Appalachian Blessings
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2014 in review
I love the annual report WordPress sends for my blog at the end of each year. And what was my most popular post for 2014? Something to do with the release of my first novel and the e-novella that preceded it? Nope. It was a post about my nephew asking me if I'd ever...
Appalachian Thursday–New Year's Greens
Although pork and cabbage is a more traditional New Year's Day meal back in West Virginia, I've adapted to the south with its collard greens and black-eyed peas. Tradition dictates that you eat greens (whether cabbage, collards, or some other kind) to represent...
My Vision Statement–2015 Update
Three years ago I created a vision statement--a statement of my goals as an author. I think it's important to not only create such a document, but to revisit it regularly to see how I'm doing and what needs to change. So as 2014 comes to a close, I thought I'd check...
Christmas in Appalachia c. 1974
Yup, that's me on Christmas Eve forty years ago looking very worried about the fire Dad's fiddling with in the fireplace. I wanted to be sure that fire was OUT before Santa arrived. Hope you're having a very Merry Christmas filled with memories that you can tuck away...
What if Enough Were . . . Enough?
I listened to John Ortberg's When the Game Is Over It All Goes Back in the Box on CD last week. And I was captured by a section in which he talked about how much of our lives are spent in the pursuit of MORE. More money, more time, more stuff, more prestige, more...
Appalachian Thursday–Christmas Trees
We've had a live Christmas tree almost every year--when I was a child and now as an adult. When we were kids in WV, we'd go to a nearby Christmas tree farm (I mean, a mile or so away) and pick out a tree. Now, in Western NC, the tree farms are higher up in the...
My letter to Santa
What do you want for Christmas? I've probably posed that question to every child I know and I've been asked it by several friends and family members. It's the, "Hi, how are you?" of the season. So how does one answer such a question? Kids are great--they want real...
Appalachian Thursday–Great Gifts from WV
Have you finished your shopping yet? I'm just about done and I've even wrapped everything and shipped the gifts that need to go to family I won't see this holiday season. Which means I have time to help YOU shop! And what would I recommend but some great gifts from...
Meet Sarah
