Rainy Day Writers

Rainy Day Writers Rainy Day Writers includes published authors, journalists, and those who write both life experiences and fictional stories for personal fulfillment.

They publish a book each year and contribute regularly to Crossroads magazine and YourRadioPlace.

John Anderson tells about an experience at an Ohio beach - Salt Fork Lake. Read about the fun these families had. Maybe ...
06/17/2025

John Anderson tells about an experience at an Ohio beach - Salt Fork Lake. Read about the fun these families had. Maybe you'll want to take your family there too. Read more Rainy Day Writer stories on Your Radio Place and in Guernsey News.

06/14/2025

Betsy Taylor tells about her experiences with stories in graphic form...comic books! Read more Rainy Day Writers stories on Your Radio Place and in Guernsey News.

Stories in Graphic Form by Betsy Taylor

When I was about ten years old, I lived across the street from an elderly neighbor. She wrote a lot of letters and sent out many greeting cards. Rather than put them into her own mailbox for the postman to pick up, she sent me to the post office on Wheeling Avenue to drop them into the mailbox in front of the building. For each trip I made, I was paid a dime.

I only traveled a city block to complete the entire errand, so it might have taken me 10 minutes to leave her front porch and return home. But there was a newsstand/novelty shop on the opposite corner that grabbed my curiosity. The interior was dim, so it took me a while to lock onto the carousel of what was then called comic books in the back of the store. Some of them were funny. Archie and his gang were comical, and I was tempted to spend my dime on one of the slender magazines that featured teen-agers doing goofy things. But when Superman caught my eye, I was hooked. Eventually the whole DC crew of crime fighters/superheroes consumed my errands’ income.

You can imagine how excited I was when Superman’s young cousin, Supergirl, showed up in her costume that mimicked his. Then Batgirl made the scene. Strong, adventurous girls who solved crime, brought bad guys to justice, or saved the world were my new heroes. They all wore boots and capes, and I really envied that look.

It was inevitable that female villains would be written into the adventures. Catwoman, for example, invaded Gotham City and became the Batman’s nemesis. I later found it odd that the female villains were called “women” while the female heroes were called “girls”. (Wonder Woman was the exception.) Maybe “women” were more menacing because they’d lived longer and had more time to perfect their evil ways. It was also noticeable that the hero girls wore capes while the villain women wore form-fitting muscle suits. When you look at the artwork, you can see contrast of those who do good versus those who do evil.

People who sneer at lowly comic books simply haven’t noticed their value.

Today we call stories wherein the characters are presented in picture form with dialog or thought bubbles above their heads graphic novels or graphic stories. The I Survived series presented by Scholastic Publishing is a wonderful example. The format is a great way to get readers, avid or reluctant, to read. I should know. I spent a lot of dimes on those graphic stories.

06/10/2025

Claire Cameron gives some hints for gardening season. It's important to plant the right things together! Read more Rainy Day Writers stories on Your Radio Place and in Guernsey News.

A Walk Through the Garden Gate by Claire Cameron

It’s planting time y’all and there’s nothing as beautiful as lush green plants sprouting up, mixed with and surrounded by splashes of color from marigolds and nasturtiums. So, walk with me as we learn what plants complement each other and thrive by repelling pests and nourishing the soil.

Basil repels flies and mosquitoes and paired with tomatoes gives a potential flavor boost. Basil keeps thrips and tomato hornworm moths away.

Carrots help loosen the soil for onions. Onions scare off carrot flies and aphids.

Beans, corn and squash provide nitrogen and structural support. They fight pests and nourish the soil. Corn gives beans something to climb.

Cucumbers and Nasturtiums repel pests and provide an impressive ground cover, crowding out weeds. The bright flowers of nasturtiums bring in pollinators.

Marigolds surrounding the garden add color to your garden patch and act as an all-around pest repellent, keeping nematodes and other pests out. Planted with kale, marigolds cut down on aphids and repel Mexican bean beetles.

