- Dec 16, 2025
Updated: Dec 18, 2025
NOTE FROM JAN ~ Closing out my 2025 Creativity Challenge is this month's guest blogger, Michele (Everts) Wills. Michele and I went to elementary school together and our moms were good friends. That was long, loooooong ago. So what a delight to catch up with her again on-line. Please enjoy Michele's post about special ways to preserve family memories while also creating in the kitchen. (P.S. Look for my Creativity Challenge to continue into 2026.) Cheers ~ Jan
AND NOW, TASTE YOUR MEMORIES WITH MICHELE WILLS ~ My three siblings and I were raised in the small town of Caro in mid-Michigan's "Thumb." My parents owned a pharmacy and a Hallmark Card and Gift shop and worked long hours. From the time when I was about ten years old, I would call my mom after school and ask her what was for supper. She would tell me what she had planned, what ingredients to use and how to generally make the meal. There were some mistakes, to be sure, but overall, we usually had tasty suppers.
The majority of the recipes I made were not written down anywhere, just truly "from scratch" cooking. One of the first recipes I intentionally recreated was a dessert made by my paternal grandmother, Nellie Everts, called "Birds Nest" (sort of an upside-down apple cobbler). I had never seen her use a written recipe. After learning that Grandma’s memory was failing, I asked her to tell me how she made it. She told me the ingredients and approximate measurements, which helped me to replicate that recipe. Grandma was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease shortly after that and passed away in 1983. Shortly after that, I made the Birds Nest for my dad. He was amazed when he tasted it, and I have been thankful ever since that I took the time to talk with Grandma. I would say that the Birds Nest was the beginning of my interest in recreating recipes from very little information or a written recipe.
Some years later, Mom gifted my siblings and me a typewritten, leather 3-ring binder with many of our family recipes. There were a few recipes from her mother, Grandma Helen, and her husband, our Grandpa Randy, which they had handwritten especially for the family cookbook. What makes this cookbook so special is that not only did it contain our most loved recipes, but it was a labor of love because each cookbook was hand typed on an electric typewriter! One of the foibles of this cookbook is that each version contains typos, most of which do not affect the recipe. However, one recipe in my version of the cookbook was found to contain a significant error.
One year our mom made a maraschino cherry-filled cookie for a Christmas cookie exchange. (She thought anyone offering “No Bake” cookies were slackers.) This cookie quickly became a beloved family favorite. A poinsettia shaped cookie cutter is used and 3 holes are punched in the middle so that the pretty red cherry filling could show through. Whenever I tried to make these cookies using the recipe in my cookbook, the cherry filling was always runny. I tried several times and failed each time, which was upsetting to me. This continued failure led to my brother becoming the designated baker of these cookies. We finally discovered that my mom made a typo in my cookbook. The amount of cornstarch was off by a tablespoon, and I was vindicated!
With the holidays now in full swing, I share a family recipe we call “Grape Salad” or “Christmas Salad.” I have no knowledge where it originated, but Grape Salad has been eaten at our family’s Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays for as long as I can remember. This salad is actually more of a dessert and is very simple, using only 4 main ingredients: seedless red grapes, pineapple tidbits, mini marshmallows and whipped cream (the real stuff only). A fond memory is that during the 2+ hour road trips to go to family holiday dinners, mom would sit in the car, working to halve and de-seed the grapes as there were no seedless grapes available at that time. What a mess, but it had to be done so the grapes and pineapple could sufficiently drain. The heavy cream would be sweetened and whipped at the last minute, just before serving to ensure that it was as fresh as possible. Any remaining Grape Salad was highly coveted to accompany the obligatory turkey sandwich and other leftovers later in the day.
Working full time in the health profession, being active with our daughters as they were growing up, teaching at the university level and obtaining my MBA at age 52, put my thoughts about researching recipes on the back burner. Retiring in late 2024, my husband and I sold our home and a majority of our collective life's belongings. We now divide our time in a lovely, much smaller condo in a golf community in Florida and a small cottage in Michigan on Lake Huron. Thoughts of a blog had been floating in my head for a couple of years, and finally, in late 2025 my cooking/food blog, "Taste Your Memories," was established. Through my blog, I hope to help other folks enrich their memories of family by recreating some of their favorite missing-in-action recipes and passing them down once again.
My own family continues to enjoy time together, building new memories, in and out of the kitchen.
Recipes, including those for Grape Salad, Poinsettia Cookies, and Mimi's Apple Pie, can be found on my blog site. In addition, if you have any memories of favorite family foods for which you have only a few ingredients, or perhaps no recipe at all, you can also contact me about this through my blog site (see bottom button).
You can also find me at:
Of, if you prefer email, please reach out to me at michelewills857@hotmail<dot>com.
