Lillian revisiting her memories of Marjorie I stopped by to see my friend Lillian Champion in Pine Mountain today. Lillian told me how much she wished I could spend 9-11 with her. There’s a concert at Callaway Gardens in memory of her daughter. Marjorie was killed in the attack on the Pentagon. With unabashed tears, Lillian and I revisited that tragic day. It doesn’t seem all that distant of a past when it’s your loved one you continue to... Read more
It’s Miz Shelby here again. I’m guest posting today from Guatemala City, where I’m on a trip with World Vision. Come back all week for more updates from this adventure in Guatemala. I called him. I’d been meaning to do that all weekend. It was late. Almost too late to call, but he answered. We chatted, and he prayed for me. Over the phone waves, he prayed for my safety. That my worldview would be increased. All I know... Read more
It’s Miz Shelby here again. Today’s the day I head out on the adventure with World Vision, and I am looking forward to bringing you all along. Last night, after an 80+ degree late summer day, which I spent mainly indoors packing, I decided to go to the new food cart lot for dinner. As soon as I arrived, I ran into my neighbors, the ones whose house I watched for a month this summer. I remember a time... Read more
I was sitting there, minding my own business, not bothering nobody, when this fellow in madras plaid shorts walks up and asks, Mind if I sit here? He pointed to the couch across the wicker table from me. It was the patio at Starbucks. It wasn’t like I owned the place, but it wasn’t like there weren’t 25 other chairs to sit in either. No. I don’t mind, I replied and went right back to my work. I had been... Read more
Dolly Pardon joined us at The French Market in Pine Mountain and urged everyone to pick up a copy of MOTHER OF RAIN and THE STORYCATCHER. Read more
He walked over with a wooden cane, asked if the leather chair near me was taken. No, I replied. That other seat is in the sun, he said. I don’t want to be in the sun. No, I agreed. Pumpkin Spice doesn’t have the appeal in the heat of Georgia that it does in the cool of Oregon. It’s still summer in my hometown. He’s a good-looking fellow. A cloud of white hair, expertly cut, nice cut of the... Read more
The writer sitting next to me at dinner wanted to know — was it going to be hard to go on tour with another author. What do you mean? I asked. Won’t you be jealous if she sells more books than you? No, I answered. Not at all. I’m praying that Ann Hite will be wildly successful. I want God to bless her socks off. Perhaps the writer sitting next to me at dinner thought me odd. Or maybe she... Read more
If Mee-Maw was the one you loved nearly better than Jesus, if you are familiar with Black Mountain or Sapelo Island, if you’ve ever been pearling on the river, or stood under the shower of a waterfall in the Smokies, or if you’ve ever had an encounter with a ghost or a Melungeon, then don’t miss this opportunity for swapping stories infused with mountain lore. Book Launch at Georgia Center for the Book, Decatur. Sunday, Sept 8th 5 p.m. With... Read more
Editor’s Note: When I wrote about the Biscuit Outlaw and shared that post, a regular reader of this blog made a very articulate comment on Facebook about homelessness and how many of us are just a few paychecks away from it. Because Andrea had been so forthcoming on the Facebook post about her struggles with unemployment, addiction and depression, I asked if she would be willing to answer a few questions and share her journey with the blog... Read more
Sunday morning started with four cups of flour and Mama’s biscuit-cutter. There are two things my kids love better than anything — my biscuits and my carrot cake. The carrot cake is complicated to make. The biscuits are easy. So easy, in fact, the making of them calms me, transports me back to the Appalachian kitchen of my great-aunt Cil, and I needed the calm on Sunday morning. A friend sent me a text on Saturday evening, referencing Hugh Hollowell... Read more
Karen Spears Zacharias
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