Delores Topliff's Blog

After doing a bang-up job of falling down the stairs in my farm home on June 8th, I’m thrilled to wear slippers or flip flops half time now instead of spending night and day in a fracture boot for six weeks. ANY kind of walking is wonderful

In terms of footwear, my Amish neighbors prefer to go barefoot. They believe there is a healthy benefit in directly connecting with the earth, and they may be right.

I can’t run across gravel and rough vegetation like they do though. I’m a softy.

I didn’t write anything on our nation’s 250th birthday, but it’s a thrill to reach that milestone. Two hundred and fifty years is a short time span compared to naions who count events through thousands of years. But think of it—determined idealists cut ties and left their familiar world to trust God and cross an ocean to establish a new government and way of life. I’m glad to descend from some of those visionaries who crossed oceans.

Our grand American experiment became a model for many peoples and nations who wish to better their circumstances. That’s why many have still come at great risk by legal and illegal means. When asked in 1777 whether the newly formed United States was a republic or a monarchy, Benjamin Franklin replied: “A republic, if you can keep it.” I pray that we will all work together to preserve it.

Here in Minnesota, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and Britiish  Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario, devastating forest firest have spread destruction and choking smoke many directions. Such crises brought out the best in people who voluntarily worked together to save people and property . Those actions can help us safeguard and pass on a nation to be proud of. This forest fire photo is beautiful, but the devastation is unimaginable. Logging or firefighting boots are needed there.

During college and later, in Washington, Oregon, and BC and Alberta in Canada I worked at forest fires. My role was to complete timecards, payroll, and HR. We saw long hours, horrible conditions, and one death. I rode in a truck that drove through firelines, flew in a small spotter plane that checked huge forest areas for new smokes, and saw gorgeous scenery including a double waterfall on the eastern slope of the Canadian Rockies that was not accessible by road. I will never forget it. If I live long and write fast, many of those scenes and tales may end up in my books.

Meanwhile, talking with a longtime friend about her US Army service in Iraq got me thinking about the challenges women face in our military. That led me to inviting four other authors to write stories of brave women in all five branches of our US military. Our book, Stars and Stripes for Freedom, released as an eBook on July 22nd and will be in print August 1st. It’s getting good reviews. Please read, enjoy, spread the word, and post customer reviews on Amazon.com and other major sites. Nothing does more to help books be discovered than for friends to read, discuss, recommend, and spread the word. Thank you.

I’m also pleased to have a true story published in the next Chicken Soup collection, Best Dogs Ever, that releases August 18th.

Many areas remain in desperate need of rain. I hand water a few plants where the sprinkler can’t reach. I check the weather app frequently hoping for good news, and finally there is the possibiity of rain tomorrow. I will welcome every drop.

Enjoy your summer. Take care of yourselves and your families. Help your neighbors on good days and bad so together we can pass on to those following us a United States of America that is even better than it is now!

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I love colorful sayings and write them down to remember. Once when I asked a Texan friend how she was, she laughed and said, “Lower than a snake’s belly in a wagon rut.” Surely nothing is lower than that. Her word picture made me laugh Laughter helps us survive the hard times to reach the brighter days ahead.

I’m late writing this because there hasn’t been any news. Falling down my stairs on June 8th  slowed me down. It’s been five weeks . As of Monday, I can remove the fracture boot at night. Hurray! Ten more days and I can try wearing shoes half of the day and hopefully resume driving. I’m so much better than I was. It  could have been very much worse.

I had a birthday last week but didn’t see anyone. That showed me again how much I’m a people person My family was fighting illness an hour away so didn’t come and expose me. That made me all the more thankful for the deluge of online greetings from several hundred family and friends including many countries. Those were a wonderful blessing.

I stayed up late several evenings to enjoy the “lightning bugs.” This online photo by  Greg Hogan shows fireflies held in a jar for three minutes before hesafely released them. Wow!

Here is our newest Scottish Highlander calf.

And a photo of me coming home from the classroom to the first log cabin our family built west of the Alaska Highway in northern British Columbia, Canada. The wild pig jaw decor on the log wall behind me was a gift souvenir from my three plus months helping schools in the jungles of Colombia, South America in 1980. Other souvenirs were even more amazing!)

The next photo shows me going to work from our college community, rifle in hand. That fascinating summer job for British Columbia’s Dept. of Agriculture required protection on the days I checked local dumps or landfills for noxious weed growth after several black bears and I mutually surprised each other. Most other days took me to wonderful scenery and wildlife, but less danger. I’m sure that being active in those many years helps me have health and energy now.

