Author: Carolyn Tomlin

10 Reasons to Visit Lancaster, Pa.

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Lancaster, Pensylvania

Here’s my article on the Lancaster, Pennsylvania, which was taken from the Chester County Independent:

It is that time of year when the days grow shorter and nights longer. The air grows cooler and the leaves more colorful. Fall is also the time when we plan a long weekend or a road trip of several days. Although there are numerous places across America where tourists travel, none is more colorful than the Pennsylvania Dutch Country near Lancaster, Pa.

The following 10 activities are sure to tempt your family. Learn about our nation’s history, participate in local festivals and fairs, and hitch a buggy ride with an Amish farm family. You will return with a sense of what make our country great!

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For Parents Only: Teaching Your Child Through Play

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(Guilherme Jofili / Flickr)

(Guilherme Jofili / Flickr)

Here’s a piece I wrote for Earlychildhood News on child development through play:

During the early stages of our country, child’s play was considered a waste of time. Little thought was given to the importance that play contributed to the developing child. For the last few decades educators and researchers have been fascinated with how children play. Parten’s Play Theory of 1932, Piaget of 1962 and Piaget and Inhelder of 1969 share different opinions, yet hold to common truths. Those who study the developmentally appropriate activities of children realize that play should begin early in life. And parents must provide opportunities for children to play and to learn from observations and actions as well as from being told.

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7 Myths that Keep Pastors from Writing

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(Preaching Magazine / FILE)

(Preaching Magazine / FILE)

Here’s an article I wrote for Preaching Magazine:

A retired pastor asked a friend who owned a pickup truck to stop by his house. Once there, he loaded several heavy-duty plastic bags into the back of the vehicle. “Drive me to the city dump,” said the elderly minister.

Once there, he pulled the large black bags out and stepped a few feet away. In a few minutes a bulldozer buried the contents. With a questioning look on his face, the friend asked, “Sir, what was in those bags?” With tears streaming down his face, the pastor said, “Sixty years worth of sermons and notes—my life’s work.” This true story should not have happened.

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Explore Peterhof: Home of Russia’s Peter the Great

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CarolynTomlin_Russia_Peterhof

Here’s my article on Peterhof, the home of Russian Emperor Peter the Great, which was taken from the Chester County Independent:

Peterhof, the magnificent winter home of Peter I, also known as Peter the Great, (1672-1725) is often called the “Versailles by the Sea.” Known as the favorite residence of czars, the palace is an example of 18th – 19th century architectural style. Approximately 30 buildings and pavilions cover over a 1,000 hectares in this park ensemble. Over 100 sculptures claim a spot in the gardens.

St. Petersburg is where you’ll feel Russia’s European influences and aspirations. Founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, the city was called his “window to the west.” Canals were dug to drain the marshy south bank. In 1712 Peter made this place his capital, forcing administrators, nobles and merchants to move to this northern outback and build new homes. Architects and artisans came from all over Europe and the result is a city that remains one of Europe’s most beautiful.

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Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Legacy

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A bust of Laura Ingalls Wilder (FILE)

A bust of Laura Ingalls Wilder (FILE)

I recently took a trip to Missouri and loved it. See my article on Laura Ingles Wilder for Missouri Life:

“No matter what age, readers look for the same qualities in books: a compelling plot, interesting characters, vivid imagery, and a genuine page-turner. You hate to read the last page because the characters have become friends.

After more than 80 years, Laura Ingles Wilder’s Little House books have continued to be compelling. But why?” Continue reading →

Dement Tree Service: Satisfaction Guaranteed

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Tree Services Magazine

My profile of Dement Tree Service, as it appeared in Tree Services Magazine:

Dement Tree Service makes customer approval a top priority.

One man’s dream became a reality in 2011 when Joe Dement purchased an established tree company. He restored and improved the company’s services, added to the practices already in place and rebranded the new business as Dement Tree Service. The now thriving company, based in Medina, Tennessee, provides removal, trimming and pruning, cabling and bracing, stump grinding, chipping, hazardous tree assessment, storm damage cleanup and 24-hour emergency tree service.

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Lessons From the Garden

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Lettuce grows in a greenhouse at Genesis Growers in St. Anne, IL. Genesis Growers runs a CSA (community-supported agriculture) program distributing its fresh produce to more than 200 local families. (JCI Photo / Todd Bennett)

Lettuce grows in a greenhouse at Genesis Growers in St. Anne, IL. Genesis Growers runs a CSA (community-supported agriculture) program distributing its fresh produce to more than 200 local families. (JCI Photo / Todd Bennett)

An excerpt from my Tennessee Home & Farm article “Lessons From the Garden:” 

The dew had almost dried on the warm spring morning. After long winter hours of studying the Old Farmer’s Almanac and finding the right phase of the moon, my dad chose this Saturday in April to plant the family garden.

Dad added fresh gasoline and checked the oil in the 1950s Troy-Bilt tiller. A few sputters and clinks later, the motor churned, caught and pulverized the soil. Soon, the sweet smell of fresh-turned earth permeated the country air.

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Intro to the Writing Life

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Carolyn Tomlin, second from left, and Denis George, second from right, promoting 'The Secret Holocaust Diaries" at a Books-A-Million near Trussville, Ala. (FILE)

Carolyn Tomlin, second from left, and Denis George, second from right, promoting ‘The Secret Holocaust Diaries” at a Books-A-Million near Trussville, Ala. (FILE)

An excerpt from my recent North Jackson Magazine article, “Intro to the Writing Life:”

Being published is easier than you might think. Here’s how to go about it.

People write for many reasons — and have various reasons for never putting pen to paper. Do you ever wonder how great writers of the past wrote in long hand, without the use of a spell  checker — yet still turned out manuscripts that have stood the test of time? Or do you believe the myths that steal your self-confidence and keep you from publishing? Continue reading →

The Cherry on Top: A growing industry around the country

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Photo courtesy of Northwest Cherry Growers

Photo courtesy of Northwest Cherry Growers

Take a look at this article I did for Growing Magazine on the cherry industry:

On the average, there are 7,000 cherries on each cherry tree; 250 cherries make one pie; each tree makes 28 pies. If the average U.S. consumer eats 1 pound annually, this adds up to approximately 260 million pounds annually. Americans demand cherries—and growers are filling those expectations.

Often referred to as America’s Super Fruit, cherries are rising in popularity due to the recent focus on health-promoting properties of antioxidants. Instead of relying on fruits from foreign markets, health and nutrition experts advise consumers to look for American-grown fruit. An alternative to exotic berries grown and marketed in a foreign rainforest, the cherry packs a lot of nutrition. Plus, it’s available year-round as dried, canned, frozen and in juice.

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