The first contest I ever won involved a tiny clay sculpture I crafted and submitted to the Harper County Fair. I remember being very surprised that I had won a ribbon, considering I had only taken one art class. And I was sure the other entries came from professional artists. Empowered by that … [Read more...] about Witches, Imposters & Ghosts
defibrillator
The Rope
I idolized my sister’s hair. Honestly, I idolized everything about my older sister. But her long blond hair, like spun gold, was an object of pure envy. Even as a four-year-old, I knew it was special. Next to my own brunette pixie, it was to me the holy grail. One warm fall afternoon, my sister … [Read more...] about The Rope
5(ish) Reasons My Blog Is Different
I am a girl who loves a good list. Long before Erin Condrin, Daytimers, The Bullet Journal, and Trello, before agenda planners were even a thing, I made my own out of a ten-cent spiral notebook. It dictated my day, and my life. It always sat on top of my junior high book pile, the crowning jewel … [Read more...] about 5(ish) Reasons My Blog Is Different
Master Craftsman
When we remodeled our house, a stately 50-foot walnut tree stood in the way of our blueprint. It was perfect: straight, tall, and beautiful. We did everything to keep it, but in the end, the grand plan dictated that it had to be cut down. The tree became a distinctive mantel for our home. … [Read more...] about Master Craftsman
Upcycled
In grad school, my husband and I rented a duplex near campus that had some interesting carpet. It had a motif of a flaming B in a repeated diamond pattern. The rent fit our budget, and not that into decorating at the time, we didn’t think too much about it. A few weeks into a year lease, we … [Read more...] about Upcycled
For Ultimate Good
My dad is a fearless guy. And the most resilient person I know. But he’s also the most intelligent human being I’ve ever met. Sorry, grad school professors and transplant surgeons. He’s got you whipped. With such good genes, I thought by this age, I’d surely know everything. But the older I … [Read more...] about For Ultimate Good