This time of year is hectic and stressful for most of us. I have so much going on that I must keep track of my appointments, deadlines,...

Peanut butter balls are my favorite holiday treat to whip up. They were a tradition at my house while I was growing up, and I’ve...

I was always enchanted by Christmas when I was young. The beautiful lights and lovely music that were ubiquitous with the season made my...

As I listen to the thunderstorm outside, I’m inspired to curl up with some poetry. I turn again to the great poet, Robert Frost. I don’t...

One of the simplest ways by which I save money is refraining from going out to lunch very often. I bring leftovers, sandwiches, cans of...

Friends are important. I’ve often seen the Facebook memes that talk about good friends versus great friends. A good friend will visit you...

Thanksgiving was a relaxing affair this year. My husband, mother-in-law, and I went to my mom’s house for a quiet meal. We lingered over...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I hope everyone is with loved ones today and enjoying good food and great company. My family celebrated Thanksgiving...

Thanksgiving is a couple days away, and I always wax nostalgic this time of year. My family always had big beautiful chaotic Thanksgiving...

I have some great and exciting news. I have been elected as the 2019 Ozarks Writers League President! I’m honored to hold this important...

Ozarks Maven’s post for this weekend will appear tomorrow due to some potential news. I don’t want to make the announcement until it’s...

It dropped down to 11 degrees here last night, which is unseasonably cold. This time of year, we’re usually hovering around 60 degrees....

We have our first snow of the season here. It’s cold, snowing steadily, and I’m off work today. I have a hot cup of coffee, and my feet...

I strive to never pay more for something than I absolutely must. My bargain shopping has often caused contention between my husband and...

I’ve been traveling a great deal lately. I have stayed in a variety of hospitality establishments. One thing I have noticed is the...

I attended a writers retreat over the weekend. I accomplished a great deal of editing on my book and enjoyed strolling around the...

I’m currently enjoying a much anticipated writers retreat. We started on Thursday this year, which made me extremely happy. Our meals are...

Sometimes I just need to let my mind rest. The past few weeks have been stressful for me. It’s like the universe has been testing me. As...

Last Saturday was the 2018 Writers’ Faire at the Joplin Public Library. I missed the 2017 Faire, which was the first one. I was excited...

We recently had a pot luck dinner at work, and one of my coworkers requested I bring green beans and new potatoes in addition my usual...