My cousin Jack London Riehl died this week. He lived to see his book of poems published just one week before his death. “Heart and Soul: An Inspiring Collection of Light Verse on Life, Love, Faith, and the Military” Author bio: Jack London Riehl earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Washington University, St. Louis,…
Anthology Call for Submissions Wisdom Has a Voice: Every Daughter’s Memories of Mother Editors: Kate Farrell & Lynn Henriksen This groundbreaking anthology, to be released October 2011, will include 25 true and compelling stories about mother (or mother figures) that express the wisdom shared or learned from a particular experience. We are looking for personal…
Story Circle Network just reviewed “Spirit of a Woman: Stories to Empower & Inspire.” I’m still thrilled to be included in this anthology as I re-read the essays that spill so richly from this book.
I’ve been listening to the song Stephen Foster’s 1854 song “Hard Times Come Again No More.” You’ll see the lyrics below. Then, this evening, my father sent me this story to post about the hard times of Christmas 1934. May they come again no more. –Janet ______________________ Hard Times: Christmas, 1934 by Erwin A. Thompson…
For those of The Old School–such as my father–praise and expressions of love aren’t given casually or lavishly. I can count on one hand the times my father has said in words that he loves me. He shows his love through actions. When praise comes, prick up your ears. It might come in ways you’d…
Hard Choice #1: Combining Wheat Being short of money was nothing new for Ruth and me in 1948 when the last of our three children was born. Our first choice of course was to have food on the table, clothes on the children, gasoline in the car, and parts for the car when it broke…
I met Anne Schroeder through Women Writing the West. You’ve seen her before on Riehlife when I interviewed Anne about her humorous and insightful memoir “Ordinary Aphrodite” which chronicles her attempts to live a balanced life. Anne’s story of creating her dream writing room out of ordinary materials proves that it’s not the the money,…
The mission for Riehlife is “Creating connections through the arts and across cultures.” Viola! That’s the definition of multi-talented creatives. Here’s the fourth post in a cycle of five discussing multi-talents among creative people. My guest column Creative Catalyst appears on Telling Her Stories: The Broad View for Story Circle Network. Multi-talented? Maybe artists and…
Fall is harvest time. What’s yours? Pumpkins and gourds? Corn and soybeans? Heart wishes come true? Mine? Since 2006 Pop and I have partnered on “Harvesting: Heritage and Lineage.” This project continues as I trot along after him in Daddy Trailer fashion. Aunt Mim’s (Amelia’s) music from the 1890s to 1920s found a home at…
Architecture, interiors, furniture, sculpture and jewelry…Davide Prete does it all. The elegant simplicity of design links all the work in his impressive portfolio. I met Davide and his wife Juliette at the Laumeier Sculpture Park–96 acres of outdoor sculpture that rivals anywhere in the world. All three of us went there for a Fire Artists…