Published on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 by Katherine She knew this weekend was her last chance to soak in the ocean’s healing salt waters.  A nip in the air foretold a change in the weather that she refused to acknowledge.  But Mother Nature, being fickle in her ways, blew in a storm that prevented that last final swim.  So she took solace in the warm sun beating down on her face.  In the salty ocean air.  I...

Published on Sunday, September 12, 2010 by Katherine I haven’t said much over the past few weeks because I wasn’t ready to talk.  Today I need to get it out.  Because today I had to put my puppy to sleep. Before we met her, Dottie was thrown over a pound fence in Georgia.  Half of her fur was gone and she had cuts all over her body.  When I adopted her they drove her all the way to Virginia for us. I dis...

Published on Tuesday, August 31, 2010 by Katherine Ahhhh, Earl.  Your name rolls off the tip of my tongue like a salt and vinegar cricket.  You are something I really don’t want but apparently just might taste. Here in Hampton Roads we are watching Hurricane Earl with great interest.  Will it hit us?  Will it not?  And even worse… THE BEACH HOUSE.  My mother’s house in the Outer Banks.  The one with ...

Published on Saturday, August 21, 2010 by Katherine The drive last night to Corolla was a long one.  My tire light came on, dinner took 45 minutes and I had to stop and get gas.  But at 10:00 we were finally pulling in to the driveway of the beach house. With our usual excitement, we opened the doors and took in the distinct smell of the salty ocean air. My 17 year old carried the cooler upstairs while I opened ...

Published on Tuesday, June 29, 2010 by Katherine Yesterday I was moved to tears on the beach from one of the most beautiful sights I have ever laid eyes on.  Mere words cannot begin to paint the picture I was blessed to have seen. Monday morning we were saddened to hear that our warm glistening ocean dropped twenty degrees over night.  At a freezing 54 degrees, swimming was now out of the question. So my dau...

Published on Monday, June 28, 2010 by Katherine If you could only see this moon.  Full with a deep orange hue, slowly rising over the dark ocean water. Just a few days ago I was at home crying, overwhelmed at just how out of control things have gotten.  At how I am so behind on bills that I know I will never catch up.  At how I am driving a dangerous car, at how I can’t afford to send my kids to Catholic ...

Published on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 by Katherine Three people were murdered last night, a teen died in a car accident, the BP spill is spreading and 26 abused animals were taken out of a local home this week and are currently in cages at the pound. And this is only the teaser for my local station’s full half hour program.  THAT is why I don’t watch the news. I remember my father having the news on when ...

Published on Thursday, June 17, 2010 by Katherine Back in April my daughter and I bought seeds and plants with no rhyme or reason.  We planted Willy Nilly and stepped back to see what would happen. Here are the preliminary results... BEFORE: AFTER: My April picture has been a great help to me.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve stood by my garden pondering, “What the heck IS that thing!”  Look...

Published on Monday, June 14, 2010 by Katherine That would be MY dog.  And that man would be the vet.  An amazing vet at an amazing clinic, Pet Care Veterinary Hospital of Tidewater.  I would never trust my pets to anyone else! [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="261" caption="Off to the Vet!"][/caption] Dottie was thrown over a pound fence late at night in Georgia.  She was covered in scars fro...

Published on Sunday, May 9, 2010 by Katherine Thank you to Carmen for this wonderful idea.  She interviewed her mother and posted it in honor of Mother's Day.  So last night my mom and I sat down for a fun and tear-filled interview.  Yes, those tears were mine.  Would you expect anything less? What is your earliest memory? That is easy.  My brother and I shared a room in the house we had at Coll...

Published on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 by Katherine I can tell you this.  It was hard growing up as a redhead.  Little boys and girls just don’t GET redheads.  We appear to have no eyebrows; we are sprinkled with freckles and stand out in a crowd with that orangey-red hair.  To not tease a redhead would be a waste, don’t you think? And tease they did.  “Freckle Face!”  “Carrot Top!”  “BOZO!” ...

Published on Friday, April 16, 2010 by Katherine This weekend will be an amazingly emotional, joyous, melancholy and gut wrenching weekend.  My heart and my mind will be twisted, turned and flippy floppied all over the place.  I am filled with so much joy, nervousness and anticipation that I can literally feel my heart in my throat as I write this post.  And the tears?  OH the TEARS.  All because I am one big f...