Two Daughters

Last Friday afternoon, I stopped by our local grocery store to pick up a baguette and tomatoes—grape, slicing, and canned—for a soup-and-salad lunch I planned to make on Sunday after church. The checkout girl excused herself, saying she needed to run to the bank for...

Over the Sea to Skye

As we traveled through Scotland, listening to music selected by our tour guide Graham Bruce, I imagined this scene. The whiskey flowed and a band—fiddle and accordion—played lively tunes then quieted for a waltz. Partners paired up on the dance floor. Lovers pulled...

Cruel was the Snow

O, cruel was the snow that sweeps Glencoe And covers the grave o’ Donald O, cruel was the foe that raped Glencoe And murdered the house of MacDonald The tour bus driver navigated the one-lane, two-way roads through Glencoe, Scotland while our guide Graham Bruce...

Ditches

One morning last week, Keith and I loaded the bed of the truck with a shovel, rakes, bush cutter, gloves, leaf blower, and ear-covers. We headed down the mountain road to pick up where we left off the previous week. The road is our lifeline so we clean ditches twice...

Perfect

Have you ever had a ‘perfect’ waiter or waitress? “Mixed green salad? Perfect!” “Grilled salmon with capers? Perfect!” “Crème Brulee? Perfect!” Yeah, I know, ‘perfect’ is all about buttering up the customer for a larger tip.   I used to love being...