Here is the cover of our novella collection, Stars and Stripes for Freedom, that will release August 1st. I’ll share a pre-order sales link soon. And then on October 1st (or sooner), I’ll release my Amish book, Mercy’s Rose. It has taken a while, but good things are coming.

I hope that for you, too, this summer is full of good times that you’ll remember always!

Until next time, Delores

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I said it without forethought and then wondered where the term comes from, since I have friends doing it.

Hoosegow is an American slang term for jail or prison. It’s the anglicized spelling of the Mexican-Spanish word juzgado (meaning a courtroom or tribunal), and I want to stay out of one.

On Monday, June 8th, I had a routine visit to establish care with a  new primary care physician miles closer to our farm. She said I’m doing great. Driving home, I saw my young Amish neighbors busy usng a horse-drawn mower to tame their large yard. We waved. I knew this would be a perfect time to give them my gift for the birth of their first child. I hurried home, grabbed it, whirled around to dash down the stairs, and only an in-house camera can explainb what happened next. I stepped on something. Or missed a step. I was in the air but came down hard. A stair edge split my left forearm enough for four stitches and spilled plenty of blood. I broke a bone or two in the front of my right foot, my driving foot. Caramba! Wearing a walking boot for eight weeks means instant slow-down. Not my favorite summer plan.

The garden was already planted but I hope to get out there to weed. I can make writing progress. And finish my delayed income tax. But it is shocking how fast our plans and lives can change. I’m thankful I wasn’t hurt worse.

A neighbor will drive me to the next town for a foot appointment to keep me from driving on my own and possibly earning a traffic violation or arrest. I’ve received household help. And the most gorgeous peony and dianthus bouquet I’ve ever seen. Plus, a welcome, long pre-planned visit from my sister and nicee in North Carolina that was perfect timing. They cooked delicious food and took care of loose ends. I didn’t need to drive. I get to stay out of the hoosegow and heal. And I plan to stay law-abiding after that. It was probably expensive–the Emergency Room bill hasn’t come. But I also have much to be thankful for. Including many more chances to go up and down the stairs more slowly.

June 21st was the longest day of the year Time and temperatures will slowly reverse, but there’s still time to enjoy lots of summer. I’ve loved seeing every stage of the hay harvest across our road through my front window. And before summer’s over, I should be nearly as good as new, just a little slower and wiser.

Until next time,

Delores

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I’ll tell this post’s story in photos.

In central northern Minnesota, the slanted sun lights summer evenings VERY late and sunrise comes early. Somehow, we don’t mind. It brings a certain energy wth it. You can almost hear every green thing squeakand stretch as it responds and grows. If we listen carefully, I think we might, too.

There’s new life in the pasture.

And everywhere, with plenty of neighbors passing by, including two fat yearling bears in my front farmyard that I’d never seen before. I didn’t know they were in these parts. I was surprised!

At twilight, other neighbors ride by in their horse and buggy.

Until the sun sets.

And the full moon sheds its benediction over everything.

It’s hard to remember during long cold winters, how gorgeous summer is and so worth enjoying every minute.

Remember to set aside special times in nature with family.  Soak up every moment of sunshine.

Work hard to make your home lawn and garden space or farmyard even better.

Enjoy every bit of the season by imprinting every scene upon your mind and heart.

Notice every neighbor passing by. (I cheated here. The first is a China pheasant in my yard, but the second is a golden pheasant in the garden of dear friends near Campbeltown, Scotland).

It’s all a gift for us to enjoy. Happy and blessed High Summer as our days are still getting longer!

I’d love to see your photos, too,

Until next time, Delores

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Starting May 16th, I spent three days driving a thousand miles between northeast Mississippi and central Minnesota again. Once more, I left magnolias and blooming roses in already sweltering temperatures and reached northern landscapes where spring is still cool and tulips and lilacs are just appearing.

I took photos along the way, and even backed up to capture some.

I’m sorry the great tractor photo steered by a giant colorful rooster in a farmyard in Chaffee, Missouri doesn’t show up better. It’s delightful and its farm owners are obviously people any of us would like to know. Take time to look closely and smile

Finally, since my father’s railroad career involved all stages of driviving a train from shoveling coal into the fire box to eventually becoming the engineer, I enjoyed the historic train park in Jackson, Missouri.

