By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Do you see it—hanging like a papery ornament, just in front of a Colorado blue spruce? What you may not notice are its whirring, buzzing, stinging residents. That nest is best left alone. I shot this picture from the back of my horse on
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer I received a note from a friend the other day. Part of it said, “Surround yourself with what you love.” Sometimes I do this without thinking about it, haphazardly scattering colors or keepsakes that appeal to me. Without serious consideration, I simply like the
Join me today as I welcome author Kathleen L. Maher, as she shares encouragement for the week as well as information about a giveaway. -Davalynn Spencer By Kathleen L. Maher @Mahereenie Fear is a liar. As the popular song goes, “It will rob your rest,
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Hide and seek – is it only a child’s game? Not necessarily. Adults like to figure things out, hunt for buried treasure, and make ground-breaking discoveries. It is in man’s DNA to investigate and unearth. Personally, I believe God intended it to be so,
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Have you ever heard the phrase “down in the dumps”? It’s been around about 500 years, according to people who look that stuff up. Though the idiom is nearly self-explanatory, some etymologists believe the word “dumps” may have come from a Dutch or German
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer My friend Lynne Schricker creates magnificent bronze horses, and her years of experience as a seasoned horsewoman bring a sense of life to her sculptures. As a trainer, rider, and winning rodeo competitor, she knows the flick of an ear and a worthy eye,
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer These beautiful horses are from a string of bucking stock owned by Miller Rodeo Company out of Colorado. Believe me, they are well-prepared for the day of battle – once or twice a week all summer long for eight seconds at a time. Their
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Is there a place you go to escape the crush and commotion of life? A place where it’s quiet enough to hear yourself think? Hear God whisper to your heart. For Laura Bell in The Miracle Tree, her quiet place was the front porch
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Some people wonder what goes into the making of a novel, and with good reason. There’s so much more to writing fiction than lining up words on a page. For me, it’s about finding truth. August 23 is the release date for the repackaged
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer In early June, I enjoyed a personal writer-research stay at Badger Creek Ranch, a working cattle ranch tucked into the high country of Colorado at 8,800 feet. While there, I was often reminded to drink water. “Don’t wait until you’re thirsty,” a staff member
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Fires and floods have ravaged wilderness and communities alike this summer, and many of us know people who have suffered extreme loss. For some, the fires and floods have been literal scourging flame and sweeping deluge. Others have experienced great emotional loss and pain
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Rejection. We all know what it tastes like—bitter, regardless of how well-preserved our self-esteem. As a child, I often played the piano for school talent shows, winning awards in some and going unnoticed in others. On those losing occasions, my mother would say, “You
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Recently, I spent time with my youngest granddaughter watching a hummingbird through my office window. To her, the tiny bird was a marvelous, magical creature. She was fascinated by the movement of it’s tail. I understood how it worked, knew it functioned as a
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer One summer evening when our children were little, a thunderstorm crashed up against the Front Range and knocked out the power. Colorado is famous for its sudden storms and lightning shows but, newcomer that I was, I was proudly prepared. “Let’s be pioneers,” I
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer As an author of historical fiction, I’m often asked how much time I spend researching. That’s a hard question to answer because it depends upon the topic researched and the type of research required. However, I must admit that my most enjoyable research venture