M.K. McClintock's Blog

Happy October! Now that cooler weather is here and the garden is nearing hibernation, I've been back in the kitchen experimenting with new recipes, many of which are healthier, and I'll share the good ones once I get all the kinks worked out.

Watching seeds, bulbs, and perennials sprout and transform into beautiful flowers feels like magic.

I needed to get away from the computer, the possibility of chores after a mega gardening day, and escape into the outdoors.

Whether grazing in a meadow, running across open plains, or in mountain valleys, they offer a vision of freedom that stirs something primal in the human soul.

The Old West, a time of individualism, adventure, and lawlessness, has always held a special fascination for me.

This week, I'm asking myself the question, "How Scottish am I?"

Updated 02/26/2025

There has been little for me to say these past two months, and what words I do have been reserved for writing, and so I will speak mostly in pictures. Every image here represents a profound moment of peace. For me, to exist with such beauty on this earth is to live in a constant state of awe. It is a remarkable task to awaken each day and strive to be worthy of all it represents. When sense needs to be made of the world, I always find the answers I seek in prayer and nature...

It started as a short story, then a novelette, until the characters decided they need just a little more time on the page. Christmas in Whitcomb Springs, a novella, is an enjoyable addition to the Whitcomb Springs stories, and it's now available.

For those who aren't familiar, this series is a collection of short fiction, with contributions from myself and three other authors. Each story is written to stand alone, and mine do follow a chronological order.

About Christmas in Whitcomb Springs...

No cookie baking this year. In fact, the only baking tradition I'm upholding this year is Christmas morning cinnamon rolls. Too busy, too tired, and gosh darn it, it's a little tough to get into the super Christmas spirt when there is no snow. Yes, there's some in the mountains, but not nearly enough for our corner of Montana. Today I wanted to get outside and work on the gardens.

However, I woke up one morning recently in the mood to try a new muffins, and so was born these Apple Cider Cran...

As the Christmas holiday nears, the world seems to slow down, allowing most everyone to savor the simple pleasures that often go unnoticed in the rush of everyday life. The scent of cinnamon, molasses, and vanilla wafts through the air, mingling with the crisp pine aroma of the Christmas tree.

Shelves and stacks of well-worn and new books beckon, promising tales of distant times and heartwarming adventures. Once the cookies are in the oven, it's time to curl up in a favorite spot with a stea...