I headed to our farm two days ago and look forward to reconnecting with my Amish neighbor friends and also meeting up with my writing students who meet monthly at the Milaca Public Library. They’re quality people with interesting stories to tell and significant events to describe. I hope to introduce you to some of them as time goes by.

In the meantime, Chicken Soup bought my third or fourth true story for them. When that book is published, I’ll let you know. Their acceptance encouraged me so much, I wrote up two more to send to them.

What goals do you have this summer? What special memories do you hope to create? I hope you enjoy yourselves and succeed beyond your wildest dreams and that you’ll tell us about them. I plan to do the same.

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Two weeks ago I visited two major sites that bring Bible stories to life. The first was The Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky, created by the organization, Answers in Genesis, which opened in 2007. That venue promotes a portrayal of young Earth creationism, including the origin of the universe and life on Earth based on a literal interpretation of Genesis. It is operated by the Christian apologetics organization Answers in Genesis (AiG).

Three years later, the same group raised donations to start building Noah’s ark to exact Bible specifications. The Ark Encounter in Williamstown, Kentucky, 45 minutes from the Creation Museum, opened in 2016.

Answers in Genesis resources may be accessed at Answers.tv for a seven-day free trial or purchased through subscriptions.

“The Ark Encounter features a full-size Noah’s Ark, built to the dimensions given in Genesis and displays the biblical ark as 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high. Royal cubits from elbow to index finger tip would make that approximately 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high.” Huge!

It’s one thing to see it. It’s another to walk inside the ark and climb and explore all four decks. We hear about the ark, we read about it—but it’s quite different being there.

Here are photos with a friendly dinosaur at The Creation Museum  and a friend and I with accomplished actress, Vickie Gaynier, who wonderfully brought WWII Dutch woman Corrie ten Boom’s story to life in her reenactment, “A Light in Dark Places.”

The last photo indicates size with me in front of the ark, the world’s “largest freestanding timber structure.” I went anticipating good things, but both places were more impacting than I expected. I recommend them both. What trips are you planning? What places do you visit to think deeper and longer?

Have a blessed and wonder-filled beginning of summer.

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In our Vancouver, Washington elementary school, we studied a raft of world locations, climate zones, and animal species I hoped to see in person. Through the years, I’ve been blessed to actually see and experience many and even written about some. (Check my book titles under my Books Tab at delorestopliff.com)

While studying the tropics, we learned that piranhas with triangular teeth could strip the meat from a cow crossing a stream in one minute flat. In 1980, in my 180 day mission trip to the Colombian Amazonian jungle, I taught students in many locations and helped teachers in developing schools. When I needed to cross a log above one piranha-filled stream to reach a distant site, my hosts expected me to be terrified, but I’d had practice crossing logs over Canadian wilderness streams. I’d learned that the secret is to look straight ahead or up–never down at the swirling flood underneath, lest looking into that morass make me fall in. (That’s a true spiritual principle, too.)  I crossed that log fine, and dinner that night was delicious piranhas served with their heads on, with triangular teeth and all. It’s better to eat piranhas than have them eat us. One chewed a chunk from 12-year-old Manuel’s hand as he removed it from a net. When he couldn’t grasp a pencil to do his schoolwork, several eager girls helped the smiling hero.

So whatever frightening piranhas you see or meet, remember–they can be stopped and are good food. Instead of terrifying us, they can feed us and fuel our steps forward to fulfill our destinies. May we learn to view all challenges bravely and positively.

My current challenge is to draw together five novellas that four other author friends and I are writing into one compelling collection we’re calling Stars and Stripes for Freedom. I’ll tell you more about that in coming months, but we believe you’ll love these fun, inspiring stories as much as we do.

I’m also beginning to write the sequel to Wilderness Wife. I’m considering titles like Wilderness Won or Wilderness Gained–retelling the journey of Dr. John and Marguerite McLoughlin across Canada to establish Fort Vancouver (my hometown) which led to  the Pacific Northwest becoming American instead of Canadian soil. Pray for me to capture the compelling scenes and amazing story that these two legacy builders deserve. I’m open to your title suggestions, and will gladly give you credit.

Wherever you are, have beautifully satisfying spring days filled with inspiring beauty.

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We look forward to some recurring days but dread the return of others. That might be superstition, but there are records of major events falling on certain historic dates that make us wonder. Without credotomg astrology, some dates record uncanny recurring events.

On April 14th in 1912 ,the RMS Titanic sank while sailing from England, to New York City. This “unsinkable” ship carrying over 2,000 passengers on its maiden voyage, scraped an ice berg and could not be saved.

