Catching up with Friends: A Half Dozen of My Favorite Blogs

I am taking a little time this morning to catch up with my blogging friends. Larry has got the fireplace going again this morning since there were good hot ashes from last night, so it's cozy and warm on this first snowy morning of the year.

What I like about blogging is that people take time with it, to write stories, descriptions, essays, and to post many photos. While I love Facebook, blogs are deeper and richer.

The snow will probably end soon, and all we will have from it is this little skiff, but it's enough for a starter. Folklore has it that the date of the first snowfall is how many days of snow we will have. Since it's just December 9, looks like we won't have much this year. Assuming, of course, that the folklore is correct!

So on to the blogs I've been reading this morning. I am so behind, but it's lovely to catch up with everyone.

Gretel posted a snippet of a poem as part of her post about the scrapbooks she used to make before Pinterest became the place for storing craft and art ideas. I really liked the images in this verse:

'Full Moon' (By Vita Sackville-West)

She was wearing the coral taffeta trousers
Someone had brought her from Ispahan,
And the little gold coat with pomegranate blossoms,
And the coral-hafted feather fan;
But she ran down a Kentish lane in the moonlight,
And skipped in the pool of the moon as she ran.

She cared not a rap for all the big planets,
For Betelgeuse or Aldebaran,
And all the big planets cared nothing for her,
That small impertinent charlatan;
But she climbed on a Kentish stile in the moonlight,
And laughed at the sky through the sticks of her fan.

Do stop by Gretel's blog and see her charming and so intricate felted animals. We got to see her studio and a bit about her process when we visited her in September while traveling in England. The skill and imagination needed are impressive.

Michelle does a Random Friday post, including links to all sorts of interesting people and places. Her photos are not to be missed--she has quite an eye. 

At Blind Pig and the Acorn, Tipper re-visited the Foxfire Christmas book and posted a touching story about giving, back in the days of World War II. The whole book is full of good stories and memories of mountain holiday celebrations--and Tipper's blog is just as good, a thoughtful look at Appalachian life now as well as historical posts, folklore, vocabulary, and so much more. 

MacQue let us know about her broken wrist in her most recent post. Quite the traveler, she writes about life in the South but also about her travels outside of the US. Here's my hopes that her recovery is quick and easy.

My cousin John in England writes an excellent blog filled with photos, history and lore of England. He is currently main caregiver for his mother so his rambles, as he calls them, are limited these days. 

Dave Tabler is the author of the intriguing blog, Appalachian History. His most recent post is about the haunting of the Betts House in Calhoun county, WV--a story I have researched and often tell. We visited the site of the home in the story, and di and a good bit of exploring in the area. You can read about my adventures here.

It's time to leave the fire and get busy. I made quite a mess yesterday getting decorations finished, preparing CDs to ship and pricing items for our booths so today I will be cleaning up behind myself.

Have a good day, friends!
Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Inspired by Joy

That's Joy of A Vintage Green Blog. She wrote a post about flowers in tiny jars and I was mesmerized. I poked about in my cabinets and cupboards to see what I could find to do the same, and found that I had a good assortment of cobalt blue bottles waiting to be hung on my bottle tree. They're not all small, but they worked.

Then I went outside to see what blooms I could find. My gardens are between blooms right now--the early bulbs like daffodils and tulips are finished, and the roses haven't started.

 But in the woods by the house I found wild cress (creasey greens when you cook and eat them as young plants) and blues. In the gardens, wygelia, barberry, apple blossoms and chives were blooming so that was the mix I worked with.

Thank you, Joy, for the joy!

Vintage Thursday: Auction Aftermath

I mentioned that we went to an auction last week, and boy did we come home with stuff. I've been sorting and organizing it ever since. Here's what it looked like after I'd sorted most of it:

Totes and boxes were already sorted here: some to trash, some to donation, some to store away, some for the booth, and some for eBay. And of course, there was a lot of washing up to do!

and the counters were pretty much full:

I loved this little lamp. It's staying here in my kitchen!

The clutter spilled over into the living room too...

and onto the kitchen table...

 and pretty much all over the house. I've got it mostly under control now, but guess what I did today?

Yes, I went junking again, this time with Ronda of The Pauley Principle blog! We had a great time in Gallipolis (pronounced gal-a-pole-EES) Ohio, searching out some fine treasures. Now I have more sorting to do tomorrow. The booth will get quite an infusion this weekend. I'll try to post pictures tomorrow. After I get my car unloaded, that is.

