Welcome to the cabin. In good weather, this is my favorite place to write. I’ve christened the cabin SELAH, a biblical term which means “to pause and reflect.” I try to do that here as often as possible.

Whether it’s with pen and paper or on a laptop with NO internet access, writing as I sit in one of the metal chairs on this cabin porch has been both inspirational and rewarding. The cabin doesn’t always look this pretty. In this photo, we’re prepared to host our future daughter-in-law and her attendants for our son’s outdoor wedding. It was a beautiful day.

In other seasons, the porch is littered with leaves and debris, weeds have grown up around the fire pit and the flowers have long since withered. Isn’t that life? Not always picture-perfect, but inspirational and rewarding, even in its faults.

I grew up in a small town, but I’m a happily “reformed” country girl. In another life, I had a career as a news reporter. I left college to take a summer job at our local newspaper and I was hooked! I stuck around and received the best education in life and journalism from a string of patient editors and mentors. I worked off-and-on for the newspaper, managed a flower shop and took an office job in our local school corporation until we had our third son. I then “retired” to home school our four children. Over the next 20 years, most of my creative energies went toward teaching my own children and other homeschooled kids how to write.

Now that our sons are young adults (and several are writers), I’ve returned to writing. Besides creative non-fiction, I’ve been at work on my first novel. It’s a cross-generational story that takes the reader from the 1920s to the present, and from Indiana to Detroit to Chicago. Stay tuned!

You have a standing invitation to stop by from time to time for reflections and observations on life. I’m inspired by the words of 19th century designer and author William Morris:

“The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life.”

I’ll be doing a lot of that here — taking an interest in all the details of daily life. Regular followers (subscribe below) receive monthly emails that include links to blog posts as well as other unique offerings about whatever catches my eye.

Interested in more?

I’ve written a book about my dad, who grew up during The Great Depression, and I’m honored to have contributed to Grit & Grace: A Women Writing Anthology. This beautiful book is a collection of poetry, fiction and essays written by authors from throughout the Midwest. The pieces are featured alongside prints of beautiful, original artwork, also by area artists. (Grit & Grace is available on Amazon.)

One Man’s Work, a collection of stories from my Dad’s life, was a labor of love and a gift presented to him for Father’s Day some years ago. My Dad passed away in 2019, less than two years after Mom. Dad was a storyteller at heart and I’ll never regret the time I spent listening to his memories and recording them for this slim volume that became his legacy for generations to come. Writing down his stories and memories from growing up during the depression, serving in the U.S. Air Force and working in and around his hometown while he was alive to enjoy and share them gave us some of our best times together. He even joined me at a couple of book signings, adding his signature to mine. I encourage anyone with a storytelling family member — or who is a storyteller themselves — to capture those stories to share with others. One Man’s Work is available through me by e-mail at www.ialochamire@gmail.com. Put “One Man’s Work” in the subject line.