We're almost to mid-April and the official end of the threat of frost in central North Carolina. My grandmother consulted the Farmer's Almanac for advice on planting and now I consult with my Master Gardener, Brother-in-Law, Winslow. He recommends putting things in the ground after April 15th. To prepare for planting, I bought my seed … Continue reading Cycle of Life: A Time to Plant
growing up on a farm
New Land of Discovery: The Gift of Nature
To walk, to wander about, is to open yourself up to discovery; often the new things you find are within--new ideas, new solutions to problems; sometimes there are discoveries of physical things, of places that delight, even in your own neighborhood. That was the gift I received last Tuesday. I woke up feeling blah, my … Continue reading New Land of Discovery: The Gift of Nature
Season of Harvest
It's the beginning of Harvest Season-- that period between mid-September and the end of November that's the time for bringing in the bounty. Growing up on a farm, I was aware of the seasons of planting and harvesting, of fallow fields of winter and fresh green shoots of spring. Hearing farmers talk about their crops, … Continue reading Season of Harvest
Free to be Free
On Tuesday, our country will celebrate Independence Day, paying tribute to our hard-earned freedom made possible by men and women in uniform. It's easy to talk about freedom when you live in an area that's not threatened by war, where children can mostly play in their yards without fear, and where the people you love … Continue reading Free to be Free
To Plant a Garden
To plant a garden is to outwardly show you trust the future; you'll be around to see those seeds sprout, those plants grow. You invest in soil, fertilizer, seeds, plants, and tools to form the garden of your dreams. It's a display of the colors of your heart, the patterns of your mind, the creative … Continue reading To Plant a Garden
Easter: Sorrow and Love
Today is Easter Sunday, the Highest of holy days in the Christian faith. It is a time of deep, rich memories for me. Easter day on Cam Peak by kay kenyon is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0 As a child, I loved the days leading up to Easter Sunday. We were out of school on Good … Continue reading Easter: Sorrow and Love
The Rawleigh Lady
Today, I'm remembering Mama and Daddy; this would have been their anniversary and Daddy's birthday. They got married in a double-wedding ceremony on his 30th along with Mama's brother, Cliff and his bride. I remember Mama's quick comeback, around ten years ago, when I told her that I wouldn't have wanted to share my special … Continue reading The Rawleigh Lady
Journey to Chincoteague: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Adventure
In last week's post, I shared my fear of crossing over the Chesapeake Bay-Bridge Tunnel (CBB-T) on my trip to Chincoteague Island, Virginia. I ended with this summary of that experience: Looking back on that trip, I'm grateful that I had the experience of navigating the CBB-T by myself. I would have avoided it if … Continue reading Journey to Chincoteague: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Adventure
In Our Mothers’ Footsteps
It's less than three weeks now until my cousin, Kim and I will take off on our trip. The journey will bring us closer together just as our mothers were close. Her mother, Yvonne and mine, Mary were first cousins and best friends. Kim Casto McCaskill and Connie Rosser Riddle August 2022 Back around the … Continue reading In Our Mothers’ Footsteps
Swimming Lessons
When I was a girl, June brought the end of school and the beginning of swimming lessons at our city pool in my hometown--Sanford. That pool was built in 1935 by the WPA--Works Projects Administration, as part of the New Deal of President FD Roosevelt's administration. That huge rectangle of turquoise water was a magnificent … Continue reading Swimming Lessons