This cute spice set was an eBay prize. I bid $4 on it and won--amazingly, it came with free shipping. This will stay at my house too, mounted on the wall right beside the stove. I feel bad for the seller, though; they surely made no money at all on this and in fact probably lost on the shipping. That makes me feel guilty for getting this particular good deal.

I hope you've had some good finds this week!

A Nice Surprise in the Mail

Jack the Mailman comes to my door almost every day to pick up packages I am mailing to my eBay customers. Tuesday, however, he was bringing a package to me! I opened it right away, and what did I find?

Goodies! Straight from Ronda at the Pauley Principle! She had a giveaway on her blog, and I won. What a neat turnabout, isn't it? In this package, which was so prettily wrapped, was:

Bacon, already cooked and ready to eat!  And

a box of Bisquick to make pancakes fast and easy. But the best thing in the package--

Homemade maple syrup from Ronda's own farm! Her syrup is cooked outside over a wood fire so it has a unique, smoky flavor. I had to taste a little on my finger and oh my! It's delicious and quite a remove from the "maple" syrup we buy at the store.

Thank you, Ronda! Your gift will make a special New Year's Day breakfast for us! And what a lovely way to start the new year, with a meal provided by a friend made through blogging!

Thank you, Ronda!

Sister Blogs

Two of my seven sisters are now blogging, and I wanted to share their blogs with you.

Judy (who is next youngest in age from me) owns Hidden Trails Stables, which is located at Lost River State Park in Mathias, West Virginia. She owns a string of 22 horses. That's a lot of babies to care for, and each one of them is exactly that, her baby. Judy is starting a series of posts about her horses, and I am going to enjoy getting to know them. Most of our family has ridden these horses during our family reunions in May and at other times of the year. The horses are gentle and easy to ride and love to have riders.

Hidden Trails also has a website with some great pictures, like these:

This photo is Spot, the horse Judy wrote about in her most recent blog:

Maggie started a blog last year about a quilt project she started. She planned to make quilts (from our mother's clothes) for each of us sisters. Mom loved pretty flowered fabrics and after she passed away we hated to part with her things. So Maggie took them and last year embarked on her project. Anyone who quilts knows it is not easy. Maggie is learning as she goes and sharing her thoughts about quilting and other things in her life as she works. She doesn't post frequently but when she does her thoughts are well worth reading.

Here is a photo of her work, from her blog:

Pings!

It's not the sound of a bell, or of a computer test. It's a cookie.

I found this recipe on Holly Hall's blog--she'd posted a photo of an old label that had a great molasses cookie recipe on it. I printed it out, intending to make the molasses cookies but then I saw this recipe for Pings. Since I was going back to work the next day, I decided to make a treat to pack in my lunches.

The cookies made the transition a little easier for me, and were a bright spot in my day. They were fun to make too.

Pings mix the sharp tang of lemon mixed with the sweetness of coconut for a crunchy on the outside-soft on the inside cookie that tingles taste buds and soothes the sweet tooth. These would be good summertime cookies, or you could dye the coconut by shaking it in a bag with food coloring to make pretty Easter or Christmas cookies.

The recipe called for finely grated coconut which I didn't have; I think the cookies would be even better with finer coconut, however. I also mixed coconut into the dough because I mis-read the recipe--I would do that again on purpose.

Holly's blog, Mama Says Vintage, is a trip back in time to the 50's when women cooked at home and sewed. She offers vintage photos, recipes and lots more in a well put-together blog that is always interesting to read. Stop by and say hello--I bet you stay a while longer browsing her posts.

Friends in Far Places

When I started blogging, I knew little about it. I did not know anyone else who had a blog or even how to find other bloggers. I just knew I wanted to keep an online journal and blogging seemed like an easy way to do that.

As time passed, I discovered others out there writing about some of the same things that interested me. I found Tipper at Blind Pig and the Acorn writing about her Appalachian roots; I found Small Pines writing about his desire to escape New York City for the quiet of the Adirondack mountains; I found Suzanne at Chickens in the Road discovering what it is like to live on a small farm in West Virginia; I found Becky at Twisted Fencepost writing about life in her rural area and occasionally about her West Virginia heritage. I found Dave at Appalachian History, sharing historical documents and rare stories. I found Glanbrydan's weblog and Lee and Rowan and the Weaver of Grass in the England and Wales. And I found Susan in Ireland.

