Month: May 2017

The Road to Freedom ~ Abolitionists: Levi and Catharine Coffin

Published on by Ann Marie Bryant3 Comments

Throughout their lives, Levi and Catharine Coffin helped thousands of slaves find their way to freedom. This Quaker couple opened their homes and their hearts while defying government mandates and relying on the truths of a heavenly Father to guide them while helping those in need. Continue reading “The Road to Freedom ~ Abolitionists: Levi and Catharine Coffin” →

A Country Western Singer, Mama, and Morning Sickness

Published on by Ann Marie Bryant8 Comments

“Please excuse Ann for being late this morning. She has morning sickness.”

I turned back toward the house, but my mom was already standing in the doorway, arms crossed, grinning like a woman who had just played her final card. She waved sweetly and called out, “Guess you’ll be on time tomorrow, huh?”

And I was. Mama always knew exactly how to end the nonsense

Turns out nothing cures bad hair habits faster than the threat of a fictional pregnancy documented in your mother’s handwriting.

  • Before
  • After

Heroine of Buffalo Creek Valley: Anne Rowe Hupp

Published on by Ann Marie Bryant6 Comments

On a frosty March night, a young wife and mother had a frightening dream. In her sleep, the wife witnessed a copper snake attack her husband. She watched in horror as its venomous fangs sank deep into her husband’s palm. As hard as she tried, she could not loosen its deadly grip. Continue reading “Heroine of Buffalo Creek Valley: Anne Rowe Hupp” →

Ranch Life and Whiskey

Published on by Ann Marie Bryant3 Comments

My grandfather, Tom Allen, was a rancher who raised sheep on the western slope of Colorado, near the town of Hotchkiss. Ranching played a vital role in my family for a long time; it was a way of life. Grandpa grew up on a ranch and began helping his father at a young age. As a child, he understood the cycle. Ranch kids have always known that raising livestock means food on the table, which is why this tale warms my heart.

One year, Grandpa went hunting with his brothers and some neighbors. This was another way to provide for the family, and it allowed the men to bond and enjoy some good old-fashioned fun.

On this particular hunting trip, the men brought alcohol to relax around the campfire after a long day of hunting. My grandfather also brought whiskey, which was not unusual, as he often had it around the house. However, Grandpa didn’t drink; he used whiskey for doctoring. When a person or an animal was injured or sick, he would use whiskey to help them.

As children, if we were ill and heard Grandpa was coming, we cried. We knew we were getting his version of a hot toddy, a concoction that burned out whatever ailed us. Bless his gruff heart, his rough mannerisms softened, and our grandfather became the sweetest of saints. In a gentle voice, he would calm our fears, place a cool cloth on our foreheads, and keep the covers pulled up tight. He would sit with us until we fell asleep and only leave our side if he believed we were on the mend. He treated animals with the same gentleness.

While on this hunting adventure, Grandpa shot a buck. When his fellow hunters returned to camp, they discovered that my grandfather had indeed shot a buck, but it rested quietly after its injury. Apparently, he had grazed the animal and brought it back to camp to clean its wounds with whiskey. The problem was that he didn’t have enough to properly tend to his patient, so he used others’ private stash too.

Mama recalled that people laughed at my grandpa for years after this incident because he brought his deer home. He bought a red collar with a bell, put it out to pasture, and kept it on his ranch where he knew it would be safe. That was also the last time the rancher ever went hunting.

A Teacher’s List: Things A Teacher Will Say in the Classroom

Published on by Ann Marie Bryant4 Comments

In April, my students and I began working on our poetry chapbooks. For one of the poems, we wrote a list poem. List poems have always been fun, for they can rhyme or not, and they can pretty much be about anything. Continue reading “A Teacher’s List: Things A Teacher Will Say in the Classroom” →

Birthday Surprises…even in May

Published on by Ann Marie Bryant4 Comments

Why is an ice cube so smart?

Since my life as a school teacher has usually kept me hopping, I have tried to remember to slow down and enjoy all the precious moments that make each day special.   Today was one of those days that I want to remember because my students went out of their way to make my day something memorable. Continue reading “Birthday Surprises…even in May” →