Jeannie Miller

   Last evening huge pink feathery clouds lit up the sky like gigantic angel's wings. I remember thinking I'd love to capture the scene on film. Chris at serendipity (blog) is a gifted photographer. I paint with words.
   Today, just for fun, I'll share some excerpts from Little House in the Cornfield, my first Jeannie Miller book.
   Adventurous ten-year-old Jeannie is spending the summer of 1965 on her great-aunt and uncle's Ohio farm. Uncle Harry is showing Jeannie around.

   He showed her the four stalls for the two horses and two cows. The cows were as alike as the Dr. Seuss creatures, Thing One and Thing Two. Cow One and Cow Two. Jeannie giggled to herself. Her uncle said these were work horses, but they were not opposed to being saddled and ridden, he'd show her how. "Heck, you can even ride the cows, if you wanna try. Don't know if they'll take to the saddles though," he said with a wink.
   Uncle Harry showed her a bicycle, painted red, with a long silver fender covering the back tire, a basket and bell in front. "You might want to make use of this old contraption while you're here. It belonged to the boys, but I cleaned it up, greased it, and got new tires when we heard you were comin'. Town's only two miles away. You might wanna shop, or go to the picture show, or just explore."

   Uncle Harry takes Jeannie on a tour on the town, but later that week she takes the bike and explores on her own.

   The glorious library filled with fresh adventures just waiting to be explored was only a short ride away. She decided to ride into town and have a look around for herself. After letting her aunt know where she was headed, Jeannie went to the barn for Big Red. She had named the bike two days earlier.
   Jeannie enjoyed the ride, kicking her feet out to her sides and leaning back as far as she dared. She closed her eyes and let the breeze rush over her. She didn't pass another soul on Miller Road. She imagined the cornfields were waves on the ocean as she was sailing along. Fresh sea air tousled First Mate Jeannie's hair, as she stood on the deck of the clipper. Suddenly the captain cried out, "Land Ho!" Jeannie approached First Street, placed her feet back firmly on the bike's pedals, maneuvered into town, then looked carefully around her.

   Tomorrow I might write a bit about Jeannie's adventures in Miriah and the Evil Sea-Witch.