Susan's blog instantly attracted me. Her witty style, droll humor and frankness combined with her ability to neatly target insights that startled me at the same time they had me laughing and nodding my head in recognition made me an instant fan. I've been following her writing for two years and still find it as fresh and surprising as I did when I first stumbled on her posts. Life in Ireland isn't all green men in tights and beer (although maybe there are more green men in tights visible when there's more beer). It's much like life in these states--trying to make a living, care for children, deal with bad weather, get published... (Well, the last might not be on everyone's list, but for bloggers it seems to be a goal for most of us.)

One day when I opened her blog I saw a muddy river that immediately said 'West Virginia' to me. Was Susan in my state? She was, it turned out. A few months later she was back again and this time we were able to meet her and her family when they came for a visit to my house. It was more fun than reading her blog, and that's saying a lot.

Sometimes people question the value or depth of online friendships. Can you really get to know someone well if your only means of doing so never or seldom includes face to face meetings? I am here to tell you--yes, you can. For almost 15 years I have been a member of Storytell, an online storytelling group. I've met well over a hundred members over the years, have stayed at their homes or had them stay at mine. Our friendships are real and abiding. The same kind of friendship developed with Susan.

So when I shared my terrible news about my son here, I knew it was a community of friends who would read and respond. Who would know what devastation such a death could bring and who offered shoulders and words of comfort.

The other day Susan wrote a post titled Inspiration and Ford-itude about our internet friendship and once again her insights--this time about me and my family--caught my breath.

Thank you, my friend. When we meet again in person, I will be looking for that big hug. And there might possibly be a bit of beer (or wine) to share along with our stories.

A Christmas Day Surprise

Do you ever get one of those surprises that just makes your day?

The phone rang Christmas morning and I answered it, expecting it to be one of my sons or perhaps one of my sisters on the line.

Instead, it was the creator of the blog Chinese Folktales, Fred Lobb, calling to wish me a Merry Christmas. It was a pleasure to hear his voice and be able now to read his blog with his voice in my mind.

If you have not visited Fred's blog, take a minute to stop by. Fred translates stories from the Chinese and most are stories that are new to me. What intrigues me most is that these tales do not necessarily wrap up tidily, or at least it seems that way to my Western mind. So the reader is left to decide if right did indeed triumph (and even more interesting, what is right?) or if the "hero" really is that, or something more complicated.

Then there are the proverbs (Fred posted a new group of them just recently). Anyone who's read my blog for a while knows how much I like folk sayings, and the Chinese have a wealth of them apparently. Like this one, from his recent post: "Reputation is to people what bark is to trees. (Both reputation and bark protect and insulate their respective hosts.)"


As a storyteller, I appreciate the stories; as a folklorist and librarian, I like the citations to sources and other information about the stories and folklore posted at Chinese Folktales. Much of what we find online is unsourced and therfore (in my opinion) not reliable information. When I read Fred's blog, I know he's done his homework.

Thank you, Fred, for the great blog and the Christmas surprise! I look forward to another year of good stories and interesting posts at your blog.

Eggs, Kate and Quilts

Tonight's post is really a mishmash of several unrelated things; maybe after writing it I will suddenly see the connections, but I pretty much doubt it.

There is the issue of eggs. Lots of them. No, this isn't all the eggs currently in the house--there's another basket on the table. I didn't mean to have so many chickens, but someone gave us 14 new ones, we already had 15 new ones and 8 old ones and now we have a LOT of eggs. If someone would remember to put a note on the bulletin board at work, she could probably sell all she wanted. But does she ever remember? No, she doesn't.

So we have eggs: boiled, scrambled or fried for breakfast, egg salad for lunch, and sometimes even omelet or egg wraps for dinner. We have brown eggs, light tan eggs, cream-colored eggs, blue eggs and green eggs. Big eggs and little eggs. Enough eggs to meet the needs of seven families, I'm pretty sure. This Sunday I'll be experimenting with freezing them. Fresh eggs keep a long time in the fridge and I will need plenty for baking season, but seriously...this is a LOT of eggs.