Peppers and herbs create a great smelling garden bed. Basil and oregano help peppers grow better and herbs keep pepper pests away.

Squash shades the soil like living mulch. Corn gives squash vines support. Together they create a mini-echo system.

Onions help keep beet pests away. Onion and beets don’t fight over nutrients.

Garlic helps stop black spots on roses and keeps them healthy by scaring off aphids

Beans and other legumes add nitrogen to the soil.

Tall plants like corn and sunflowers also provide shade for heat-sensitive buddies and keep lettuce from wilting when it’s hot. Lettuce loves hanging out under tomato leaves. Sturdy plants can protect delicate ones from wind gusts.

Always remember to keep chives, garlic, leeks, onions and peppers away from beans. Keep broccoli, cauliflower, cilantro and cucumbers away from tomatoes. Sunflowers need a 12” buffer zone from most other plants.

Your freshly plowed garden is like an empty canvas, ready and waiting for you to bring to life a harvest of goodness to feed your body and soul.

The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth.
One is nearer God’s heart in a garden,
Than anywhere else on earth.
~Dorothy Francis Gurney

Rick Booth explores the crossroads formed long ago where the town of Antrim now stands. Read all about them in June's Cr...
06/05/2025

Rick Booth explores the crossroads formed long ago where the town of Antrim now stands. Read all about them in June's Crossroads magazine.

06/03/2025

Betsy Taylor explores the field of science and the way it touches our lives. Read more Rainy Day Writer stories on Your Radio Place and Guernsey News.

Sciencing by Betsy Taylor

All of us, during our formal education, have taken a science class. But even if you hadn’t gone to public school, a private school, or been home-schooled, you’ve studied science. If you were part of an undiscovered tribe of native people deep in the Amazon Rain Forest, you have still been a science student.

Certainly, science is a study – the gathering of information about our world. But it’s also a process – the process of sciencing. Sciencing is applying collected information and discovering its practical use.

Applied science generally results in what we call technology. Yikes! Some people fear that technology is all about complicated machinery like expensive electronic devices with a bewildering array of buttons. So intimidating. One wrong push of a button and – oops. How do I get out of that?

That kind of technology is usually referred to as “high-tech.” But most technology isn’t that sophisticated at all. Remember that technology is an idea or device that puts into practice what we’ve learned about the world. Some good examples are yardsticks, and toothbrushes. Brooms are also a good example. Screwdrivers are the best.

Way back in the day, Maud the maid was asked, “What’s the best invention you can think of?”

She thought for a minute and, with a bright smile, replied, “Oh my! When some inventor thought to put a handle on a scrub brush. It saved my back as well as my knees. That man is a genius.” (My guess is that the genius wasn’t a man but a woman who toiled on her own knees.)

Michael, Maud’s husband chimed in. “No, Maudie-dear, the pry-bar is the best invention. Have you ever tried to open a box with a stuck-tight lid using just your fingers? For certain, that doesn’t work. But apply a pry-bar with a narrow edge and you can make short work of that job,” he said with satisfaction. (I have to agree with Michael. And so will you if you’ve ever needed to open the lid on a can of paint. Bring out the screwdriver.)

Screwdrivers and handled scrub brushes are low-tech versions of technology. There are many more examples. But daily, we all benefit from problem-solvers who have taken a turn at sciencing.

Mark Cooper encourages us to make a difference in the world by being encouraging to those we meet along the way. This ar...
05/29/2025

Mark Cooper encourages us to make a difference in the world by being encouraging to those we meet along the way. This article appeared in May's Crossroads magazine.

Beverly Kerr discovered that Mission Oaks Garden in Zanesville is a delightful place to visit any season of the year. It...
05/23/2025

Beverly Kerr discovered that Mission Oaks Garden in Zanesville is a delightful place to visit any season of the year. It's just a couple blocks off Maple Avenue right in the middle of town. Read all about it in the May issue of Crossroads magazine.

