A Small Move of the Needle

Good morning!

Last December (as you may recalls), the BryonySeries B.L.O.C.K.S. team organized two holiday children's book drives.

We had a donation box at The Book Market in Crest Hill (spearheaded by Rebekah) to collect BryonySeries children's books (Bertrand the Mouse series, The Adventures of Cornell Dyer series, and Girls of the BryonySeries series) for Santa Services, as we've done in the past.

But we also decided to collect BryonySeries books and other children's books for the Will County Children's Advocacy Center after learning they had a need for them throughout the year.

We finally have the results of our efforts.

We sent fifty Bertrand the Mouse to Santa Services for since Santa loves to give books away at his appearances for low-income families.

A few patrons at The Book Market bought BryonySeries and other children's books for the Will County Children's Advocacy Center. And Jan Staley, the store's owner, donated some, too.

And then Cindy piggybacked and expanded the book drive for the center at her work place, which provided most of the books we wound up donating.

So earlier in April, we brought nearly 250 books (230 from Cindy's workplace) to the Will County Children's Advocacy Center.

We waited this long because the donations at Cindy's workplace kept coming even after the holidays.

Of course, Cindy removed any book appeared damaged before donating them.

Cindy also received donations toward BryonySeries books for events B.L.O.C.K.S. will host or participate in during the year.

As you might recall, Timothy and Daniel participated in the Will County Children's Advocacy Center "Men Who Cook" fundraiser on October 11, 2025.

We remember the date because it was Daniel's thirtieth birthday.

And Daniel worked the event on this milestone birthday with a migraine.

The children's book drive (and other donation events we've hosted) was a lot of work, and we know we're not moving the needle of meeting the need in the world by very much.

We certainly don't have the time and resources of major corporations that can really make an impactful difference.

But we also believe small blessings can, when added up and in due time, yield big results.

Years ago I read it's always better to light one candle than curse the darkness.

So we try not to let our lamp go out at night.

Have a most blessed day!

Photos: Here's the Food You Missed at WriteOn Joliet's 2025 Anthology Release Party

Good morning!

WriteOn Joliet will hosted its 9th Annual Anthology Release Party from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Joliet Public Library, 150 N. Ottawa St. in Joliet.

The event was free to attend and open to the public. 

The chef-created heavy appetizers, coffee, water and hot chocolate, along with  photos with Santa, were also free. 

In fact, we had ten great reasons why we wished you could have attended.

Here's what Chef Tim of the BryonySeries B.L.O.C.K.S. team prepared for attendees last Thursday.

If you missed the party, you can at least feast your eyes on the photos.

And if you braved the bitter cold, parking challenges, respiratory illnesses, and scheduling challenges this time of year, you can visually relive the delectable experience.

Happy scrolling!

Beef Tenderloin Sliders

Marinated and roasted beef tenderloin, slow cooked onion, garlic aioli

Chicken Ceaser Salad

Applewood smoked chicken breast, lightly toasted croutons, creamy caesar dressing

Kale and Cranberry Salad

Peppered pulled pork, buttered crumbs, carrots, cabbage, and a creamy mustard dressing

Key Lime Bites

Lime Juice, lime zest, lime syrup, whipped cream

Cream & Berries

Fresh vanilla scented whipped cream, assorted berries, vanilla wafer, raspberry sauce

Cookies & Cream

Cocoa crisp, white chocolate, flake salt

(My year-old corgi is serving for a placeholder for this item, while Timothy looks for a photo).

Now, Timothy purchased all the food from his own pocket and prepared it fresh that day, too. He and Daniel (who worked all day in Chicago) set it everything up, did all the serving and replenishing, and took it all down, too, loading and unloading the entire setup from their vehicles multiples time that day.

So they do look understandably tired.

However...

It is my humble opinion that of all the competing events in Joliet last Thursday night, none had a spread quite so delicious or pleasing to the eye than we did.

Enjoy scrolling through the remaining photos!

For more information, visit writeonjoliet.com and bryonyseries.com.

"30"

 Rebekah's on a roll with good ideas lately.

