A Quiet Corner of a Busy World
“Courage is found in unlikely places.”Gildor The Fellowship of the Ring Courage is an uncelebrated virtue in our culture. The word “brave” is sometimes applied to people who speak up in opposition of a cultural norm, but much traditionally associated with courage has come to be viewed as vice. What makes a person courageous, that [...]
When I was in college, I was practically inseparable from my two roommates. We talked about the most nonsensical and most serious topics, we drank tea, and we played grapefruit-filled pranks on our brothers across campus (it’s a long, glorious story). We loved to sing a cappella and received special joy from a repertoire [...]
"I think there is value, interest, and beauty in learning about things that don't have much to do with me."Daniel T. Willingham Why Don't Students Like School? I recently read a “must read” poem about a boy going to school for the first time and getting his crayons out to draw. Even though he is [...]
“Rhythm and alliteration: the phrase-makers always get the last word.” -Mrs. Miniver by Jan Struther You may have noticed that I often start my posts with a quotation. I choose to do this because it reminds me of epigraphs featured at the beginning of chapters in old books. Epigraphs had many functions historically. They [...]
Snow's all right on a fine morning, but I like to be in bed while it's falling- Samwise Gamgee Today was my first real snow day (with accumulation) in two years. I was so excited that I didn't follow Sam's example and enjoy a couple extra hours in bed. This was also the first snow [...]
Each day, leading up to Christmas, I focused on something that (a.) I am thankful for and (b.) is worth waiting for (even if I hate the waiting part). Day 1: Snail Mail is worth waiting for. I love getting a handwritten personal letter or card in the mail. I sent off my Christmas cards [...]
Just being honest, I got to the end of my Thanksgiving break realizing I had practiced very little thankfulness. It was an emotional week, worrying about things I don't have yet or things that have been taken away by COVID. It was a hard battle to reorient my thinking. I want to be present this [...]
I know all too soon the weather will turn cold, nights will be dark and long, and the possibility of quarantine or lockdown looms over our heads. Yesterday, however, the weather was beautiful, the sun was shining, and some beautiful autumn foliage still hung in the trees. I went outside to do some chores and [...]
She with all the charm of woman; She with all the breadth of man. -anonymous A few weeks ago, I casually mentioned to a new neighbor how I enjoy studying vintage yearbooks. She was generous enough to add a new volume to my collection! This 1917 yearbook (incidentally the same year my house was constructed) [...]
If you are the kind of nerdy, history-loving reader who was thrilled that ringing in 2020 marked 100 years from the beginning of the roaring 20's, you might have decided to read The Great Gatsby. As quarantine kicked in, you might have continued into other Scott Fitzgerald novels or branched out into a couple Agatha [...]
Welcome To The Carriage House 