Crackerberries

We’ve been counting down the days to vacation—not because we have any big plans, but because we’re ready for a little time to rest, relax, and get a break from our normal jobs.It’s more of a stay-cation than a vacation, and if I’m being completely honest, our “to-do” list looks a whole lot more like work than rest and relaxation.But we do what we do.We thought maybe we’d actually get to sleep in…

 I was looking at the stats and saw that this post had some views this week. It was originally posted 10 years ago for the A-Z Challenge in April. It seemed fitting to share it again because it is that time of year when Beers and BBQ’s happen and it just moved me so I’m hoping maybe it will move you too. “The beers’ on ice, the tea is extra sweet and the grill is smoking. Plenty of burgers, hot…

Changing names and identifying details to protect the innocent—and perhaps the guilty—because the real story here isn’t about one family. It’s about a danger that can reach any of us.There are some phone calls that change the entire mood of a day.This was one of those calls.It was early in the morning, and I was already running on very little sleep. We had just returned from our morning walk, and…

This morning, coffee in hand, I sat down to journal and found a sticky note staring back at me:Blog idea: What we accept vs. what is standard.And just below it, another thought:Personal standards vs. company standards.Now, that’s a sermon waiting to happen.Every evening, Tall Cool ☺ne and I share our day—the things that happened, the conversations we had, and whatever else is going on at our…

The past few days have been a whirlwind around Tall Cool ☺ne and me, and truth be told, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Around here, life has a funny way of making plans for us, and most of the time those unexpected plans turn into the best stories. It all started Saturday with the hopeful adventure of looking at what might have been our next home. Now, it really was a cute little place with…

It was 3:00 a.m.Sleep had once again decided it had better places to be. The older I get, the more my brain seems to believe the middle of the night is the perfect time to hold a staff meeting. Thoughts. Ideas. Questions. Before I can finish writing one down, three more are standing in line, tapping their feet, waiting their turn.Tall Cool ☺ne laughs and tells me I’ve got a circus spinning inside…

That’s my mom right in the center and she’s still doing that picking at her face. Most mornings, I’d rather pour myself a second cup of coffee, settle into my favorite chair, and write another chapter of whatever story has captured my heart. But when you’re married to the Tall Cool ☺ne—who missed his calling as a drill sergeant—we’re lacing up our shoes before the sun even thinks about…

When the Chain of Command Becomes OptionalNames and identifying details have been changed to protect everyone involved—whether innocent, guilty, or somewhere in between.Every workplace has a chain of command for a reason. It’s more than boxes on an organizational chart. It’s about accountability, fairness, and respect. The moment someone decides those rules don’t apply to them, the cracks begin…

The little things that keep us close when miles keep us apart.Friday mornings are my favorite kind of quiet. With a little extra time before the day gets rolling, I figured I’d spend it doing something I genuinely enjoy—writing a blog post. I’ve managed to keep Crackerberries active since the A-to-Z Challenge back in April, and I’m pretty proud of that. (If I don’t give myself a little pat on the…

Funny how one thought can send you hopping down an entirely different trail.I was writing a letter to my cousin, Wayne-O, and happened to mention a zucchini recipe he and his wife make. Ironically, it’s the very same recipe my Grammie Averill, used years ago. One memory led to another, and before long I found myself thinking about a much more pressing issue around our house…The rabbits.Not just a…

Aging Gracefully with a Cheerful HeartSometimes I stand in front of the mirror,wondering where to begin.The years have quietly gathered,and somehow I became one of the storiesI used to listen to.The freckles that once danced across my facehave settled into the soft blotches of time.Roadmaps of blue trace my legs,each vein a reminderthat every mile has been traveled for a reason.My memory isn’t…

The SwingThere are some places in childhood that never really leave us. For me, one of those places was a simple wooden swing hanging in my grandparents’ yard.When I was a little girl, my sister and I spent most of our summers at the home of our grandparents, Mimi and Papa, in Norway, Maine. They were the kind of grandparents every child deserves—the kind who made ordinary days feel…

There’s something admirable about people who go above and beyond. They do more than what’s expected, not because they have to, but because they take pride in doing a job well. Most of us appreciate those folks. We thank them, praise them, and sometimes even come to depend on them.And maybe that’s where the trouble begins.There’s nothing wrong with giving your best effort. If you’re going to do a…

There are weekends when life hands you a lesson disguised as a lawn mower.Last weekend, our faithful mower officially “shit the bed.” For those who have never heard that, that’s New England language for it’s dead and not coming back. Not exactly the way we planned to spend a Saturday.Tall Cool 😎ne spent the entire morning—and a good part of the afternoon—trying to resurrect it. After enough…

I swear, sometimes I think I write in my sleep.This morning I woke up and found a sticky note attached to my monitor. I have absolutely no recollection of writing it. The note simply said: “Flossing teeth and confessing sins has to be intentional.”Now, where that thought came from is beyond me, but since I promised myself I would try to post weekly, I figured I’d give it some thought.The Flossing…

Howdy Folks,Did you know a Blue Moon is the second full moon that occurs within a single calendar month? It only happens about once every two and a half years. That rare event is where we get the familiar saying, “once in a blue moon”—something that happens very infrequently.Well, today I’m thinking about those things we’ve always said we might do once in a blue moon. Sometimes life surprises us,…

This morning felt a little different. I sat with my coffee, journal open, enjoying a slower start to the day. Tall Cool ☺ne had a class this morning, so we skipped our usual 5 a.m. walk. Instead, I decided to sit quietly and write for a bit. I’m working on a new project, but it’s good to mix in a little fun with the serious stuff once in a while.As I sat there thinking, my mind drifted back to…