It was she who thought participating in "Men Who Cook" was a good idea.

And she had this fantastic idea for Daniel's birthday.

You see, Daniel had a lot of health issues when he was younger. And Daniel always says he doesn't remember much of his childhood.

So Rebekah thought we could give him thirty gifts, with each gift representing something he liked or owned or experienced from that year in his life.

So we made a list of years with noteworthy details and gift suggestions.

We bought said gifts.

And then I wrote clues to all thirty gifts on scrolls that we rolled up and tied with yarn.

On Thursday, Rebekah asked for a packing box at Walmart.

On Friday night, we wrapped all the gifts, assembly-line style, and numbered each gift and scroll.

One items (four different flavors of rice Krispies) couldn't be done until Timothy and Daniel left for Men Who Cook on Saturday.

Although Daniel's birthday was Saturday, we saved the presentation and unwrapping until Sunday, so we could take out time.

It took two hours for Daniel to open them all - and the clues spurred lots of guessing, remembrances and the telling of fun stories. 

Three were movies that represented three different "likes" in three different years of his life.

So after we opened gifts, we settled down to watch three movies in one of the most eclectic family movie aftenroon/nights ever. 

We watched "Stayed Tuned" (the year Daniel wanted this cake and we gave away this cookbook in a hilarious Facebook contest). 

And then we watched "Straight Outta Nowhere: Scooby-Doo! Meets Courage the Cowardly Dog" a birthdnd finally "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie."

There you have it: thirty years of memories packed into a box - with many more made yesterday afternoo and last night.

Now go forth and building some beautiful memories today.

Happy Monday! :)

Don't Miss the 2025 "Men Who Cook"

On October 11, Daniel will turn 30.

On October 11, he and Timothy are also teaming up to serve 800 small bites to attendees at the 15th annual Men Who Cook, which benefits the Will County Children's Advocacy Center.

Since Daniel and Timothy are representing B.L.O.C.K.S. (umbrella group for the BryonySeries) in this endeavor, they are also hosting a giveaway of this BryonySeries cookbook, which is a permanent fundraiser for Big Brother Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.

That's because the "small bites" they will serve is adapted from a recipe in this cookbook.

So the winner can enjoy the recipe again and again at home.

But - what recipe, you may ask.

Ah, you have to attend to find out.

Details (time, date, place, ticket prices) are right here: willcountycac.org/menwhocook.

Hope to see you there - and Bon Appétit!

BryonySeries: Meet B.L.O.C.K.S.

When the world shut down in March 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rebekah suggested she and I use this time to really dig into the study of sales and marketing - and then apply our knowledge to the BryonySeries and WriteOn Joliet.

We took some online classes and workshops AT THE SAME TIME as our morning walks (the only time available to watch the videos together), formed a business relationship with two mentors that has grown over time, and took baby steps in executing our newly-learned knowledge and skills.

And we've done this while continuing to create new products for the BryonySeries, WriteOn Joliet, and selected clients, working our day jobs, and navigating several very challenging years.

I'm not sharing this because we're so amazing. I'm sharing it because doing all this well is simply not possible, not if we wish to keep growing.

So as Timothy and Daniel were finishing their Master of Business degrees this spring, Timothy suggested I back off SOME of the sales and marketing for BryonySeries and let him and Daniel help, especially since I tend to prioritze the sales and marketing for WriteOn Joliet over BryonySeries.

Now Timothy and Daniel had heard about our mentors but hadn't actually interacted with them...yet. 

The first step was inviting Timothy and Daniel to join a pitch and idea session they were hosting - and the second step was a one-on-one meeting.

And, in Timothy's words, he and Daniel "failed" the elevator pitch during Meeting Two.

After some reflection, Timothy realized the problem. The BryonySeries brand and the BryonySeries products were two different "things," which needed separate identities.

They easily could discuss the products. But they couldn't easily summarize their spirit, i.e. their brand.

To succintly explain these products, Timothy needed to identify and then clearly communicate the brand. 

