Coloring is for grown-ups too!

The Friday Photo July 10, 2015 When was the last time you colored something? Not with a child, but for yourself? Coloring, as I have rediscovered since stretching my comfort level at Life Is a Verb Camp last fall, is relaxing and fun. Susan Paul Johnson, an educator and artist, managed to teach this self-proclaimed  “not an artist” … Continue reading "Coloring is for grown-ups too!"

Reading your fortune

The Friday Photo July 3, 2015   Lunch today was supposed to be sandwiches and watermelon on some river shoals after paddling about an hour. The weather didn’t cooperate, so we drove back to town for Chinese, and of course, fortune cookies. 

Read Paragraph Six

I am reposting this post written by attorney Jessica Eaves Mathews. The sixth paragraph, which begins with, ” In fact,” makes several important points. Jessica Eaves Mathews: I say this with sincere love to my many friends who are passionate fundamentalist Christians who believe that the SCOTUS’s decision yesterday on marriage equality is an abomination … Continue reading "Read Paragraph Six"

Five couples on a cold Janaury afternoon

A look back at a January 2013 post, Being present

Sleeping with the Enemy

The Friday Photo June 26, 2015 Not a photo this week, but a fond remembrance, in two parts, of a campaign where a picture and few words told the story (It won a national marketing award for “Best Villian.” I wish I could claim the idea as my own.)

The Fat Lady is looking through her sheet music

After 8.5 years, a lot of questions about Plant Washington, Cobb EMC, and Cobb Energy, a for-profit company created by Dwight Brown while he ran the state’s largest electric co-op, have been answered after a forensic audit conducted for Cobb EMC was released by Channel 2 News in Atlanta last week. (A forensic audit is … Continue reading "The Fat Lady is looking through her sheet music"

When there is nothing funny to say

The Friday Photo June 19,2015 Jon Stewart got it right, again, last night. It is better than any photo I’ve got. The Huffington Post includes the video footage.  

The waiting begins

The Friday Photo June 12, 2015 My mother is having complex surgery today. The waiting has begun.

The language of love

The Tonys are one award show worth watching, and I tuned in for a little while on Sunday night. This ad by Wells Fargo, which aired between the incredible theatre performances, is worthy of an award in its own right. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxDsx8HfXEk&feature=youtu.be Conservative Christian leader Franklin Graham, took to Facebook to announce he would move the … Continue reading "The language of love"

Working the Circulation Desk

The Friday Photo June 5, 2015   A Little Free Library is a great way to teach children about being part of a community. Both of my grandchildren took books home to read (and helped add more young reader books to the box).

Two boxes, 8.5 years

The Friday Photo May 29,2015 We’re downsizing today. These two boxes are filled with documents spanning 8.5 years (and counting) of some of the most difficult, rewarding, and meaningful work I will ever do.

We have failed our heroes

Today is Memorial, or Decoration Day, a day of pause begun decades ago for decorating the graves of Civil War soldiers. The long weekend is now dominated by stores holding big sales, high school graduations, blockbuster movie openings, and the unofficial beginning of summer.  Today media outlets will provide us with beautiful photos of thousands … Continue reading "We have failed our heroes"

We’ve seen the photos

The Friday Photo April 17, 2015 Twenty years ago we saw heartbreaking photos of heroes and the injured escaping from the Alfred P Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Instead of pouring over the pictures from that awful day, listen to stories of survival told by Christopher Nguyen and his mother Phuong, and PJ Allen … Continue reading "We’ve seen the photos"

Where’s The Friday Photo?

I didn’t post a photo last Friday because I didn’t think I had anything that was worth posting. What I did think about a good bit on Friday, and other days, was about putting Rural and Progressive on hiatus to figure out if I should continue. It takes me A LOT of time to crank … Continue reading "Where’s The Friday Photo?"

Among cousins

The Friday Photo April 3, 2015 Checkers is a universal language,

The groaning board

The Friday Photo March 27, 2015 My mother-in-law died peacefully this morning before breakfast.Homemade food began arriving in time for lunch.This photo captures most of what arrived after 5:00 pm. In the rural South no one ever wonders what they’ll eat when they have to plan a funeral.

Does Charlie love you?

One of the best posts here was written by my friend Man Martin (he corrected the Declaration of Independence). Man usually writes for laughter, but this essay demonstrates his skills go far beyond humor. Please read it and then share it.

Plays with matches

The Friday Photo March 20, 2015 This pendant was made for me by Life is a Verb Camper Jen Land. I wear it everyday as a reminder to be invested and to speak up. And to choose carefully when using matches.

It finally arrived!

The Friday Photo March 13, 2015   My husband has put thousands of miles on the bike he has owned for over 30 years. After years of looking at bikes and saving for a new one, his arrived earlier this week. I don’t know anything about bikes except to say this one is beautiful.   … Continue reading "It finally arrived!"

Drinking the Kool Aid

The Friday Photo March 6, 2015 This is a benchmark birthday for my husband (55 years old in a few days). He decided he would drink some Kool Aid.