Laurie Jackson's Blog, page 25

Mouths Wide Shut

I do not consider myself a picky eater. There are just some foods I will not eat! Growing up on a farm our food choices were you eat what was on the table whether we liked it or not! We had to stay at the table until our plate was clean.  To this day, I will not touch or eat liver and onions, beef tongue, or turnips. I do not like cooked cauliflower, broccoli, or brussels sprouts but I will eat those raw. I have a horrible reaction to any kind of mushroom. I won’t eat bananas or grapes. Those foods just feel weird in my mouth.

Give me Grandpa’s fried chicken and riced potatoes with gravy, and I can eat that all day. Mom’s roast beef, gravy, potatoes and homemade rolls were scrumptious. German chocolate cake with caramel icing for dessert and I’m set.

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a wonderful blessed day :)

Laurie Jackson

Visit my website and sign my guestbook.

No Excess

I don’t think I am excessive. I am a writer and all I want to do is write. An excessive amount of stories and ideas go round and round in my brain. I can’t seem to write them down fast enough. I know I do not have an excessive amount of notebooks or pens.

Can never have too many story ideas, pen and paper!

I am not going to go overboard on this blog. I must get back to my other writing.

Have a super wonderful day!

Laurie Jackson :)

Visit my website

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

It was always a special occasion when it was Grandpa’s birthday! Aunts and Uncles and cousins would come over to celebrate. I felt like it was my birthday, too, because we had roast beef. Coming from a large family and living on a farm, beef was special. Otherwise, all we had was pork, pork, pork!

The roast beef was always so fork tender. As soon as the meat hit your tongue, it would dissolve. Along with the roast beef was usually huge bowls of steaming riced potatoes. On top of those scrumptious potatoes was the fantastic smelling beef gravy. Of course, cannot forget the dinner rolls made from scratch. The homemade butter melted right into those buns. For dessert, an aunt had brought a German chocolate cake she had decorated herself. The whole blessed meal was scrumptious!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a blessed day!

Laurie Jackson :)

Please visit my website

[image error]

Make It Count – Letter To Mindy

Dear Mindy,

You are my hero, my inspiration. You, my sweet sister, touched my heart, my life in a way no one else can. Even after the removal of an eye, chemotherapy and radiation, you smiled through it all. Not once did you complain about anything! Watching you be so positive and optimistic taught me so much – even today.

I can still see your beautiful smile and beautiful bald head. You laughed through it all. It’s hard to believe you have been gone 26 years now. It seems like only yesterday. I can feel you around me as I write this.

I wanted to tell you that I can see you in my own daughter. Some of the things she does (like spell) is the way you used to do it. I know you would have loved Adele. The two of you would have been two peas in a pod. Elmer loved you, too. He misses you.

I miss you like crazy! Here’s to wanting more time with you.

I love you

Ready, Set, Done– Blessed

I have been blessed throughout my life. I had (have) a great mom. I am blessed that she is around. I grew up on a small farm near Augusta, MO. There were always chores that needed to be done. Cutting wood in snowy weather was never fun. If we wanted to stay warm we had to help cut wood.

I have been blessed with five wonderful healthy kids. They each have their own lives but still talk to their Mama. I also have one precious grandson.

I am 51 years old. I have battle scars and I earned every one. Each scar has a memory to it and I know I have become a stronger person for them. I am healthy. I am married to a wonderful man.

I love life! I am blessed!

Laurie Jackson :)

Visit my website at www.lauriejacksonauthor.com

Handle With Care

Giving and getting criticism or feedback is crucial for a writer. I, for one, learn from it. I want someone to be honest with me about what I write. It doesn’t have to be brutal or cruel, though. If something is wrong, tell me by giving me an example of what you’re talking about. Be honest but with respect.

I am always looking for improvement when it comes to my writing.

Thanks for stopping by!

Laurie Jackson :)

Death to Adverbs-My View

I am outdoors in “my office” without walls. There is a light breeze moving my sandy colored hair over my mouth. The sun is warm on my face. My blue framed glasses are black because I am outdoors. The sound of cicadas fill my ears. In the distance highway noise can be heard. The leaves are rustling on the trees. The sound of a vacuum is coming from down the street. The sky is splattered with clouds. A single black buzzard circles above me. A crow caws from a tree. Through the trees and on the other side of the railroad tracks, a rooster crows.

Dust flies up from the road as a gray four door car drives past me. There is the sound of a backhoe running. A long train of oil barrels clackety-clack down the railroad tracks. A dilapidated treehouse hangs from a branch of a strong, tall Elm tree. To the left of me is a field that holds five llamas and a single black stallion. In the center of the field is a pond.

The air smells fresh and crisp.

Litmus, Litmus On the Wall

Growing up, I was always told that a stranger is a friend you haven’t met yet.

To me, leaving a good first impression is very important. If the person I just met feels friendly, then I could probably be friends with that person. If I feel like the person is putting on airs or looks down their nose at me, there is no way I could be friends. I believe there really is not a ‘right’ question to ask or answer.

Have a wonderful evening!

Laurie Jackson :)

Give and Take

She came bouncing into the kitchen and said, “Good morning, Mom!”

With a coffee cup in her hand, Mom turns toward her daughter. The air in her throat catches.

“Umm, why aren’t you dressed for school, Addie?”

The smile instantly left Addie’s face. “I am dressed!” she said.

“Nope! Nope! No, you’re not! No daughter of mine is wearing that short skirt outside this house”, said Mom.

“But…MOM!”

“But, Mom, nothing! Go change!”

“Short skirts are in! All the girls wear them!” Addie stomped her foot.

“I’m pretty sure not all girls wear them. Besides, those girls are not my daughter. I don’t mind you wearing a skirt. It just has to be one with more length to it. Go, change, now.”

“Yes, Mom.” Addie said as she walked out the kitchen.

Thanks for stopping by!

Laurie Jackson

Flash Talk

I recently had an assignment for a course I had in college. The instructions were to write about who you are in life. What is your branding? Well, first of all, I am a wife to a wonderful husband. I am Mama Bear to five adult children from a previous marriage. I am Grandma Laurie to my precious grandson, James. If I knew being a grandma was going to be this much fun, I would have been a grandma first :) I have four step-kids with one living in Canada.

I am a country girl through and through. Growing up on a farm in mid-Missouri, I am not afraid of hard work. I am the fourth child out of eight-total of five sisters and two brothers. I love words and I love to write. A dream of mine is to write children’s books.

I love chickens and roosters and cows and pigs. I would rather go camping than go to a club. Spending time with my kids and grandson is so precious to me. Life is too short. I try to be a positive person.

Thanks for reading. Please feel free to leave a comment.

Have a wonderful day!

Laurie Jackson :)