Back in 2010 when Sarah created the first BryonySeries website, Sarah wanted to create an author page, which I refused. Rather, I wanted a page that showcased the creative talents of everyone who contributed to the products in some way.

As Timothy analyzed the branding in the BryonySeries, from collaboration to result, he saw these six key areas, which we've manipulated in all our projects as one manipulates building blocks.

This led him to create three cards, which are at the bottom of this post.

The first shows our building blocks.

The second card has both elevator pitch and mission for B.L.O.C.K.S.

And the third card, which I don't have in shareable format yet, pulls out three distinct areas: Sue's Diner, BryonySeries books, and Midnight Ink, the platform where Rebekah and I edit and format books for select clients at more-than-afforable prices.

The fourth card is the BryonySeries logo, which you've likely seen.

Timothy and Daniel then remet with our mentors at the beginning of this month to test out the B.L.O.C.K.S. 

And BAM! They nailed it!

So Timothy worked with the wonderful Kent at Fast Printing in Joliet to create these three cards.

And then Timothy and Daniel softly rolled out B.L.O.C.K.S. this weekend at New Orleans North and the Porch & Park Music Fest to nearly one hundred total attendees.

We had a slight uptick in visitors both days on our website, which is encouraging.

Now, we obviously have more work to do before the rollout is completed. And the real sales and marketing work will begin anew and in earnest. 

Also everyone is still very busy.

But we now have a brand that explains our mission.

And that can lead into a deeper conversation about our products.

Happy Monday!

Mother's Day Brunch on a Working Weekend

My standing Mother's Day mantra to my kids is "No brunch."

Meaning, I don't want anyone losing any hard-earned time and money earned taking me out to brunch.

No one disagrees, especially since anyone in my family who's worked in food service feels the sheer volume of food being rapidly prepared on Mother's Day increases the risk for food poisoning.

But as the work gods would have it, my spot in the weekend rotation came up on Mother's Day weekend for at least the third year in a row.

And the "family" part of it started when the initial checking of email and social media for breaking news ended, and I responded to a text Timothy had sent in the middle of the night (we're poor sleepers here), and he sent me a weird response.

Timothy: "Why are you up?"

Me: "Why wouldn't I be up? It's 7:35 and I'm working."

As the compassionate gods would have it, Faith wanted a snuggle a few minutes later. That's what prevented me for heading downstairs to start dispensing cat and dog treats (long story) and start my own breakfast.

Because I heard voices as I was about to descend the stairs. When I reached the kitchen, Timothy, Daniel, and Cindy were laying out "brunch."

Had Faith not wanted a bit of cuddling, I would have made and been eating breakfast.

Anyway, scroll through the photos and feast your eyes on the 2025 Mother's Day brunch.

Rebekah also prepared homemade cinnamon rolls later that morning - but I was working and they forgot to take photos of those.

Sausage (not homemade)

Blueberry waffles (homemade, including the mix)

Corn muffins (because Timothy had two small boxes of mix he wanted to use up).

Fresh fruit salad

Trifle (a double batch, half of which should have gone home with Cindy and didn't)

And did I mention I will be enjoying leftovers today?

Happy Monday!

Santa, Beeman, and More!

"Costumed characters" are often part of community celebrations - and no Christmas party is complete without Santa Claus.

And as we wrapped up WriteOn Joliet's 8th Annual Anthology Release Party on Dec. 5 at the Joliet Public Library, Santa and Beeman took a photo for posterity, with Daniel (who "manned" the anthologies near the party entrance) gave his solid approval.

Now who is Santa and Beeman? (Yes, keep scrolling).

Beeman, of course, is WriteOn Joliet charter member Duanne Walton, who played the "bumbling" newbie superhero in a skit  called "Bomb Threats and Bee Stings," written by WriteOn Joliet member Steve Cordin (left of Duanne), who played Ultra Bomber.

"Bomb Threats and Bee Stings" was one of the original pieces in "Fragments of Time," a WriteOn Joliet radio theater-style performance held twice in April at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theater in Joliet.

And now Santa...

