Appalachian Blessings
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Appalachian Thursday – Pawpaw Season
No, it's not a pet name for your grandfather. September is when pawpaws--also known as Appalachian bananas--are getting ripe. A pawpaw is a large, greenish oval that's the largest, edible native fruit in the U.S. Folks say it tastes like a cross between a mango and a...
Contests–It’s all relative . . .
. . . or do I mean subjective? I got scores back from RWA last week. (That's Romance Writers of America.) I entered The Sound of Rain in the "Romance with Religious or Spiritual Elements" category. Spoiler alert--my story didn't win. I tend to brace myself when I get...
My Appalachia video
There's SO much I love about the Appalachian mountains. Here's the first of what I hope are many videos sharing some of the wonders of my mountain home with you. [wpvideo DgUSIocK]
Summertime Supper (+a recipe)
Summers when I was a kid meant supper from the garden. These days it would be a stretch to say I'm doing much vegetable gardening. There's a pot of herbs on the porch, potatoes growing in the front yard, and a cherry tomato plant that's almost produced enough fruit to...
Appalachian Thursday – Clay Co. Wild Man
I'm always looking for inspiration for my characters and in WV I don't have to look far. Take, for example, the Wild Man of Clay County. First, his name was Orval Elijah Brown--a most excellent name for any character. Second, he spun his penchant for growing a beard...
Who ARE the Poor?
Sunday's sermon was about helping the poor. Our scripture was from James 2 which cautions us not to show partiality for those who appear to be better off. Which set me to thinking about what, exactly, it means to be poor. There's the obvious answer--people who don't...
Appalachian Thursday – Reclaiming “Hillbilly”
There's been some talk lately about how hillbilly is a derogatory word that shouldn't see the light of day. So I'm going on the record to say I not only don't mind the word, but that I think we should reclaim it. Consider the word's origin (or etymology if you...
Laying Up Treasure
This past weekend a good friend and her family hosted a yard sale to empty out her grandparents' house. Health issues and advancing years have forced the couple into a facility and it's time to think about selling the little house they've lived in for so long. Thistle...
Meet Sarah
