Someone posted a photo of a woodstove happily burning on Facebook this evening. It glimmered in my sight as I scrolled passed. At first, I bemoaned the not-quite-fall that we seem to be having here in Charlotte, but then I paused, noted that I had been chilly for most of the day, and suddenly recalled that I now have a […]
Making Applesauce
I made applesauce today. It was technically my third batch of the year—though the second was scarcely worth mentioning. I’d gotten a few apples from the store that were mealy, and rather than suffer through them in apple form, I cooked them down one morning for breakfast. They were delicious once you changed their texture. Making applesauce is a bit […]
Boy Blue’s Birthday
When you have family living on the far side of the world, and you have a tendency to be forgetful about birthdays, you run into two specific issues: 1. Just sending the requisite “belated” birthday card loses its appeal, because it won’t get there for a few weeks after the date. Belated cards are fun and all when they arrive […]
The Fall of the Sparrow
I love the idea that God cares about the fall of the sparrow. It’s one of those passages of scripture that is pure poetry. As He reminds His disciples they have no reason to fear, Jesus says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father” (Matthew […]
Jon-boy
It’s high time I show off my nieces and nephew in this lot of photos. So I figured I’d start with Mr. Handsome, who though he certainly has the word “Cheese!” down, ignored the camera the best. But just so you don’t think I have favorites, here are the Bear and the Bug…
Making Christmas Gifts
My mom is going to be the rocking-est Grammy in this hemisphere this Christmas. She just did awesome work.
Beauty – in new forms
Beauty has taken on a new definition since I got nieces and nephews. There’s something truly beautiful in the scribbles of a child, drawn just for me. Great art? No. Beautiful, though.
Heritage
There are times that my family’s long connection with the institution where I work is complicated, but more often than not it is a benefit. Sometimes it is funny. Sometimes it is bittersweet. Sometimes, it’s just nice. This morning my boss said, “I need someone to start a ‘Centennial’ box.” I volunteered. So, sitting on my desk, looking for a […]
HONK!
In these dark, predawn hours I’m imagining the household awakening – ZEB crying a bit, his Nana or Grandpa comforting him. Mom’s hands are busy with Meimei, his little sister, and they shake a little as she bathes her in the special soap and dresses her in the freshly laundered clothes. Dad helps out, or just stands behind Mom with […]
We found a nickname
Conversation before dinner: Ev: “My brother’s Jonathan Blewis.” Clare: “No. Jonathan Lew-is. She sometimes says it wrong. Maybe it’s too long for her. Ezelyn, you can just say ‘Jonathan’.” Conversation after dinner: Aunt Carrie: “What color are carrots?” Ev: “Pink!” Aunt Carrie: “No, carrots!” Ev: “Orange.” Aunt Carrie: “What color is Jonathan?” Ev: (Pauses) “Jonathan Blue-ass.” [Aunt Carrie begins to […]