Next, I've added several new blogs to my blogroll. Check them out to meet some guaranteed interesting people. Especially my granddaughter's new blog, The Adventures of the Everyday. Kate is 15 and her thoughts about life are worth reading at any age. Especially her latest blog on gossip. Real truths there. (Not that I'm prejudiced or anything..). Kate is featured on the cover of my new CD Beyond the Grave.

Last is something that is not so fun or funny. It was something I saw in the second-hand store. In the linens section was a little hand-tied quilt, mostly done in pinks and floral fabric. I picked it up because I am always drawn to quilts. On the back in permanent marker it said, "To Chloe from Gramps, 2008."

I don't know who Chloe is, or who Gramps is, but why was that little quilt in the second-hand store only one year later? Did Chloe accidentally leave it behind when her mother was shopping? Did her mother decide Chloe was too old for Gramps' pink quilt and give it away? Other not-very-happy scenarios come to mind, but I'd rather not even go there. Gramps had to be a special guy to be making a little quilt like that. Surely the child would loved what he made for her.

So I am clinging to the belief that Chloe dropped her quilt, and her mother will be back looking for it frantically. Yes, that has to be the explanation. Anything else is just too sad.

Good News from Writing Friends

Recently many friends have shared good news happening in their artistic lives:

Eric Fritzius, who produced the podcasts with me a few weeks ago, will have one of his plays onstage at StoFest in Wheeling this weekend. For information about the festival, go to The WV Writers blog. Eric continues to produce podcasts featuring West Virginia's writers so be sure to check the blog often for new episodes.


Janet Smart, a member of my writing group Appalachian Wordsmiths, has a story included in the anthology Christmas Traditions: True Stories that Celebrate the Spirit of the Season. The book is available on Amazon.com and other sites. Janet was also recently accepted as a children's columnist for Two Lane Livin' so look for her first article in the October issue. And don't forget to check out her blog, Writing in the Blackberry Patch.







Another writing group member, Lois Casto, has a new book in print. Titled Bequest for Nathan, this book is the second in Lois' series about the Bandelow family. Azariah's Legacy, the first in the series, was published by Headline Books. You can read an interview with Lois online here.








Max Price learned recently that one of him poems will be included in the new book called Coal Country: Rising Up Against Mountaintop Removal. Max's poem was also included in Coal: An Anthology. Max is also a member of Appalachian Wordsmiths.

The film documentary of Coal Country has been opening to large crowds and good reviews. I hope to see it soon. The book is exciting two ways for me: Max's poem will be in it, and the book was authored by my friend Shirley Stewart Burns, wife of blogger Matthew Burns of Appalachian Lifestyles. Shirley also wrote the critically acclaimed Bringing Down the Mountains.

Matthew was featured this past Sunday on Dave Tabler's Appalachian History blog's podcast. Matthew's blog provides first-person history of the Pendleton County region of West Virginia, and includes folktales, ballads, family stories and folklore. You can still hear the podcast, so go listen if you want to hear some good storytelling.

Storyteller Lorna Czarnota has a new book hitting the shelves this week: Legends, Lore and Secrets of Western New York.

I am sure there are other friends I should have included. I am happy to know that so many are doing such good work, getting their work published and getting the recognition they deserve.

Congratulations to all!

Friendly Faces from Over the Sea

Sometimes Internet "virtual" friends become real, flesh-and-blood friends. My first experience with this was when I joined the Storytell listserve in 1996. I was a brand new storyteller and a friend told me about a group that talked via email about storytelling. It was an amazing concept.

Now, 13 years later, I have hundreds of storytelling friends all over the US and several other countries because of Storytell. We meet in person at conferences, stay at each other's homes, collaborate on projects and grieve and celebrate life events together.

About two and a half years ago, I started this blog. I've met a few of my readers, and this weekend had the grand opportunity to meet one from across the Atlantic.


How amazing! There she is--Susan from Ireland and Stony River Farm blog--on my front porch! Susan and her family have been in West Virginia this summer, but the summer almost slipped by before we had a chance to get together.

When I called her to set up the visit, the conversation took off as if we'd just talked yesterday. And when she arrived, zoom! We were off again. I'm pretty sure somewhere in the mists of ancestral time we must be related because she felt like a sister. I'm positive she'd fit right in with my seven other sisters. Something about that sense of humor...

