Tuning in the Loft Up in the loft, the pipes are separated from the choir space behind narrowly slatted walls on the east and west. I sit at the two manual pipe organ, pulling stops and holding down t...
Finding Inspiration in the Rhythms of Mountain Life The Rhythm of the Loom Helen sat at her loom on the porch, shifting the shuttle through the shed, then pulling the heddle to the weft. Left, pull. R...
Cinematic Shadows It’s better than every movie you’ve ever watched with a graveyard scene. I can picture the Sanderson sisters hovering over Willy’s grave on broomsticks and vacuums,...
A Surprising Solution for Bugs I drew up a rough sketch of the landscape design as they were talking about paint colors for the porch. “I’m worried about bugs. Is there anything you can do...
The Golden Hour Picnic It’s early summer, and we’ve finished our burgers, crumpling the greasy wrappers and depositing them into covered bins. We return to our blanket, sipping the last of...
The Mini Highland Cow: A Spark of Connection Carter giggles as the fuzzy creatures crowd him, nuzzling his hand, competing for treats and chin scratches. “Okay, okay! There’s enough for al...
Frances’ Macaroni and Cheese “Frances!” I jog her down, catching her in the foyer of The Church of Jesus Christ. “Frances, your macaroni and cheese was the star of the show aga...
A Peaceful Foreboding It crackles. Have you ever heard the sound of a wintry mix falling in the Appalachians? It sounds a bit like rain with its steady, calming rhythm, and a bit like hail, drumming t...
VIRGINIA By Kathryn Jacobson She has an old type of beauty. I’m not quite sure why she feels that way; old. I suppose God put the dirt here at the same time he put the dirt everywhere else. It&#...