Ten Years with My Gingineer My husband and I are celebrating our ten-year wedding anniversary this week. How is that possible? I mean, our eight-year-old son is good evidence of our longstanding relationship, but it seems like just yesterday that I met the man of my dreams. Was it in a bar, you ask? At … Continue reading Ten Years with My Gingineer
A Farewell to Horses So far, readers, you've met Phoenix, Sugar, the three paint mares, and the mustang. But that's only six horses out of fifteen. In this last post, let's visit the other nine horses and find out why I left them. Behind Horace's barn was a stately black draft gelding and a gray … Continue reading A Farewell to Horses
Horace of the Horses I met Horace beside a sewer pipe. It was a brand new sewer pipe; Horace was connecting it to my house, digging its trench with his backhoe. When work was done for the day, I offered him a smoothie, since I'd just made one for myself. And by smoothie, I mean … Continue reading Horace of the Horses
Hot Writer Summer It's been a month since I last posted. You deserve better, readers. But let me tell you what you've missed: It's summer. In coastal NC. It's hot. The kids are home and every thought is interrupted by someone yelling, "Mom, this remote control won't work!" or "Stop touching me!" (that was me). … Continue reading Hot Writer Summer
Meeting My Role Model As the school year wraps up, I'd like to reflect on my first year of substitute teaching. It's been interesting. I've mostly taught at the primary school, since my kids are there. Despite eleven years as a high school teacher, I was not ready for "the littles," especially Kindergartners. My first … Continue reading Meeting My Role Model
Prayer for Judgement I got pulled over last week for running a stop sign in my neighborhood, where a police officer had been sitting all week, waiting for someone to run that stop sign. Since I knew he was there, I didn't run the stop sign. Also, I don't run stop signs. He said I … Continue reading Prayer for Judgement
Where you been, Old Blue? It was 2am on a rural highway near Greenville, NC. Farmland stretched for miles. I was in my twenties, driving a friend home from the clubs, when I saw a dog walking by the side of the road. He was just trotting along like he owned the place, a pointer … Continue reading Where you been, Old Blue?
Is Your Refrigerator Running? Before Christmas break, I volunteered at the primary school, so teachers could attend their holiday luncheon. My kids' classes were already covered. "Put me anywhere you need me," I said. They needed me in the EC (Exceptional Children) class, so that's where I went. Before the teacher left, he wrote his … Continue reading Is Your Refrigerator Running?
Mullet Love Affair Part 2 Last week, I wrote about the history of mullet fishing on Bogue Banks: the kind with tractors and wooden boats sitting pretty on the beach, like in my sister-in-law Summer Flowers' photograph above. This week: the present and future of that tradition. I spoke with Chris Lewis, a tractor driver … Continue reading Mullet Love Affair Part 2
Down in the Valley "Down in the valley, valley so low, hang your head over, hear the wind blow." Dang it. What book is that? It's set in the Appalachian mountains and repeats the "Down in the Valley" lyrics multiple times. Please tell me; it's driving me nuts. I should be able to look it … Continue reading Down in the Valley
Jessi Waugh Writer 