Nana Ellen's Stories 'n' some stuff about us

Okay - so you want to know a little more about us? Well, here we are!

Papa Dick and Nana Ellen live in the state of California, in the good old US of A.

Nana Ellen's Stories 'n' Stuff has been online since 1996. Over the years there have been hundreds of changes, tweaks and updates. I've given away graphics, sold greeting cards, designed web sites and so forth and so on. I truely love my work, and have no plans to stop doing what I love. Papa Dick retired in 2005, after forty plus years of teaching. People often ask, "so, what are you doing now that you're retired?" The answer... whatever we want to do. We spend our time working in our garden, cooking, painting, writing a new novel and just enjoying life in general.

I consider myself an artist and a writer. Others may disagree but by the grace of God, I am what He has made me! I write because...to quote Cyril Connolly..."it is better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self."

Recently I heard someone I respect say, “Our lives are shaped by those who love us – and those who refuse to love us." How true! My life with my soul mate and husband of thirty plus years revolves around our home and our faith in Jesus Christ. Before our life together darkness and pain, strife and disappointment were my constant companions. After we met in 1977 my life was reshaped, restored and healed.

Here I keep an online record of each day’s special blessings - meant to help me remember how truly blessed we are. And if, in the reading, someone else is blessed…to God be the glory!

Auntie & UncleCarl We live down the lane, in a little old cottage the color of rain. It's cozy inside, and often smells of cookies or warm apple pie. Use your imagination..,that's what we're all about. Things may be simple, quaint and more than a little old-fashioned here, but it's a peaceful, relaxing place to be.

Our stories and drawings pay homage to my auntie, who loved me, and taught me to love the gentle life. Children, young and old, almost always find special treasures or mysterious odds and ends to take back home with them. After all, everyone's the same age inside! Right?

The stuff at in our cottage brings back warm memories of the hodgepodge of hugs, cookies and wonders from auntie's house. But, in case you had no such place to visit, well... we think it's about time you have one. Drop in any day – stay as long as you like.

To really have the most fun at our house you have to poke through each room/page touching everything, exploring like a child. You never know what you might find! So... pick out a room and come on in. We want the time you spend with us to comfort your soul and bring a smile of nostalgia to your heart.

Oh, and come back whenever you need a hug, or a cookie, won't you? Alright... we know... lots of you have your browser set to "accept no cookies", but these are the old-fashioned chocolate chip kind and we guarantee that while they may expand your waistline, they will have absolutely no effect on your 'puter

As with any trip to Nana’s house, looking at the place through 'rose-colored' glasses is usually a sure bet. We've been told our design is painfully out-dated compared with the modern designers. I guess it's like a good many other things in life... it's all in how you look at it!

Personally, I love the softly faded and slightly frayed comfort of real stuff. I hate the cheap plastic fakes our society has adopted as normal and calls beautiful.

Nowadays everybody's in a rush and we know sometimes things around here run about as fast as an old lady in goulashes. So if you don't have the time, or the inclination to wait around today, please, bookmark our Site Map Then, come back some day when you have more time or more patience with the old lady.

"Family ties are forged by heirlooms, steeped in sentiment, reminders of constancy amid the passage of time. Here we share some of our favorite things.. legacies of the heart, forever untarnished by time - keepsakes that embody not just beauty but memories of those we love." _Victoria, May 1990.

Hugs,

Nana Ellen

P.S. Our sole purpose for sharing our stuff with you is to give you an enjoyable visit. So along that line, we have a tiny favor to ask... By now you will have noticed that we've included some links from each of our pages to other Web sites we think are special. We made every effort to review each one carefully. We want our place to be not only fun, but safe, for you, and anyone else who stops by, so if you find anything linked to us that you don't think should be here, please let us know about it right away. OK? I probably should mention an article we read in the local paper awhile back. It stated - any place on the WWW is only six (that's 6) clicks from every other place on the WWW!! We do our best, but keeping Nana's a safe place for everyone takes real determination. Won't you please help us accomplish our goal?

Oh, and just FYI,,,

I've always loved horses. It's in my blood. Granddad Cline raised horses for the US Calvary when Daddy was a boy. They ranched in Saguache, Colorado, where Granddad was one of the first Forest Rangers in the Rio Grande National Forest. His photo hangs in the Saguache County Museum cheek by jowl with that infamous Colorado man-eater, Albert Packer.

Dad and his two brothers (they were Babe, Boots and Baldy) wrangled and broke horses from the time they were big enough to crawl aboard and hang on. Both of the girls (Margaret and Hester) helped with the work too. But Grandma insisted they remain proper young ladies as well, so the really rough stuff was left to the boys. Although those girls could tell some hair-raising stories of their own.

So... lil ole me (right) always and forever Daddy's girl learned to love horses before she could reach the stirrups. Dad titled this shot "I had a pony, but he got away." He thought it was hilarious. Mom...not so much.

This little love, at the stables in Estes Park, Colorado, stomped down hard on my toes while trying to get out of my strangle hold. I have one flat toe to this day. Mom said he broke it. Dad said I was tough and would get over it. I said it was worth it 'cause I got to ride the pony!

pony ride

If you look closely, you'll see the Stanley Hotel in the background. Ever read "The Shining"? That's the place.

We lived seven miles south of Estes Park until I was in first grade. Dad worked for the US Forest Service, Mom ran a Guest Ranch, and I learned to be a horse woman. By all accounts I was five going on 35. An only child living among adults...I never did learn to play well with others. On another note...should you read my story "Bootsey's Picnic" you'll notice a marked resembelance between the herione and lil ole e.

By the time this was taken (on my Uncle Baldy's ranch near Gunnison) we were living far from the Rocky Mountains, and life had changed dramatically. My two true loves remained... horses and Daddy.

So here I am, fifty something, and still in love with horses.

About us