05/20/2025

Sam Besket reminds us to remember our holidays by their proper names so others can easily know why they are being celebrated. Read more Rainy Day Writers articles on Your Radio Place and in Guernsey News.

A Generic America by Sam Besket

To be politically correct, and not offend anyone, the world is becoming a generic society. I first noticed this when I was still in the workforce. Occasionally, it was necessary to talk to people in foreign countries about our shipping schedules for Christmas, Easter, and Independence Day. They would always refer to them as holidays, never by their original name that we’ve used for centuries. This trend is now coming to America. Companies and institutions are instructing their employees to use generic terms for holidays, and the greeting, “Happy Holiday,” is fast becoming the norm for all holidays.

We have holidays in America for specific reasons. Something extraordinary happened on that date. It might be the birthday of a famous American, or an event. For centuries we called these days by their rightful names. Why change now?

We have people immigrating to this country who bring their customs and traditions with them just like our forefathers did. Unfortunately, they want us to downplay our holidays and events so they won’t be offended. Have you noticed how important historical dates have been downplayed in the media? These events happened; we need to remember why they occurred, so they can be avoided in the future.

Before Memorial Day, a columnist for a major newspaper wrote. “Let’s stop saying, Happy Memorial Day. It’s not a happy day. Yes, we are happy for the freedoms we enjoy, but let’s show a little sympathy and respect for the families whose loved ones gave their lives so we can still enjoy our freedom.”

It’s important we teach our children what holidays in America stand for and their historical significance. If they don’t learn it from us, who will teach them?

Let’s keep our holidays what they are, and call them by their rightful names. It may have been a dark time in our history, but let us remember why they happened, lest we forget their importance.

One Memorial Day we attended a parade in Senecaville. As the flag passed by, an older gentleman rose from his chair, stood ramrod straight, removed his hat, and saluted as the colors passed. What will happen after his generation is gone?

Rick Booth tells the story of James Dalzell from Noble County who served in the Civil War. Dalzell was a prolific writer...
05/15/2025

Rick Booth tells the story of James Dalzell from Noble County who served in the Civil War. Dalzell was a prolific writer both before, during, and after the war. Read his interesting story in May's Crossroads magazine.

05/09/2025

Martha Jamail recalls those early years of teaching when she still had a southern accent from growing up in the South. Read about her experience in the classroom. Find more Rainy Day Writer stories on Your Radio Place and Guernsey News.

I "Cain't" Go by Martha Jamail

Growing up in the deep South, everyone spoke in a slow drawl, omitting word endings, pronouncing words in unique ways, and creating new words like “y’all” meaning you all. Everyone was hospitable and generous with words like “honey”, “sweetie”, and “darling” even when addressing strangers. I taught a year in elementary school, and of course, since we all sounded alike, I never realized I spoke with an accent.

At the time of my marriage, my husband was in the Air Force, stationed at a California Air Base. I was fortunate to be able to get a job teaching in a local elementary school. It was a first and second-grade classroom, and we were team teachers which meant we traded classes from time to time or joined students together for certain projects.

One Friday, the first-grade teacher asked me to trade classes with her, and give the spelling test to her students, while she taught a special lesson to my second graders. One of the spelling words was “can’t”. I stood in front of the class calling out words to be written by the students. When I got to the word “can’t”, of course I pronounced it “cain’t”. One student timidly raised his hand and politely asked me to use the word in a sentence. So, I said, “You know, like I cain’t go.” He nodded and lowered his head and wrote the word.

At Parent-Teacher Conferences, both his parents showed up, and after introducing themselves, told me how much their son liked his new teacher, but he thought she spoke with a foreign accent. We all had a good laugh over it, and that’s when I began to work hard at proper pronunciation, and eliminating my foreign accent.

Since this weekend is the Bigfoot Conference at Salt Fork, Beverly Kerr wrote a little story of what could happen while ...
05/02/2025

Since this weekend is the Bigfoot Conference at Salt Fork, Beverly Kerr wrote a little story of what could happen while visiting. Could be an interesting day! Read more Rainy Day Writers stories at Your Radio Place and Guernsey News.

