The beginning of a new year seems to be a good time to look back on the old and look forward to the new, and so some type of retrospective of our illustration and story posts also seems appropriate.

(These are shown above from left to right. Links to the full illustrations and posts follow.)

First “Most Popular” Post December 2019

“Christmas Eve Wisdom And Wishes” You can read it in full here if you’d like. (Not only was this the “Most Popular” for the month of December, it was also the “Most Popular” for all of 2019!)

Second “Most Popular” Post December 2019

“Immersed In The Joys Of Life” read it in full here if you’d like. (This was one of my favorite posts for the year, not so much for the illustration, but more for what it said about life and love.)

Third “Most Popular” Post December 2019

“The Most Perfect Plan Ever!” You can read it in full here if you’d like. (The illustration for this post shows Pearl’s imagination at work as she wonders what it will be like when Santa Claus reads her Christmas list. I love her innocent hopefulness that all of life’s problems could be solved with a simple letter to Santa Claus.)

Well, my friends, we made it through the entire 12-month retrospective! Thanks for joining me. I have enjoyed this chance to look back and see what you as readers enjoyed the most!

I can’t help but close with one more “Most Popular,” and it’s the “Most Popular Family Photo Friday” picture for all of 2019. I was pleased to see that it was of Gracie who I seldom photograph just by herself. That’s just the kind of modest girl she is and one more reason why she will always be “My Best Girl Ever.”

We appreciate the time you have spent reading our stories and leaving “likes” and “comments” to encourage us when we got things right. We also appreciate the times you have made us think about how we can do better. All of your “hearts” and reposts, all of your award nominations and mentions, all of your kind words, all of it…is so tremendously appreciated.

We hope very much that we have returned to you some small part of the great joy you have given to us.

John, Gracie, Bessie, Pearl, Blanche (who we still hold in our hearts), Amelia, and Emily

The beginning of a new year seems to be a good time to look back on the old and look forward to the new, and so some type of retrospective of our illustration and story posts also seems appropriate.

(These are shown above from left to right. Links to the full illustrations and posts follow.)

First “Most Popular” Post November 2019

“A Chicken’s Life Is Not So Bad” You can read it in full here if you’d like. (All of my girls were thrilled that this post was the most popular for November. It concluded their big story series for October when they put a great deal of work into their Halloween costumes! They learned a lot from this experience particularly that “treats are not always better on the other side of the fence.”)

Second “Most Popular” Post November 2019

“Pearl, My Girl, You Sure Have Changed!” read it in full here if you’d like. (This post shares an excerpt from “How To Explain Christmas To Chicken.” It also looks at how drawing styles here have changed due to printing needs and software needs. Hopefully the changes have all been for the better.)

Third “Most Popular” Post November 2019

“Bessie’s Best Ever Sweet Onion and Walnut Mini Muffins” You can read it in full here if you’d like. (Bessie was thrilled that one of her recipes made it into the “Top Three.” These great muffins were featured in Our own Christmas meal.)

Thanks for joining me on this retrospective of our illustration and story posts. I have enjoyed this chance to look back and see what you as readers enjoyed the most!

The beginning of a new year seems to be a good time to look back on the old and look forward to the new, and so some type of retrospective of our illustration and story posts also seems appropriate.

(These are shown above from left to right. Links to the full illustrations and posts follow.)

First “Most Popular” Post October 2019

“The Scariest Halloween Costume Contest” You can read it in full here if you’d like. (All of my girls were thrilled that this post was the most popular for October. They put a great deal of work into their Halloween costumes!)

Second “Most Popular” Post October 2019

“Freak Show Chickens” read it in full here if you’d like. (This post is a chapter from “How To Explain Christmas To Chickens.” It is a somewhat scary chapter, at least for Pearl and Blanche. Later in the novel, Pearl will have a truly scary dream about being in The Bottle Cap Lady’s Chicken Freak Show. Don’t worry because it’s only a dream and points out how we can often let our imagination get the best of us. Her dream will allow her to learn something important about herself.)

Third “Most Popular” Post October 2019

“Magic Pictures” You can read it in full here if you’d like. (This post features Amelia and Emily with their desire to be writers because words make “magic pictures.” They have never seen a typewriter, and the illustration reflects how they imagine a typewriter to work.)

Thanks for joining me on this retrospective of our illustration and story posts. I have enjoyed this chance to look back and see what you as readers enjoyed the most!