Thoughts on Faith, Books, and Gardens
Here in the sweltering days of Tennessee August, the only flowers around my garden that I can really say are thriving are my zinnias. This is my 3rd year growing them, and the zinnia bed has gotten progressively bigger every year. Apparently when Spanish conquistadors first encountered zinnias in Mexico, they dubbed them, “Mal de... Continue Reading →
Description Bronte's infamous Gothic novel tells the story of orphan Jane, a child of unfortunate circumstances. Raised and treated badly by her aunt and cousins and eventually sent away to a cruel boarding school, it is not until Jane becomes a governess at Thornfield that she finds happiness. Meek, measured, but determined, Jane soon falls... Continue Reading →
Last Night I Dreamt I went to Manderley Again...With these words, the reader is ushered into an isolated gray stone mansion on the windswept Cornish coast, as the second Mrs. Maxim de Winter recalls the chilling events that transpired as she began her new life as the young bride of a husband she barely knew.... Continue Reading →
“The Bride and Bridegroom set off for Kent from the church door, and everyone had as much to say, or to hear, on the subject as usual.” Oh boy, did everyone have much to say and hear on the subject of marriage. The above quote made me literally laugh aloud after Mr. Collins and Charlotte... Continue Reading →
There is a small pocket park in a nearby town square, and once when walking around, I snapped the above picture of this quote. “Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.” I had no idea who Henry Van Dyke was... Continue Reading →
At the start of 2026, I set a goal for myself to read 12 classics I’ve always meant to read. I thought one classic a month was a pretty reasonable goal and would give me room to read other things of interest throughout the year. I’ve chugged right along on that goal and have already... Continue Reading →
This is thy hour O Soul, thy free flight into the wordless, Away from books, away from art, the day erased, the lesson done, Thee fully forth emerging, silent, gazing, pondering the themes thou lovest best, Night, sleep, death and the stars. A Clear Midnight by Walt Whitman Early Wednesday morning, the June full moon,... Continue Reading →
Like some many others across the Western Hemisphere early this morning, I was able to witness the Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse. I always get excited about any impending celestial events like this, but then have a tendency to either forget about it before it happens or just fall asleep. As totality was going to happen... Continue Reading →
“We never tire of the drama of sunset. I go forth each afternoon and look into the west a quarter of an hour before sunset, with fresh curiosity, to see what new picture will be painted there, what new panorama exhibited, what new dissolving views. Can Washington Street or Broadway show anything as good? Every... Continue Reading →
In a journal entry written exactly 174 years ago today, Leo Tolstoy declared, “”I’ve fallen in love or imagine that I have; went to a party and lost my head. Bought a horse which I don’t need at all.” This past year, I got back into the habit of regular journaling. While I haven’t written... Continue Reading →
Rachel F. Jean 