My best friend's birthday was last weekend. I took her to lunch at a local restaurant and was giddy to watch her open her birthday present. I went a completely different direction than the sweet things such as candles and candy we usually give each other. She had mentioned to me a month or so ago that she wished she knew how to can. She grows a plentiful garden every summer, and she's been freezing everything. It's a fine way to preserve food, but freezer space is limited. H

Today, we have another great article by our financial guru, Sasha Moody. She shares some great ideas that I hope you'll enjoy. For busy parents juggling rent or a mortgage, groceries, and childcare, a recession can make every decision feel heavier. The economic downturn impact shows up fast, hours get cut, prices rise, and savings that once felt “fine” suddenly look fragile. Those recession challenges can push even careful households into constant worry, but they can also be

Here in my corner of Missouri, it's supposed to get down to 16 degrees tonight. While this is par for the course around here during the winter, I thought I might share a few seeds of wisdom for the new people who haven't dealt with temperatures like this before. It's important to drip your water in the house when the temperature drops into the 20s and below. You don't have to run it; just a steady drip will do the trick. The reason for dripping water is to keep water moving t

This week, Sasha Moody is generously sharing another thoughtful article. I hope you enjoy her seeds of wisdom as much as I did. For busy parents juggling work, bills, and family goals, money can feel like it disappears faster than it’s earned. The challenge often isn’t math, it’s negative money mindsets and financial biases that quietly steer everyday financial decision making, especially the pull of immediate gratification. Those patterns can sabotage savings, create guilt a

The holidays are over, and now the bills are coming due. Did you overspend this past holiday season? Many people did. It's the norm these days. With the new year, maybe it's time try a new approach to paying those bills. I'm actually pleasantly surprised with my totals. I did spend more than I intended, but most of my holiday shopping was done with cash or my debit card this year. I do have some credit card debt due to online purchases, but I'm happy to say I should be able t

2025 is quickly coming to an end, and 2026 is right around the bend. See what I did there? Every once in a while, I embrace my inner poet. As I contemplate all that 2025 has brought, I am struck by how many big changes occurred in a short twelve months. Some were good, some were bad, and some were devastating. Let's talk about the good things first. I try to focus on the positive things in life, so it's a great place to start. I was honored to have my novel, Sally's Secret Le

I have shared this Christmas memory a few times, but it bears sharing again. Dad loved Christmas, he played an amazing Santa. I wasn’t the only child he made feel special on Christmas. Christmas was a very big deal when I was a little girl. My family celebrated with all of our extended family back then. We travelled half the state to attend at least four gatherings every year. Dad was always Santa at every party. One year, it almost came crashing down around him. We were cele

Today was moving day for my department. To say it was a long day is an understatement. I had some reports to finish before I could begin packing in earnest and toting things to the new locale. My reports took roughly three hours. It would have been longer, but the phones were taken out early this morning, so I didn't have nearly as many interruptions as normal. I began packing up not only my office, but the one next to me, as well. I also packed up part of the supply closet,

I don't do well with sudden changes. I need time to process and wrap my brain around details before I'm comfortable with new developments. This is happening with my job right now. I've known for a few months that the building in which I work was for sale. I saw a few people come over and tour the facility. I heard comments about knocking down walls and paving the front lawn. The entire time, I fervently hoped the place would never sell. If we didn't sell it, we could stay. Th

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. My husband and two of his coworkers were stuck working all day. The other two wives got together and decided we should all three cook something and bring to our spouses for a Thanksgiving feast at the office. I readily agreed to take part. We each made two dishes. I was responsible for macaroni & cheese and carrots. In addition to my contributions, we had ham, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, and deviled eggs. Our fir

Today, we have another great guest post by Sasha Moody. She shares some brilliant insights in this article. Thank you for sharing your seeds of wisdom with us, Sasha! Balancing health with a tight budget can feel like a juggling act. But the truth? Most healthy habits don’t need to cost more — in fact, they can save you money long-term. Key Insights ●      You don’t have to choose between saving and living well. ●      Cook more, walk often, buy smart, and enjoy what’s free.

Things are crazy these days, and they're getting more difficult as time marches on. I've noticed several people posting low-cost meals on various platforms, and I thought this would be a good time to share one of my husband's favorites. He doesn't consider cost when he requests a certain meal. It's all about flavor for him. My husband's most requested meal is ham & beans. Because it's cheap, simple, and can go in my slow cooker, I'm all about it. I believe I've shared my re

Today, I'd like to share some seeds of wisdom with you. You never fail until you stop trying . -- Albert Einstein. Albert Einstein was a genius on many levels. He didn't just sit back and bask in the glow of his mighty intelligence. He put his brilliance to good use and tried new things. If he hadn't, no one would remember his name. When I want something, I try until I either achieve success or run out of ideas. I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was twelve years old. I wrot

I am happy to present another great guest post by Sasha Moody today. In this article, she shares some sage financial wisdom. I hope you enjoy her article. Money touches almost every part of life — from the way we plan our days to how we dream about our future. Yet, for many people, the relationship with money is tangled in emotion, fear, or confusion. Building a healthy connection with your finances isn’t about restriction or wealth alone; it’s about clarity, purpose, and min

Last weekend was quite busy. Saturday was the Fall Ozarks Writers League Conference, which was held in Joplin, Missouri, this year. I live very close to Joplin, so I didn't have to travel more than thirty minutes to the venue. As has been my task for the past year or so, I was in charge of the author book tables. That means I had to make certain we had enough tables set up and show authors to their spaces. I chose to sit with my good friend and critique partner, Mystery Auth

My husband and I went shopping for some Halloween decorations over the weekend. As I stood amongst the plastic skeletons, battery-operated jack-o’-lanterns, and cinnamon brooms, a memory from my childhood popped into my head. I hadn't thought about it in several years.   When I was in elementary school, around fifth or sixth grade, my building had a pumpkin carving contest. We had to do the carving at home under parental supervision, but we brought the fruits of our labor to

I spent last weekend in beautiful Eureka Springs, Arkansas, attending the Ozark Creative Writers Conference. The conference is held at Inn of the Ozarks every year. It’s one of my favorite events, and this year was particularly sweet.   I was invited to be the opening speaker this year. The first speaker of the year is tasked with discussing his or her journey as an author. My journey began in third grade, so that’s where I started my presentation. Mine is a convoluted journe

A big part of my vacation was riding two trains. I've ridden trains before, but they've never been so scenic. In fact, most of my train...

I've been dreaming of visiting Mesa Verde National Park since I learned of its existence during my first archaeology class in college....

You're getting Ozarks Maven early this week due my schedule for next several days. There will be no post on Monday. Sometimes a trip to...