November 15, 2022

Pecan Praline Tea: A Review by Rita

When you open the bag of loose leaf Pecan Praline tea, you’re instantly transported to the deep south where pecan praline candies are basically a rite of passage. The sweet, indulgent aroma of the nuts and deep, dark leaves, the spices – they all make for the heady scent that recalls childhood and comfort wrapped in a grandmother’s hug.
November 13, 2022

Positivity Corner: Morning Tea on the Patio

It’s a simple thing. It’s something I’ve basically been doing for years. But I’ve never been intentional about it or removed distractions from my morning like this. It has been a fantastic experience. I highly recommend it to others.
November 7, 2022

Positivity Corner: Being Edited

But as I have developed my career as a writer and editor myself, I’ve learned to embrace and celebrate being edited. (And I do use this phrase intentionally; when our words are edited, it feels like we are being edited.)
September 26, 2022

Positivity Corner: A Grey Pearl Accordion

A few years ago, a hurricane demolished the storage shed and several other things on my mother’s property. In so doing, the hurricane destroyed an item precious to my mother - and to me - a marbled, dark brown accordion which she found at a thrift store years ago when she was in college.
September 21, 2022

Fiction Audiobook Review: The Forger’s Forgery

Overall, The Forger’s Forgery is an exciting, intriguing literary fiction novel that keeps a reasonably quick pace, as long as you’re not expecting an action or thriller. The characters are vivid and memorable (even after a couple month gap at one point, the characters were still extremely present for me, even if the plot needed reminders!).
September 19, 2022

Positivity Corner: Paper Chain of Accomplishments

Each week, I make a to-do list full of things I need to accomplish on any given day. It could be fun things for the MockingOwl Roost, or maybe a tedious task for work. Whatever it is, it goes on the list. And the list is color-coordinated, with “categories” of life in different colors. For example, my grad school work is in green text, while work tasks are in red.
September 12, 2022

Positivity Corner: Writing Theology Papers

You see, writing theology papers isn’t just a school task for me. It’s an exploration of what I’m learning, how I’m growing, how I’m changing, how I’m developing as an adult human. So much of youth was spent regurgitating rote memorization and trying to make a grade. But now, in seminary I’m synthesizing and expanding the knowledge I’m gaining. And it is an utter delight!
September 11, 2022

Last Words/Elizabeth

“I love you and I always will.” Last words spoken between dearest of friends parting ways unknown. Hope lingered therein, that one day no more need for “always” would come – only the existence of that fact would overtake by revisited presence and love.
September 6, 2022

Empire of Ice and Stone: A MockingOwl Review

From the visionary leader, flamboyant and irritating at times, Vilhjalmur Stefansson, to the grumbling crew who forged ahead despite the dangers, the losses, and the shipwrecks, you’ll be held captive as I was, by the retelling of their incredible tale of scientific exploration, survival, and personal courage.
August 31, 2022

26.2 Life Lessons, Helping You Keep Pace with the Marathon of Life: Book Review

The book is a great choice for folks who have lives like mine: chaotic and busy, with aims of healthier life and running balance. It’s a short, breeze through book that’s about taking a running program with small goals each week to improve that balance and find your center.
August 29, 2022

Music Review: “Throwback” by Roy Shakked

The album has a mix of moods throughout as you can see, though most of the music lies closer to “chill” than high energy. The album does bounce a bit all over the place – you definitely won’t get bored with it as a whole!
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