Dear ,I am shocked that it's April and I'm making a batch of sun tea already. We often have snow here until May. Yesterday, it was 88 degrees! Today looks to follow suit, so I'm going to take advantage of this early summer heat. A friend gifted me a...

Dear ,One of my favorite things to do with my children is go exploring in Spring. Over the years, we've had plenty of adventures that left the hairs on the backs of our necks raised. If you're ever in the area, Fossil & Prairie Park near Rockford...

Sometimes, you stumble onto a cat who is the perfect fit for your family. For us, Pumpkin is it. A purrfect prince. He even tries to help me type.We're taking him to get fixed soon. Wish him luck!Please remember, cats who aren't spayed or neutered ar...

Dear ,This will be a first-time hello to some of you who subscribed but were not migrated to my mailing list until now. My apologies. As a refresher, my name is Katie and I write (not too terribly) spooky mysteries featuring interior designer-turned-...

Dear ,Sometimes, it's difficult to have a writer in the family. That's especially true when they write about recipes. I have a special distaste for people who share advice without taking it first, so my husband and children sometimes have to brave ne...

Dear ,I've had a handful of preorders on my upcoming release, Fantastical at Fifty, a paracozy / paranormal women's fiction novel. It's supposed to be the first in a new series featuring increasingly older heroines, but it's just not ready yet. I apo...

Dear ,Happy New Year!!!I hope everyone is well where you are. We're going through an ice storm a few days after a blizzard, so I'm going to keep this message short. I absolutely love winter, even when it rages. The mysteries of the earth can be witne...

Dear ,I belong to a local Lost and Found pet group on Facebook. Last week, someone posted looking to rehome a cat who'd been left behind when her neighbors moved. When I say he had the sweetest face ...Meet Pumpkin. Softest fur. Squeakiest meow. He i...

Dear ,In November, I did a 3000-squat challenge to help raise money for children's cancer research. It was intense. I completed 100 per day for all 30 days, but I have some bad news ...It made my body feel fantastic.I know, I should lie and say it wa...

Dear ,For a few years there, I thought cranberries were making a comeback. In 2018 to 2020, simmer pots were all the rage. What makes your house smell better than cranberries, bay leaves and cinnamon sticks? Nothing. Unfortunately, it seems the fruit...