Patricia Harrelson

Early this year, my therapist recommended that Cindy and I listen to an episode of a podcast called “Happier,” hosted by Gretchen Rubin and her sister, Elizabeth Craft. This particular episode, called “Deep Dive into 18 of 2018,” explored the … Continue reading

Yesterday, Gianna was reading a story that she wrote, and when she came to a part where her main character looked out the window at the “gleaming snow,” she paused and said, “I love the word gleaming.” I think she … Continue reading

Stormy weather all night that continues into this morning makes our upcoming vacation all the more appealing. Not to say, I don’t enjoy the rain. Here are the gifts I’m grateful for on the first day of spring: #39 snuggling … Continue reading

The point of the 1000 gifts exercise is to notice the blessings in one’s life and to let that noticing do wondrous work. When the fragility of each day is so apparent in the devastation in Japan, it feels like … Continue reading

We don’t leave for our Mexico cruise for a couple of weeks, but since we pack away seasonal clothes, we decided to bring down the boxes with shorts, tanks, and summer wear this weekend so that we could start thinking … Continue reading

I’m joining my daughter, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter in listing the gifts –the multitude of blessings–that are a part of my life on a daily basis. The value of thanksgiving–of expressing gratitude–is the rapidity with which hit erases poverty mind. In … Continue reading

Last weekend, five-year-old Nell labeled 3 dozen jars of newly made fig jam. While that’s the remarkable fact, here’s the delicious fact. I was the recipient of one of those jars, and I’ve been indulging every since: fig jam on … Continue reading

On August 10, 2010, we paid off the mortgage on our home! I’ve heard that in the 1950s, people used to have mortgage burning parties to celebrate the pay off date! We went to Baskin Robbins for hot fudge sundaes. … Continue reading

Cindy got me a door for my birthday. The back door to our home opens into my office and the room is one of the darkest in the house. I wanted more light and thought a door with windows would … Continue reading

When I volunteered to drive Huck and Nell to the Oakland airport, I allowed myself plenty of time to get there for the 1:30 pm check-in. After dropping a work project off at the Junction, I made my way up … Continue reading