Page 2 – Deborah Ann Lucas

Walking in the rain

The rain has been spitting and threatening all day, but not much had fallen since the inch we got yesterday. The sun came out for a bit this afternoon, so I took Max for a walk up the lane. By the time we strolled up the second hill, the wind kicked out and rain that felt almost frozen started hitting me in the face.

April 1, 2016November 7, 2019Country Life, Horses, Living on the Land

BEST LAID PLANS

Never enough time to write.

Throughout this last winter and early spring, I was able to write everyday, not just for an hour or two, but four to six hours each and every day. I’d hoped to maintain that pac

July 18, 2013November 10, 2019Country Life, healing, Nature, On Aging, Second Half of Life, Writing

Horses and hay and a house of cards

The house of cards on which I stand is wobbling. Will I fall? I am hiding here in this beautiful place, trying to write. Will I finish the edits to my two books before the life of my dreams falls apart?

The most recent card to fall was the rain last night. I allowed my

June 14, 2013August 25, 2022Country Life, Horses, Living on the Land

Waiting in Stillness for the Storm

I waited for the storm throughout last night, my sleep smothered by the humidity that had invaded the house. Nothing came. Not the storm. Nor the sleep.

I gave up trying for sleep at six this morning, dressed and went outside into the stillness.

June 12, 2013November 10, 2019Country Life, Horses, Nature

GROWING SUNFLOWER SEEDS

I planted giant sunflowers in my garden for the first time last year. Actually, that’s not completely true. Two years ago, I planted eight seeds, two in each of the corners of an eight-inch-high raised bed. When the giant stalks grew taller than me, I tied them to the vertical, mesh-covered frame

June 8, 2013April 9, 2020Memoir, Nature

An artist in front of his canvas in progress

My Big Brother Mike

I always knew my oldest brother Mike was an artist, but I never imagined him as a soldier. Going to war seemed to conflict with his gentle nature. The three of us grew up living in lake towns outside of Detroit.

May 31, 2013August 20, 2022Memoir

Mom and Tommy, her baby brother, and me in a kiddy pool in our side yard in Detroit, Michigan 1954.

Remembering my glamorous Mom on Mother’s Day

n response to Maria Shriver’s question, “What gift did your mom give you?” I must answer, INTUITION and EMPATHY.

I lost my mom six years ago, but since I’ve been working on my memoir over the last four years, we’ve had daily conversations with her (no, I’m not crazy. I talk with the mom who lives in my head, along with all my other characters, real or imagined).

May 10, 2013July 31, 2022Memoir, Women's Issues

Attending Writers’ Conferences

Attending a Writers’ Conference is […]

May 6, 2013November 10, 2019A Writer's Life, Writing

In 1968, two red-heads, a mom and daughter, are dressed up in front of their apartment building.

Missing Mom

My mom has been on my mind a lot lately. I lost her in 2007 from a stroke. She worked most of her life, and loved working despite the struggle of raising three kids at the same time. She kept house and cooked after coming home from work, often finishing the dishes after all of us had gone to bed. I’m ashamed to admit it, but I didn’t help her very much. I gave up offering because she said it was easier for her to do it herself. I think, now, as I reflect back, that she was trying to make my life easier than she had growing up.

April 10, 2013August 9, 2022Memoir, Women's Issues

stylized watercolor of girl running with horses

Women in the Second Half of Life

Today, I’m finally taking a break from my writing, poking my head above ground to see what’s been happening while I’ve been hiding on the farm working. I’ve missed bopping into town to visit my friends (which I will do tonight at the Spring Artscene in Rockford Illinois

April 5, 2013November 5, 2019Art, On Aging, Women's Issues