She was there in the dark the whole time.
I never knew.
She was waiting to pounce, if dared one moved.
I never saw her.
She thought she could run free, long into the night.
I never did suspect.
THUNDER. CRASH. BOOM.
MEOW.
She slinked to the door, sopping from the storm.
And begged to come in.
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Bella is mostly an indoor cat, but we let her roam just a little in the fenced backyard during the daytime in all seasons but winter. Since the spring is still fresh, we aren’t in the habit again of making sure she’s inside before we close up for the evening. I lost my sweet Mickey kitty after not realizing she was outside overnight, so I was distraught that I could possibly let that happen again. Oh, Sweet Bella. Poor kitty baby.
And now you know about my night since 3am. It was a good sleep until then. About an hour after the heavy storm woke me up, ‘round about 4am when the rain had just begun to let up, I heard the sweet girl at the back door. She was so distraught and out of sorts. When I opened the door it was like she forgot how to walk through it. She paced and meowed. I tried to dry her with a towel but she wouldn’t sit still long enough. Eventually I let her be and she came to me, crawling on my chest, back in bed and purring loudly.
I found about an hour’s more rest between 6:30-7:30, when the alarm sounded to take the trash out. That hour of sleep was filled with a crazy dream about being in my camper, but a square portion of the roof was cut out. Geese had perched there and yes, friends, in case you wondered, they pooped on my head. Next thing I know someone is towing my camper back to the house/hotel I lived in and when I walked into the reception area, a wedding planner was frantically looking for me, telling me I had two minutes until my song was up. I didn’t even remember booking the gig and, if you recall, I had goose poop on my head. I ran upstairs to shower, looked out the window, and saw Bella kitty swimming in the pool, loving it. So weird, my brain.
Now I sit here at 8am sipping my first bit of coffee.
The little creative writing above was just a small nod to poetic story telling. I knew I wanted to share the first books I’ve read of the year with you today. I’ve often dreamed about writing a book, likely a memoir. I really admire authors. It seems like such a daunting task they take on, and I’m so glad they do. Like the quote you have heard me use of my Grandpa Rausch’s, “Books are friends!”
Hope y’all fared well in the storm if you’re in my neck o’ the woods! Here’s a list of the 17 books I’ve completed since the new year began, in the order that I finished them. And yes, I started including the cookbooks I read. I really read those things cover to cover because I’m a nut! (A toasted pecan with cinnamon and maple syrup glaze. 🙂) In February I started only books written by Black authors in honor of Black History Month. I make a point to read books throughout the year by BIPOC because I think it’s important to read outside of our own lived experiences. Likewise, I started only books by women authors for March in honor of Women’s History Month (trans women are women!). It is true that I tend to read more women’s lit than anything, but not exclusively. To be clear, I finished other books within those months that were written by men or non-Black authors that I had already started earlier. That’s why they show up within the celebrated month. I also recently decided to start reading some classic children’s literature, on account of a couple new beautiful babies in my life. (Grandson/Great-nephew Arlo turns one this weekend and my other niece has one in the oven due in September! Yippee!)
Ok! Here’s the list. See the key below. This is also my system for stars on Goodreads. Follow me THERE so I can see what you’re reading, too!
Key:
💜 = Highly recommend. Will likely read again.
🎤 = audiobook; 📖 = physical book; 🔁 = read previously
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ = Thought provoking / important / highly recommend
⭐⭐⭐⭐ = Very well done, would recommend
⭐⭐⭐ = Glad I read it. Not a waste of time. Wouldn’t necessarily recommend it.
⭐⭐ = Nah. Didn’t like it. Wouldn’t recommend.
⭐ = Probably didn’t finish and probably due to racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. I won’t even include them on the list.
