I’m so excited to welcome lots of new subscribers to the Handbasket! Thanks so much for joining us. I love it when you all drop by and chat, or even just peek in. (I’m a lurker on lots of blogs myself.) I do my best to respond to comments right away, and I …Read More

  For eight of the last eleven years we’ve attended Illinois’ DuQuion State Fair. It’s one of two state fairs in the state. I get it. Illinois is a very loooooong state, so having two state fairs is handy. Husband doesn’t like large crowds, and I melt like butter if it’s over eighty-five degrees, so …Read More

How was your weekend? Did you spend it reading, playing, exercising, or working? I spent a lot of time online tracking Hurricane Irma, worrying about friends and relatives in Florida. I also read stories about thefts of recovery supplies in Texas, and looting in Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando. Who does that? I hope there’s a …Read More

  “Honor your commitments with integrity.”– Les Brown

    The Serendipitous Part Good advice on where to send financial help for Hurricane Harvey victims Paris thieves steal valuable wine by breaking in via the Catacombs. Sounds like a movie. We lost two country music stars this week: Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry, and legend Don Williams. And yesterday was Patsy Cline’s birthday. …Read More

Thanks for all your honest comments about books that made you cry as a kid. So many I had forgotten, particularly Charlotte’s Web. Over at my Facebook page, Where the Red Fern Grows came up many times. I think it wins. I spent much of today working on my next newsletter. I realized I haven’t …Read More

I finished three books in the past week that made me cry. I pride myself on not being a crier over fictional stories–at least I don’t cry because I stay the hell away from stories that might leave me sobbing. Films are often the worst culprits. Sometimes I get trapped into watching tragic films with …Read More