What did we do? We ate, lots of food. We talked. We looked at my (by now pitiful) gardens, the chickens and turkeys. We took a ride in the truck to Twin Rocks, and I think Larry did his level best to pitch us all out of the back of the truck as he tore across the ridge. Okay, maybe he didn't go any faster than usual, but it sure feels different when you're perched on a spare tire or a five-gallon bucket in the open back of a rocking four-wheel-drive truck. (I think Susan got lots of speed-blurred photos that might look fine to the inebriated in a pub somewhere.)

Then we talked some more. I thought she was funny online, but I can tell you she's even funnier in person. Her little ones chased lightning bugs, gathered eggs, played with the dogs, explored the house, and got filthy, seriously dirty. (I'd pitch that little shirt, Susan!). Her older daughter who will soon be in college was enchanting.

Susan brought me pint canning jars from the basement of their summer house (bless you!) and we sent her home with apple butter, pickles and a copy of The History of Harrison County (where her summer house is located).

The only problem was that the visit was so short, and she'll be back in Ireland before long. There's always next time, I suppose. And online conversing.

If you haven't visited Stony River Farm blog, you've missed a treat. For writers, Susan offers links to many potential places to get published. I have learned much about parenting autistic children and feel humbled by what I've learned. I have laughed about her adventures and misadventures living in a remote, stone cottage where laughter is a frequent feature and comic disaster a common visitor. For all of us, Susan offers a peek at her life, a window on her wild imagination and some just plain good writing. Stop by her blog--you'll see what I mean.

Jaime's Blog

If you have a few minutes, do visit my daughter-in-law Jaime's blog.

Her recent posts about a fishing trip to an abandoned brickmaking town called Hammond are just fascinating--great photos of old buildings, rocks and the river. There's plenty of history there too.

And then there is that sexy tractor...

And recipes for making homemade seasonings, too.

You really do need to pay her a visit!

Gifts from Friends

This weekend I received two special gifts from online friends.

Those from West Virginia or familiar with some of its paranormal history will recognize the red-and-green fellow below. He has nothing to do with Christmas despite his coloring. He came without warning into our midst, and no one knows where--or if--he left. He is the Braxton County Monster, or the Flatwoods Monster, that I referred to in my last post.

How did this little guy come my way? The answer to that goes back to about 1997. I won one of these statues as a conference door prize and I loved it. I thought perhaps I'd take it with me storytelling sometime. Time passed and I never did use the statue. In a fit of cleaning out, I decided to donate the statue and a book about the Flatwoods incident to the WV Writers Conference in 2005 to use as in the silent auction.

Of course I came to regret that decision. Two years later I was sorry I'd let it go but the deed was done.

Enter Jason (his blog is listed in my blogroll--Words from the Mountains). Jason has done much research on West Virginia ghosts and paranormal events and has a good website on the topic at West Virginia Spectral Heritage. We were talking about the Flatwoods mystery at WVU Mountaineer Week and he said he had two of them and I could have one. Ah, joy!

This weekend was the first time I'd seen Jason since our discussion, and he remembered to bring the statue. Now it is back in my home and I smile every time I look at it. Of course, the creature seen by Mrs. May looked nothing like this representation--this one was created by someone else and based vaguely on her description.

The second gift had to make me happy, since it came from Happy, Texas. Laura ran a contest on her blog, and I was a lucky winner. I had no idea what I'd won until the envelope came yesterday.

Inside the envelope was: a lovely handwritten note from Laura (thank you, Laura!), a bumper sticker from Happy, Texas (very cool) and a handmade bottle cap necklace. I like the message on the cap: Keep Life Simple.

In her note Laura said she made the necklaces as Christmas gifts and they've become a small cottage industry. I bet teenagers love them. I know I'll have to guard mine against a few granddaughters! I like the card that was in with the necklace, too--"Handcrafted in Happy." If you're interested in the necklaces, visit Laura's blog.

Thank you to both of my friends! You made me smile all day today, just remembering your generosity.

New Additions to My Blog List

You may have noticed a few new additions to my bloglist on the right. I try to read many blogs because I find people fascinating--bloggers from all over the country and a few from the British Isles are on my list and I love to read what everyone's doing, or just look at their photos. I think you will enjoy these places:

Country Whispers is down-home. She posts recipes and notes about life in West Virginia in one of the small communities that make the northern panhandle one of my favorite places to visit. The history of glassmaking, steel and the Ohio River combine to create a place with many ghosts of days gone by, and a place where people today are finding new ways to live and succeed in the lush valley they call home.