I would love to hear from you and help you “taste your memories.” ~ Michele
CLOSING NOTE FROM JAN ~ Thank you for supporting my creative adventures this year. Your reading, reviewing, and sharing word-of-mouth book love has meant more than I can tell you in this crazy, heart-wrenching, wonderful world of publishing. I appreciate you and love to hear from you, especially if you care to tell me about your own creative journey or ghostly encounter(s). Or both! Please reach out any time.
This month's guest post compliments of Sandra L. Young.
Growing up in rural Illinois farmlands, I certainly didn’t envision my life’s fun, creative, consuming path.
The nearest town of 600 residents offered a cramped, one-room library where I devoured as many books as possible. The high school produced one play a year. I never tried out for choir, cowed by my parents’ stating, “You can’t sing.”
But this little farm girl dreamed of being a writer, and I earned a journalism / communications degree from a state university. While working as a reporter for a Gannett newspaper, I finally joined a writers’ group and also got involved in community theater and the church choir.
I wish I had juggled all these passions equally. In actuality, theater dominated my life for three decades. I’ve performed in 75 musicals and plays—sometimes logging five in a year—and gathered a huge vintage clothing collection along the way.
With all those rehearsals and switching into nonprofit “day jobs”, my creative writing languished. I did enjoy singing weekly in church, but without the confidence to solo.
At age 50, the script flipped. Inspired by a dream, I wrote three linked novellas and eventually expanded them into full books. I was fortunate to land traditional small press contracts for the Divine Vintage series, with the first book landing in 2022. The release of Divine Vintage was followed by Divinely Dramatic and The Ghostly Diva, both in 2024. The tales are linked but can stand alone, wrapping romance around historical mystery with a ghostly sizzle.
Meanwhile, my vocal confidence grew after years of singing in a contemporary praise band. About the time I wrote the initial novellas, I also joined a local rock / pop group, providing leads and backup harmonies.
In the years since, these creativities have coalesced to support my “author brand.” If you click into my web page (via button below), you’ll see an eclectic, vintage-inspired focus. With my performing background, I’m very comfortable doing presentations, speaking to book clubs, or selling copies at area events. And yes, I wear vintage for these festivities! I’ve even spoken at libraries and historical societies about my clothing collection.
While I still sing with the same praise team, I shifted out of the rock band into a trio performing classics and oldies. Of course, I bring along a few books in case anyone is interested, as my singing partners kindly give me a shoutout.
This summer, I dipped into another innovative outlet to highlight my books, which are all set in our Northwest Indiana county bordering Lake Michigan. A great friend who develops walking events asked me to partner in putting together a Divine Vintage tour. We collaborated with eight entities to provide a healthy, two-mile trek encompassing locations mentioned in my book. Highlights included a gorgeous Victorian mansion, a vintage shop, a church, and an old lighthouse museum.
If you’re intrigued by that concept, we were also fortunate to offer it as a free online version. The Otocast QR code is below, featuring narration by myself and a male voice actor. If you pull it up, you’ll see photos of the locales, plus the script to read along, if desired.
Admittedly, it was a ton of work to pull off the two guided tours plus the online version. But both I and my partner are detail-focused. So, we plugged along together for months to make it a reality. Tapping into my theater persona, I served as the tour guide, speaking at each location about how it tied into my book. Then a representative from that stop shared an overview of its history.
We were super pleased that the folks who attended, both male and female, loved the tour. Plus, it generated a lot of new buzz about my books. One lady checked all three out of the library when we popped in there on the walk and said she would also order copies for friends.
On the heels of this success, I returned to that lakefront area on Halloween, when our trio performed for a party at a senior center. Of course, I brought along books—and added a vintage flair to my costume. That kind of event really speaks to some of the best aspects in my life these days: singing upbeat songs with lots of friends in the audience who have read my books, and in turn they praise and share them with others.
I feel blessed to pursue so many awesome, creative outlets in my life, wrapping them all together to support my work as an author. As I prepare to seek an agent and query my fourth novel, a biographical historical fiction, I’m energized by this synergy. Which is a good thing, because writing can be a challenging—and lonely—occupation!
ENDNOTE FROM JAN: Thank you, Sandra L. Young, for sharing your creative journey here. Everything about it sounds splendid, especially your Divine Vintage Walking Tour. Keep on keeping on, whether writing, walking, or performing!
by Natalie Putnam
Introduction: A Life in Two Acts
Many days, I press my hands into cool, damp clay and feel its silken smoothness coating my skin—a sensation worlds apart from the crisp paper and polished desks of my former business life. If you had told me decades ago that I'd trade tailored suits and spreadsheets for aprons dusted with stoneware, I would have laughed.
The Early Years: Climbing the Corporate Ladder
My career began in downtown Detroit as a truck dispatcher. Fresh out of college, armed with little but boundless ambition, I dove into the world of business. I spent years building my reputation and resume, moving from entry-level positions to management and eventually executive roles. The satisfaction of closing deals and leading teams was real, and the financial rewards were, too. Success, as defined by society, was mine.
