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at Congaree National Park
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all up in autumn
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Hello, friend!
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DO YOU FEEL, as I do, that you've been put through the wringer? That between the nasty of the election, all the ding dang hurricanes and wildfires and tornados, and the horrific and heartbreaking destruction in the beautiful Appalachians—that sometimes it's difficult to find your footing? To stand on sturdy ground? Over and over I find myself feeling undone and I try to remember Count your blessings. Give thanks. Stay forever mindful of the beauty and the helpers and the grace.
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SPEAKING OF. Dear friends who have their full time residence at our beloved Cats Mountain came to visit us in Columbia as a respite from the "all" of the Western North Carolina storm aftermath. In addition to many, many other complications, at the time they'd been 33 days without power and there's still no internet in sight. How happy Tim and I were to welcome them back to the land of electricity and WIFI and restaurants and people! We celebrated my birthday with a happy hour at Savage Craft Ale Works; dressed in costume for Halloween just to hang out with each other (and tell scary stories) right here at home; strolled Soda City and the Art Museum and walked the magnificent boardwalk at Congaree National Park. (Paul is a forester, so that was particularly interesting and fun.)
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Paul, Stacy, Cathy and Tim at Soda City Market
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AND THERE'S BOOK NEWS!
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The past couple of months have included a swirl of activity as my forthcoming novel, That Which Binds Us, continues to make its step-by-step way toward publication in June! Manuscript #6 (that's right, so far there have been six edits, each focused on a different aspect of the novel) is here in front of me AND IT IS FORMATTED AS IF IT IS AN ACTUAL REAL LIVE BOOK. What a thrill to see those pages! To see words I wrote! To feel the characters coming to life! I've also had a peek at the cover design and understand from the crew at Keylight Books that's something I'll be able to share with you very soon! WOOT!
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IT HAS BEEN a whole thing, these past few months, heavy and worrisome and filled with so much sad news. But also goodness, and kindness, and generosity. And love. I hope you have felt it, deep in your soul. Because you are loved, my friend. Truly and deeply loved.
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Wishing you every blessing as we make our way (quickly!) into the holiday season!
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Be Ready When the Luck Happens, by Ina Garten
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This memoir is just as good as you think it might be. I read via audiobook which I thoroughly enjoyed as Ina reads it. To join the chorus, I love you, Ina Garten!
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I love the comedian Leanne Morgan, and it was fascinating and fun to hear her story as she shared it on For the Love. Inspirational and funny—give this one a listen!
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Double this recipe and I promise you won't be sad about it. I made them yesterday for football, and I'm fixing to have one of these magical sandwiches in about 20 minutes!
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from the archives on THE DAILY GRACE
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About Hurricane Helene
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So many friends reached out in concern for us, for our beloved Western North Carolina getaway, for anything we can share about the people and places that have been ravaged by this unexpected natural disaster. Here's how it all unfolded in our lives, which—while scary and stressful—does not begin to compare with those who've lost so much. Still it seems a story worth telling.
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Our Sweet Stella on her "git" day, November 9, 2020!
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"The longer I live, the more deeply I learn
that love—whether we call it friendship or family
or romance—is the work of mirroring and
magnifying each other's light."
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-- James Baldwin, writer & activist
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