Conference at Bigfoot Capital of Ohio by Beverly Kerr

For several years, the Wilson family have taken a short vacation at Salt Fork Lodge during the Bigfoot Conference in early May. Kevin and Sandy with their twelve-year-old, twin sons, Ron and Don, always feel an excitement in the air as they pile into their SUV to head to the cabin.

Kevin and the boys like the unusual and are always ready to explore the grounds for any trace of Bigfoot. Sandy is a bit skeptical of the whole Bigfoot story but enjoys a stay at the lakeside cabin, and the beautiful flowers that are blooming then.

Kevin always buys a ticket so he can listen to all the lectures. The boys enjoy exploring the Ohio Bigfoot Flea Market that is inside the Salt Fork Lodge on three different floors. They always find something they can take home with them to show their friends. This year they need new tee shirts with Bigfoot on them or maybe a Bigfoot sign for their room.

In the evening, they went to Hosak’s Cave where many visitors have seen signs of Bigfoot. They sat quietly at the edge of the area listening.

Ron poked Don and whispered, “Did you hear those branches breaking?”

“I thought I heard a rock hit the stream,” said Don quietly.

All of a sudden, Sandy asked, “What is that terrible smell? Smells like something rotten.”

The boys were excited! Branches breaking, rock throwing, and bad smells all added up to just one thing. Bigfoot was in the area.

In their excitement, they forgot to be quiet and next thing you know, more branches were breaking, and a cry pierced the air as trees shook while Bigfoot headed away from the boys.

Kevin told them, “Guess that’s all we are going to hear from Bigfoot tonight. Time to go back to the cabin. The good news is we know he’s around.”

As the went to sleep that night, Ron said, “That was a fun night. Maybe next year we will actually see Bigfoot.”

Perhaps you would like to visit Salt Fork State Park this summer and see if you find any evidence of Bigfoot there.

04/26/2025

John Anderson writes about a strange building in Cambridge that reminds him of an accordion. Read his story and find out more about this strange building. Find more Rainy Day Writer stories on Your Radio Place and Guernsey News.

A Giant Accordion by John Anderson

Imagine sitting in a movie theater in the 1930s. A monster on the screen is hooked to a maze of wires and machines. One of the machines is a huge accordion-like affair — a bellows that opens and closes pushing breath into and out of the monster’s inactive lungs. The bellows is a shiny black apparatus, its ripples gleaming in the glow of laboratory lights.

Fast forward to today on the west side of Cambridge. Walking along an area between First and Second Street, you might notice a series of seven metal arches that resembles one side of a giant bellows, or the front side of an enormous accordion. When built it also gleamed in the sunlight, but now it languishes in disrepair.

What is this strange structure and what is it doing in someone’s backyard?

As it turns out, the building is a bomb shelter. It was erected during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis and was intended to protect its inhabitants from radiation carried by westerly winds from Columbus after the city had been flattened by a nuclear attack.

The builder’s solidarity with others in 1962 spurred the building of many bomb shelters across the world. The Missile Crises came and went.

The original “bomb proof” entrance was removed many years ago so that lawn mowers and other yard equipment could be stored out of the weather. The rusted and dented cans carrying civil defense supplies were pushed to the back of the shelter decades before. The once-shiny, black-ribbed exterior is now a faded gray, rusted, and covered with vines.

The building, made to be semi-indestructible, endures in slow decline. It’s a reminder of humanity’s survival instinct and of the still-prevalent fear of nuclear war. However, the trend toward building personal bomb shelters has evaporated. We know they wouldn’t have saved humanity in any case. A better option is to support behaviors that vigorously prevent that kind of catastrophe.

The structure stands behind a house that has been a rental since 1993. The builder died several years ago. Generations of renters have no idea why such a strange building was constructed to house a lawnmower.

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