A Quiet Corner of a Busy World
No, I’m not talking about theologically conservative gardening tools. Around the time Jane Austen was writing, there was a literary motif which became a cliché that is still seen in many books and films even today, the theme of the reformed rake. A rake was a man “after only one thing,” known for immoral relationships [...]
September 22nd: Bilbo Baggins' birthday...and Frodo Baggins' birthday... and the first day of fall this year! I was first introduced to the idea of celebrating Hobbit day about ten years ago when an acquaintance at college celebrated with snacks, reading, tree climbing, and generally enjoying the day. When I moved into the Carriage House, I [...]
realistic fiction “Dearly beloved…” Ellie squeezed Joe’s hand. She would have leaned in to lay her head on his shoulder, but it was too humid for that. He smiled at her before turning his attention back to where his cousin and her groom stood holding hands. The landscape behind the happy couple was gorgeous. It [...]
Fiction It was going to be one of those days. One of the students knocked my coffee off my desk and it had only gone downhill from there. I just had fifteen minutes left to give a spelling lesson and then I could drop the students off at lunch. Twenty minutes of peace! “Sorry,” the [...]
Irony...I didn't write anything for my blog last weekend because I was on a writer's retreat. I did plenty of writing, but not quite enough polishing to post. This was the first (hopefully annual) retreat for the Habit membership, which is an online library of writing resources by Jonathan Rogers and a community for like-minded [...]
I am a gracious garden queen. My words bring life. Sprouts leaf and green. I raise one up, I cut one low, Instruct the vines which way to grow. Break up the quarrels, bind lovers, Entwine the roses in bowers, Cast out the rebels from the plot, Refresh their thirst, remove the rot. There’s dirt [...]
“Look what I brought, Miss Barnwell.” I looked up from entering attendance on my computer and made eye contact with the impish painted eyes of a 10-inch doll. It was sitting in a coy pose, hugging its knees, inside an enormous glass pickle jar. I eventually regained the mental strength to break eye contact and [...]
"Spare us, gentle queen!" Yellow-headed rogues grovel. "Fie! Off with their heads!"
A little fiction from a recent writing assignment... Suzanne lifted the hamper onto her hip. “Last call for laundry!” As she walked to the top of the stairs, a door flew open. Darren threw a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and a sweaty sock on top of the hamper. Yes, just one sock. Suzanne raised [...]
Some days, it feels more complicated being a godly woman than simply being a godly person. This has been especially hard for me recently as a single woman. I am at the age when 95% of my friends are already married and having kids. I have not even been on a date. As a household [...]
Welcome To The Carriage House 