My time in the corporate world was marked by drive and countless hours dedicated to climbing each rung of the ladder. I thrived on goal-setting and competition, always chasing the next promotion or accolade. The environment was fast-paced, rewarding, and often exhilarating, fueling my desire to make a tangible impact through leadership and strategic decision-making.
A Chance Encounter: Discovering Clay
My introduction to pottery was purely accidental and started even before college. Our high school had an art class that included pottery. The pottery wheel, with its spinning rhythm and tactile allure, mesmerized me. I lost myself in the process, shaping clay into forms that felt both ancient and new. In that class, I experienced a rare sense of flow and fulfillment. The sensation was more than just novel—it was memorable. But it was only one semester, and I soon moved on to other things, never returning to it, though I never forgot it either.
The Turning Point: Listening to My Inner Voice
As my career grew, I had frequently turned down invitations to join my friends on their "craft nights". With my demanding job and two kids, it became a luxury I didn't have, and frankly, I was not all that interested. But the feeling of "flow" returned one Christmas when I took a two-week vacation to stay home and decided to repaint my young daughter's old wooden bed. The turned wood was perfect for painting Caribbean colors, and I soon lost myself in painting the head and foot boards, gradually changing from dark brown to vibrant orange, teal, pink, and white. I was again in a state of relaxation, flow, and ease, a memory I keep even 30 years later.
Over the course of my lifetime, I moved locations, took on new titles, was promoted, and enjoyed greater recognition. It was recognition that came from hard work and building something greater than myself. I enjoyed my career, my industry contacts, and my feeling of accomplishment, but eventually the time was right to retire.
Transitioning: From Business Metrics to Artistic Milestones
In the beginning, my business background proved of little value. I finally retired, and at 65 years of age, I could pursue anything I wanted without the need to produce an income. As I assessed my options, I stumbled on a profound truth:
I started to realize that my trucking industry career was all about improving the lives and businesses of my customers, developing my employees, putting things in order, and creating something greater than myself. And art was similar! I realized that art demanded vulnerability, patience, and a willingness to embrace imperfection. I had always professed that successful companies are learning organizations. I was learning again, but this time in my art, and I was back at the beginning. I had almost no experience in art or craft.
After a year or so of working with polymer, I was able to join our community pottery club. I started with beginning hand building, making a few pieces that really got me hooked. The kindness, generosity, and skill of my teachers amazed me. They taught me without hesitation or wanting anything in return. That concept was brought home repeatedly in this community of artists, and frankly, I was arguably one of the worst in the class! All the students had at least a background in some type of art or craft. My first efforts produced some rather sloppy results! Instead of seeing these as failures, I began to appreciate them as steps in my journey. Each mistake taught me something new about the material—and myself.
Lessons Learned: The Intersection of Business and Art
My background in business has continued to shape my journey as a potter in unexpected ways. Organization, discipline, and goal-setting are just as important in the studio as they are in the office. I've learned to blend structure with spontaneity, and strategy with soul.
Pottery has taught me the importance of patience and resilience. Unlike the fast pace of the corporate world, working with clay is a slow and deliberate process. It requires trust—in the material, in the process, and in oneself. I've learned to celebrate small victories and to view setbacks as invitations to grow.
Perhaps most importantly, I've discovered the joy of creating something lasting and beautiful with my own hands. In business, achievements are often intangible or fleeting; in pottery, each piece is both a product and a story, tangible evidence of creativity and care.
Finding Purpose: More Than a Career Change
Today, my days are filled with the joy of making, the challenge of learning, and the satisfaction of sharing with others. I continue to explore new techniques and styles. The studio has become my haven—a place where I am both student and teacher, leader and learner.
Looking back, I am grateful for every step that led me here. The skills and experiences I gained in business have enriched my journey as a potter, giving me the tools to build my creative enterprise with confidence and care.
Conclusion: Embracing Change and Celebrating Creativity
If my story resonates with you, let it serve as encouragement to listen to your inner voice. Change can be daunting, especially when it means redefining your identity and stepping outside your comfort zone.
My path from businesswoman to potter was not linear, nor was it easy. It required persistence and the willingness to embrace uncertainty. But in the clay, I found myself and my purpose. And in sharing my story, I hope to inspire others to seek out their own creative adventures—wherever they may lead.
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A FEW ENDNOTES FROM JAN: (*) Natalie Putnam, thank you, thank you for sharing this delightful peek into your creative journey. (*) Friends who've signed up to be part of my community, thank you, too! (*) Friends who haven't yet joined my community, you can do it now by visiting my website or my profile/linktree tab on Facebook or Instagram. What's in it for you? A blog post celebrating creativity straight to your e-mailbox each month, as well as an e-newsletter chock full of bookish news and reviews and other surprises (e.g., recipes, game and movie recs, a chance to win bookish giveaways, and more)! That's pretty much it.
Until next time, stay literate, my friends!