Santa is really Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara: man, myth, newspaper carrier, BryonySeries character, and author of three books, as well as "Meta Ed" in the radio play, where Ed played himself in all these roles, along with other roles.

Here is Ed giving a stunning delivery of WriteOn Joliet member Mauverneen Blevins' "Time Piece."

And finally...

I make sure to take my annual-ish photo with Santa before we all headed out the door for the night.

Have a super Saturday!

Two Boys and a Sign

To paraphrase a popular saying, with great opportunity comes great responsibility.

Meaning, Jan Staley, owner of The Book Market in Crest Hill, has been wonderfully generous in giving BryonySeries a display space inside her store.

And the collaboration has been wonderful, including ways to draw people's attention top the display and giving them basic information about special offers, gifts, etc.

So that has led to an ever-changing array of homemade signs.

You should know I'm completely useless in that regard.

Daniel, however, is amazing. And for every display except one, he's made the signs, often collaborating with Rebekah.

For 2025, we're seeking ways to make signage easier, such as a felt board or magnetic board. This will save us sign time, for time is an especially precious resource in our family.

So naturally the final sign of 2024 gave us trouble, so much so that the BryonySeries Christmas display went up last week without the sign.

The fault lay within the paper. The letters simply wouldn't stick to it, even after throwing our best solutions at it.

So Daniel began anew last night. And Timothy joined him.

The project took several hours, which is a wealth of time when these young men working very full-time jobs and are taking master level classes.

Now anyone who walks into The Book Market for the rest of the year, they will see a festive sign and the information.

But the subtext of that sign shows a few other things, too: a commitment to help out with a task I can't properly executive, the willingness to give up their time and give of themselves for a project that doesn't directly benefit them,  and the ability to collaborate to get the job done.

And today, I'll be sitting across that sign from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with full knowledge that the sign is more than paper, stickers, and bows.

The sign represents the characters of two fine young men,

Happy Tuesday!

We Returned To Tower Hall

Working on a college degrees while working a full-time job is really challenging.

But two of my sons - Timothy and Daniel - supported each other in the process by taking classes together and adjusting schedules to work on homework together as much as possible.

They earned their bachelor's degrees together from the University of St. Francis on May 4 and are currently working on their master's degrees, which they started before graduation day.

I actually attended USF when it was CSF (College of St. Francis) in the school's former three-year program, which I didn't finish in favor of getting married and starting a family.

I lived on campus: Marion Hall the first year and Tower Hall the second. Most of my classes both years were at Tower Hall, so I spent many, many, many hours in that building.

By contract, Timothy and Daniel hardly stepped foot on campus since all their classes are remote.

They also didn't want any graduation photos and had their caps and gowns removed by the time they caught up to us outside after the graduation ceremony.

But on May 6, they changed their minds. They didn't care about the photos. But they thought maybe I cared about the photos, that I would want photos of them in their caps and gowns.

And they were right.

So after work on that May 8, we returned to USF for photos. The boys, who wore their gowns over their T-shirts and jeans, asked me to choose the location. That was easy: Tower Hall.

Now, it's not like I've never been to USF since 1981. Of course I have, mostly for Herald-News assignments. And "Bryony" was also recorded as an audio book at USF in 2012 before audio books became a thing. It's still not released, which is another story and post altogether.

So after the post-graduation photos, we walked around campus. I pointed out what was the same, what had changed, and shared amusing anecdotes from my time there. The boys enjoyed looking around and seeing parts of the campus.

It was a nice full circle moment.

I left USF to start my real mission in life, which included bringing them into the world.

They came to USF to launch their mission, which is still being written.

And I couldn't be more proud.

Graduation, Easter, Birthdays

This weekend was a whirlwind weekend of cooking traditional Easter food, attending Timothy and Daniel's graduation from the University of St. Francis in Joliet, and hosting an Easter picnic and multi-birthday celebration.

Here are thirteen photos that encapsulate this packed family weekend

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the first week after Easter is called Bright Week. So today is Bright Monday. Even if today is gray, I pray the day shines brightly in your hearts and spirits.

Happy Monday!