some serious, sage advice…don’t be so serious and sage. Through all my years as a children’s writer, singer songwriter, and even illustrator I’ve observed kids and their funny ways. And because they have funny ways, I look for ways to put those funny ways into the rhymes I write. Poems for … The rest of the story…