On July 22-23 this year, Jewish believers will observe Tisha B’Av, (the Ninth of Av), the most dreaded day in their calendar. It is a day of mourning and fasting, marking the destruction of the First and Second Temples and other historical tragedies. It’s observed by fasting, avoiding comforts, and reading the Book of Lamentations. Here are more drastic events falling on that day.

Finally, on one single day, November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was shot, and very different authors Aldous Huxley and C.S. Lewis also died. I often imagine the incongruity of all three men reaching the Pearly Gates at the same time.

As “red-letter” days return, embrace them. As the anniversaries of less happy days approach, believe for better patterns and histories to be written. Be sure to enjoy every day.

So what do you think? Are certain recurring calendar events uncanny or real? Tell us why.

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This is NOT an April Fool’s post, but somehow I lost a week in writing and postng this blog. I suspect that’s because I and a great committee were busy creating and then hosting our excellent annual Mid-South Christian Writers’ Conf. in Collierville, Tennessee, a suburb southeast of Memphis, March 20th-21st. It will be that same third weekend next year.

Amazing, prizewinning author DiAnn Mills was our keynoter. Published authors in all genres from near and far came to share their publications on book tables and to encourage each other before and after our top-quality eminar and class times. First-timers also came who have barely begun writing or who are considering taking up the craft. Each year, we offer several scholarships to qualifying applicants who write a short essay about their writing experience and goals. Our youngest attendee, age 12, shows great promise. Another author is healthy, lucid and productive in his 90’s. Put the Mid-South Christian Writers Conference on your calendar now to join us next March.

Pardon the joke at a serious time of year, but most of us do believe we have a story in us that needs to “get out.”

Today, Passover observance has begun around the world. In two more days, we have Good Friday and then our triumphal Resurrection celebration on Sunday. What more can I say about Easter that hasn’t been said? There’s so much more to it than bunnies and colored eggs and candy. I look forward to the powerful anthems declaring the everlasting truth told in Matthew 28:6, “He is not here; for he is risen, as he said.”

Whatever Easter means to you and however you celebrate it, over and above the delicious meals and special family times, may this year be supremely meaningful for you and your family in truly life-changing ways.

Until next time, Delores

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My younger sister, Nancy, developed a desire to paint with watercolors—nature scenes, flowers, trees, birds and other creatures, all in in rich colors. She took lessons to further her natural ability and got really good, really fast. I proudly have her paintings in my home, and love her printed notecards. I use so many, I keep running out.

Her cards produced great results yesterday.

A dear friend in Denmark is having a hard time. She sent me a photo of one of the notecards resting on her window ledge and raising her spirits.

A second card solved a major problem for me. My Minnesota primary care doctor is retiring. Her office was one and a half hours from my farm, so it was an effort get there. Two years ago, I pinch-hitted with another doctor in a clinic half an hour from my farm. Without sharing that woman’s full story, she is highly educated and immigrated from another country with fascinating life experiences. After handling my medical issue, we had one of the best conversations on youth, education, and world history that I’ve ever enjoyed.

It didn’t take long last week to realize  I wanted her as my new primary, but when I phoned her clinic, they said, “she’s full and not taking new patients, no exceptions.”

I was sad since that doctor stood out. Any interaction with her would be exceptional. As I’d left that appointment two years ago, she’d told me she’d also enjoyed our conversation, but it seemed impossible to pass the closed door.

But an idea hit me. I chose one of my sister’s prettiest notecards and wrote a message reminding the doctor of our pleasant encounter. (The photos at top are samples of my sister’s work.) I acknowledged the doctor’s busy schedule but asked if she might consider making an exception, promising to stay healthy to take as little time as possible. I marked the envelope Personal and Confidential to be sure it reached her.

Yesterday, I got a phone call from the doctor’s nurse. She cheerfully said the doctor loved my card and is making an exception. I’m free to contact her any time, even before next summer’s appointment.

What if I hadn’t tried? What if I took “No” for an answer? I know the Lord gave me the idea, but my sister’s beautiful notecard helped. I phoned and told her so.

That lesson fits all areas of life. If we knock on a door and find it locked, keep knocking until someone comes with a key, or someone inside who didn’t want to be bothered gives up and responds.

By the time I left my new doctor’s office that day, I knew she and I would be friends if we had time. I’ll also take her more of my sister’s notecards,.

If you want to see the art that opens doors, find Nancy Williams on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/art.original.watercolors  If you contact her, tell her Delores sent you.

And have a beautiful week.

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