image courtesy of photobucket.com (written after the Horrorfest known as the evening news convinced me to take a walk through the woods)  I saw it from atop a small hill where the woods thinned and the river hooked into a lazy L. Just standing there, staring out over the water as if pondering where it had all come from and where it was all going.   It’s presence was not shocking but still unexpected. They’re hard to spot this time of year. The colder months drive them into their dens to sleep... Read Full Story

These little notes have been showing up a lot around the house lately, courtesy of my seven-year-old Girl Scout. I found one waiting for me in the mailbox the other day. Turns out there was no need to perform that small part of my coming-home ritual. My Girl Scout had gathered the bills and junk mail for me. Yesterday when I went into the office to sort the mess of papers on my desk, I instead found four neatly stacked piles with one sign in the middle—A Girl Scout was here! And this evening ... Read Full Story

These little notes have been showing up a lot around the house lately, courtesy of my seven-year-old Girl Scout. I found one waiting for me in the mailbox the other day. Turns out there was no need to perform that small part of my coming-home ritual. My Girl Scout had gathered the bills and junk mail for me. Yesterday when I went into the office to sort the mess of papers on my desk, I instead found four neatly stacked piles with one sign in the middle—A Girl Scout was here! And this evening ... Read Full Story

The seasons are more apparent this time of year than at any other, mostly because the reminders are so overwhelming. Spring in Virginia must be wrestled from winter in a long struggle of give and take, then eases into summer like the embrace of two old friends. In either case, it’s difficult to know where one ends and the other begins. But not so with the turning of summer to fall. There is a clear line between those two, a boundary of Stop and Go marked by stars so close the shine kisses you... Read Full Story

The seasons are more apparent this time of year than at any other, mostly because the reminders are so overwhelming. Spring in Virginia must be wrestled from winter in a long struggle of give and take, then eases into summer like the embrace of two old friends. In either case, it’s difficult to know where one ends and the other begins. But not so with the turning of summer to fall. There is a clear line between those two, a boundary of Stop and Go marked by stars so close the shine kisses you... Read Full Story

photo courtesy of photobucket.com We all love to be rewarded, don’t we? Whether it’s a long, hot shower after a full day’s work in the yard or something as simple as a bowl of our favorite ice cream after eating the less desirable vegetables on our dinner plate. Does it matter the means in which we receive our reward? Apparently, it does. To read the story of what a bowl of ice cream taught me, hop on over to katdish’s blog. And if you get there before I do, please... Read Full Story

photo courtesy of photobucket.com We all love to be rewarded, don’t we? Whether it’s a long, hot shower after a full day’s work in the yard or something as simple as a bowl of our favorite ice cream after eating the less desirable vegetables on our dinner plate. Does it matter the means in which we receive our reward? Apparently, it does. To read the story of what a bowl of ice cream taught me, hop on over to katdish’s blog. And if you get there before I do, please... Read Full Story

photo courtesty of photobucket.com I’m nerdy enough to admit that the History Channel occupies much of the time I spend in front of the television. And despite the fact that lately it’s begun to focus more on the apocalypse than the past, it’s still quality viewing. You can learn a lot about the present by looking over your shoulder. You can learn a lot about yourself, too. I spent an hour the other day getting a quick education on daily life in 1700s America. Fascinating stuff. It was a time... Read Full Story

photo courtesty of photobucket.com I’m nerdy enough to admit that the History Channel occupies much of the time I spend in front of the television. And despite the fact that lately it’s begun to focus more on the apocalypse than the past, it’s still quality viewing. You can learn a lot about the present by looking over your shoulder. You can learn a lot about yourself, too. I spent an hour the other day getting a quick education on daily life in 1700s America. Fascinating stuff. It was a time... Read Full Story

by katdish Don’t panic! Billy’s regularly scheduled post will be back tomorrow. This will be my first and most likely only guest post for What I Learned Today. Truth be told, Billy is taking a much needed rest. A doctor ordered rest. Prayers are much appreciated. Talent is a wonderful thing, but it won’t carry a quitter. And there always comes a time–if the work is sincere, if it comes from that magic place where thought, memory, and emotion all merge–when you wi... Read Full Story