It was a rather old birdhouse and, quite frankly, I did not see its appeal, but then again, I’ve never been a connoisseur of birdhouses. Full disclosure: Except for cardinals, I hate birds. I never feed them lest a Hitchcockian flock storm after me. That is the stuff of nightmares. So, although I may consider… Continue reading Emotional Nesting

It was one of those objects that would probably not fetch more than a dime at a yard sale. The aluminum measuring cup is scuffed from so many years of use and has no value—except to me. That’s why when its handle fell off, my reaction was totally unreasonable. Cradling the decapitated handle like a… Continue reading Holding On

I had driven past him for years. Less than a mile and a half from my house, on an incredibly busy corner, a man stands three to four afternoons a week, holding a sign. I call him “Sign Man.” For several years his sign was apocalyptic in nature: WARNING! FEAR GOD’S WRATH. THE RAPTURE IS… Continue reading Sign Man

I just finished reading American Dirt, a gripping tale of the plight of migrants coming to the United States. I couldn’t put it down, although I really wanted to avert my eyes. I would like to forget the horrors described in those pages. What I didn’t know, until halfway through the novel, is that the… Continue reading Almond Cookies

It’s so easy, isn’t it? To forget what we have, to see greener grass beyond the fence? For several reasons this week I’ve been pondering gratitude—and I see it as a gift to be able to view what you have rather than what you’re lacking. Also this week I found myself grateful in ways that… Continue reading Glasses, Full and Empty

Elena Carro Photography All winter, I’ve been wishing for snow in Nashville: the kind of all-consuming, routine-stopping wintery mix that would stop me in my tracks. This week, I got my wish. I have to admit it lingered a bit too long; yesterday I was thankful to see the sun and watch the transformation, however… Continue reading Shadows in the Snow

There are times when I don’t realize how much I miss something or someone until it reappears in my life. I hear from a long-lost high school friend and realize that an empty corner of my heart has been filled in a way only she could. It’s that way with more mundane objects too. Recently… Continue reading The Family Apple

Because my family took very few vacations, our trip to Washington D.C. when I was around 5 is one of my most vivid memories. It included all of the tourist must-sees, including a side excursion to Monticello. In D.C. I recall being terrified of “big Lincoln” staring down at me. I remember marveling at the… Continue reading Jerry’s Bum Rap

Since I was a little girl, all I ever wanted to do—truly, the only thing that came easy to me—was be a writer. I asked for a typewriter for Christmas when I was 7, and my parents were astute enough to know I didn't mean a toy one. I submitted a whole novel (45 pages!)… Continue reading About Mt. Moriah

I recently learned that some people get all new Christmas decorations each year, and that people even choose an annual theme for their holiday décor. I guess, then, you could best categorize my theme as “attic.” In keeping with the annoyances of 2020, there was mischief afoot in my attic this year. While decorating for… Continue reading Up in the Attic