Still no power post-Hurricane Helene, but we’ve got a generator chugging away over at my daughter’s house. So I thought, Hey, let’s do something domestic and wildly outdated!—like laundry. The washer whirred to life, did its thing, and next thing I know I’m standing outside with a fistful of damp clothes and no dryer. Cue: the clothesline. A mythical device I haven’t interacted with since disco was still a viable music genre. We’re talking 45
“Can you come here a sec?” There was nothing in the timbre of Willie’s voice that indicated fear or even concern. He was standing by the laundry room door staring out at the storm. I could hear the wind howling and every once in a while, a branch or other debris would hit the house, but it didn’t seem too bad. We’ve been through plenty of storms up on the ridge, and with the exception
What is THAT?
Category: Carolina Critters
We’ve gotten used to seeing all manner of critters here. North Carolina seems to be a roaming menagerie—venomous snakes, cute baby possums, foxes, deer, and even bears. And for some reason, they all seem to enjoy a stroll on the ridge. The size of some of our visitors has definitely surprised us. Did you know that a fox can be nearly two feet tall at the shoulder and nearly three feet long? Had it not
Southern Double Speak
Category: Living Our Lives
Though dyed-in-the-wool Westerners, we knew the Southern phrase “Bless your heart.” We knew it could be said with sincerity, but more often than not, it was dripping with sarcasm, and no one was actually blessing anyone. In fact, early in our migration to the South, an Alabama friend named Georgia (southerners really do love irony) explained it usually meant “God didn’t give you the sense He gave a rock!” By now, we’ve lived here long
North Carolina is packed with outdoor live music venues, which means our summers involve an Olympic-level routine of hauling camping chairs, water bottles, bug spray, snacks, extra snacks, emergency ponchos, and emotional fortitude. We do this all to enjoy an incredible range of talented musicians—and possibly a mild case of heatstroke. But summer in North Carolina also means weather that changes moods faster than a toddler who skipped a nap. And when the skies open