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Isa Does It: Amazingly Easy, Wildly Delicious Vegan Recipes for Every Day of the Week - Isa Chandra Moskowitz (2013) 📖 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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💜 Finding My Way - Malala Yousafzai (2025) 🎤 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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💜You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment - Thich Nhat Hanh (2009) 📖 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Simple and Delicious Vegan: 100 Vegan and Gluten Free Recipes Created by Ela Vegan - Michaela Vais (2023) 📖 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers - Jesse Q. Sutanto (2023) 🎤 ⭐⭐⭐
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💜The Dictionary of Lost Words - Pip Williams (2021) 🎤🔁 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (I read this last year. I upped it to 5 stars!)
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💜Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals - Oliver Burkeman (2023) - 🎤 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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The Long Winter (Little House #6) - Laura Ingalls Wilder (1940) 🎤 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
**BLACK AUTHOR in honor of BLACK HISTORY MONTH
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💜**Black Cake - Charmaine Wilkerson (2022) 🎤 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Little Town on the Prairie (Little House #7) - Laura Ingalls Wilder (1941) 🎤 ⭐⭐⭐
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**Skye Falling - Mia McKenzie (2021) 🎤 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Moon Bamboo - Thich Nhat Hanh (1989) - 📖 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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💜**Happy Land - Dolen Perkins-Valdez (2025) 🎤 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Winnie-the-Pooh - A.A.Milne (1926 - 100 years old this year!) 🎤 ⭐⭐⭐ **Disclaimer. I gave this only 3 stars because I didn’t care for the narration of the audiobook. I would likely rate it higher if I read the physical book.
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The Blooming of a Lotus: Essential Guided Meditations for Mindfulness, Healing, and Transformation - Thich Nhat Hanh (2022) 📖 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
***WOMAN AUTHOR in honor of WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
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***These Happy Golden Years (Little House 8) - Laura Ingalls Wilder (1943) 🎤 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- ***The First Four Years (Little House #9) - Laura Ingalls Wilder (1971) 🎤 ⭐⭐⭐ The final book in the series, published after Laura’s death. See more info about it on Wikipedia.
There are four other books I’m currently reading, all by women authors in honor of Black History and Women’s History Months. I just didn’t get them finished within those months. They are:
- ** ***Assata: An Autobiography - Assata Shakur (2001) 📖
- ***These Deathless Shores - P.H. Low (2024) 🎤 (*See Peter Pan note below)
- ***Black Beauty - Anna Sewell (1877) 🎤
- ***The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett (1911) 🎤
As usual, I have a couple of books by Thich Nhat Hanh that I spend slow time with each morning, and I’m revisiting a book I never finished previously about optimal breathing techniques.
*There was one book I chose not to finish after getting more than 50% through it. The one star review goes to Peter Panby J.M. Barre (1911). There was so much misogyny and racism that if you took those two things away, there would be no story left. I just couldn't take it. I posted about this on social media and someone recommended These Deathless Shores, a retelling from the perspective of a born-female who was once a Lost Boy, but got kicked out after she got her first menstrual cycle.
I’d love to hear about what you’re reading and what you think I might enjoy. Books really are friends! (Especially audiobooks. Thank goodness for audiobooks!)
‘Til next time! And next time will hopefully be a video of my newest song “Home” that I gave you a lil’ teaser of a couple weeks ago. My family and I have had some serious health challenges recently and I just haven’t been able to get the full thing recorded.
Kasey Dawn
Parkville Home
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
PS: Remember that tickets are on sale for The Country Duo’s celebration of the physical release of our new album, Little Lagoon Sessions! It’s Friday, April 17th at Mod Gallery in KCMO. First set will be a Q&A hosted by Scott Stanton of River Trade Radio as we listen to portions of the vinyl. It’s possible that Curry Weber, the engineer and co-producer (and former Sun Studio head engineer!) will join us via Zoom from Alabama! For the second set we’ll play the full album live, front to back, with a couple of special guests, Richard Burgess and Sweet Matt Brahl. Visit KaseyRausch.com for tickets and more info. Cheers!
Sweet Bella Kitty.