Old Tin Canisters are filled with stories!

November 16, 2019November 17, 2019 / Jeanne Lemmon Skinner / 2 Comments

Many uses and many memories!

My tin canisters are very useful. They are decorative in themselves and look great with dried flowers in them. I keep my chocolate chips in the Nestles one and brown sugar in another. They brighten my pantry with color and memories. I remember my mom had buttons in one, thread in one and coins in another. Obviously, tin canisters are great for organizing household items.

I didn’t realize that tin cans were being used in America as early as 1820. Being able to store food in tin cans made a tremendous impact on the food industry. Products could be sent a long distance safely and food lasted! Aluminum cans weren’t produced until 1965. This is an invention we appreciate still today. One can’t beat a can of tomato soup on a cold day!

Think of the stories that could be written about items found in a tin can. Keys are always a good item because they lead to something. Come to think of it, I think one of my aunts kept keys in a tin can. I’d love to hear your tin can stories! Please share!

It’s Turkey Time!

November 6, 2019 / Jeanne Lemmon Skinner / 2 Comments

It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving dinner if we didn’t have turkey!

Thanksgiving has been an American holiday since Abraham Lincoln signed the proclamation in 1863. Much has been written about the first Thanksgiving and what was eaten. For sure they ate venison and turkeys were likely on the menu because they were in abundance during that time period. My brother has many wild turkeys on his farm and none of us would eat one. They look scrawny to me, but historically they were beautiful, magnificent birds.

Ben Franklin was so impressed by them he wanted to make the turkey America’s national bird. I read they had bright colors and some thought they were related to the peacock. Wild turkeys not only fly; they fly fast! They can fly up to 55 mph. I would have been impressed too, Ben!

I love reading picture books at every holiday and most of the Thanksgiving books involve Tom escaping the farmer’s ax. Our domesticated turkeys are so fat they can’t run and certainly can’t fly. They also have lost their previous thinking ability. Unfortunately, they don’t have a lot of brain cells working for them any more. However, in children’s books they always outwit the farmer. I wouldn’t want it any other way!

My turkey is quite cute and no one would want to eat a turkey that looked that cute. To be honest, I like chicken better than turkey, but it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without turkey!

Dolls are Scary?

September 30, 2019September 30, 2019 / Jeanne Lemmon Skinner / Leave a comment

These dolls can’t be scary. Can they?

I grew up playing with dolls, and I still love dolls. I have eight granddaughters and only a few love dolls. They prefer stuffed animals. Three of the granddaughters were visiting and I was told my dolls were scary. I was shocked! How could they all of a sudden be frightening?

Apparently they had seen a movie about a possessed doll and the doll named Emily looked like the doll in the movie. (Doll in the middle) I was asked to put her in the closet so they didn’t have to see her. I think being put in a dark closet is scary. At least they didn’t want me to go in the closet with Emily.

My former students (eighth graders) asked me to read a book about a possessed doll. I read it and liked it. I didn’t remember the name, so I googled books about possessed dolls. I found the title Bad Girls Don’t Die and was amazed at the number of books with this theme. Goodreads listed 128.

No wonder children now find dolls scary. I hope writers don’t decide to write about possessed teddy bears or about bacteria ridden blankies! I slept with my dolls every night and spent hours playing teacher and doctor with them. They were my silent friends, and I’m glad I never encountered a book about a possessed doll.

The teacher in me says, Be glad kids are reading! but it makes me sad. On the upside, I doubt if the American Girl Dolls have lost any sales over the scary doll books. Everyone knows they wouldn’t be possessed!

Football Season is Here!

September 16, 2019September 30, 2019 / Jeanne Lemmon Skinner / 1 Comment

OH-IO! Is a familiar cry during football season in Ohio. Fall and football go together. Growing up in Columbus I cheered for the Bobcats on Friday night, the Buckeyes on Saturday, and on Sunday my family rooted for the Browns.

One would think I knew the game pretty well with all that cheering and watching, but unfortunately I didn’t. My understanding of the game occurred when one of my sons starting playing football. He put on a helmet at age ten and wore one until he graduated from college. That was a lot of football games, and I finally learned the game! Once I fully understood what I was watching, I became a real fan.

I know people throughout America love their football teams, but if you live in Columbus, Ohio, the team that reigns over all the others is the BUCKEYES! I proudly say “OH” do I hear an “IO”?

Inspired Writing

August 28, 2019September 30, 2019 / Jeanne Lemmon Skinner / 7 Comments

Welcome to Inspired Writing! I’m a writer of many things. I published Hummingbirds, Pennies, and Hope in 2012 and my new book In God We Trust I hope will be published soon. I have written plays, picture books, and skits. I’m currently working on the annual Christmas show at my church. People ask me where I get my ideas, so I thought I’d share where I found them and what became of them. I hope my stories will entertain and maybe inspire a story or two for you to write.