My good friend Jason finally decided to move his blog from Tripod to Blogger, and I am glad he did because I wanted better access to his writing and photos. Jason is the creator of the WV Sprectral Heritage website, so those of you into ghosts really need to visit there. His new blog focuses on his unique family history and renovation projects at his new old house in Morgantown.



Lost Stones is one of the most peaceful places I visit online. Her simple photos of her rural Wales and elegant, spare text provide respite from our hectic world. Stop by there whenever you need a rest.

Favorite Blogs: Some Recent Great Posts

I try to keep up with a lot of blogs and sometimes get behind in my reading. As I've been catching up, I found some posts that I must share because they are just so good:

At Glanbrydan's Weblog, she's cooking up some delicious potato-leek soup. If you have never tried it, you've missed out on a good, good soup. I enjoy reading her descriptions of the many different pies they make, her gardening plans and other things that go on in a country cottage in England.

Susan at Stony River Farm always cracks me up, but her post about her family's World War II experience made me laugh, cry and hold my breath in suspense all at the same time. She is a brilliant writer, chatty, informative, funny, tender and so good at connecting with her readers. Her blog is a bright spot in my day.

Terry Thornton at Hill Country of Monroe County made me laugh in pain and agreement with his post about those "word verification" things so often encountered when trying to post a comment on a blog. His blog is always thoughtful, well-written and surprising.

I hope you enjoy these blogs as much as I have. I have only put a dent in the reading catch-up, and there are so many other posts to share with you. I need a few more hours in my days.

Incredible Library Mural

Friends, you have to visit Rachel's blog and see the fantastic mural she painted at her local library. It's not too far from me and I plan to see it in person soon.

Rachel's other artwork is amazing too--see the Klimt-inspired tree.

One of the joys of the Internet is finding such surprises, and even better is when they are close by.

I'm a Featured Blogger on BlogHer!

I don't know how they choose people, but tonight as I was browsing the topics on BlogHer, I saw my profile on the right as a "Featured BlogHer." How cool is that!

If you haven't visited BlogHer, take a look. It's a site for women, about women and covers just about anything of interest to women. I enjoy reading the political posts especially, even when I don't agree. The wide range of viewpoints is what makes the site so refreshing.

Thank you, BlogHer!

Recent Blog Posts You Need to Read

Sharing some great writing by my blog friends:

Robbyn at Homesteading the Back Forty listed so many ways to use citrus rinds I was astounded! Who would have thought you could do all that with something you'd throw away?

(Something I like to do with oranges is to slice them, dry the slices, then hang on a piece of jute string in the window as a suncatcher. You can add other things to the string like a bunch of dried lavender, cinnamon sticks, etc and drape from one side of the window to the other like a swag. It's very pretty.)

Matthew at AppalachianLifestyles blog had a fun riddle contest recently. Stop by and see how well you do with his riddles, and be sure to read the post about the Haunted Halloween--it's a true-to-life description of old-time Halloween fun in the backcountry of West Virginia.

At From My Homestead, you will be amazed, as I am, at the frugalness and simplicity of the way of life described. These are not pioneer people, these are people who live simply and within their limited means, and in the process have developed a peaceful relationship with their home and world. Sallie's post on selecting cast iron cookware is beautiful-as is her blog.

My storytelling friend Ellouise recently lost her mother. Following her journey through her mother's last days was heartbreaking and heart-filling at the same time. Any of us who has lost a parent will understand the words in this post. Having others who can share their thoughts--and grieving--with us helps us understand the true depth of love that we all share for those we love.

The German Blessing

Wrapped in plastic and hard to see, but here is the German blessing embroidery I will give to Matthew (who often leaves comments on my blog) tomorrow. Be jealous--we're going to lunch together and I am seriously looking forward to it!

Check out his blog for stories of growing up in a remote area of West Virginia, complete with old-time photos.

One Family's Story of Ike

To get a sense of what it feels like to be hit with hurricanes over and over, you must read Bayou Woman's blog. Before the hurricanes, I was a regular reader, fascinated by the lifestyle of this woman. She has her Captain's license, is the mother of 4 (or is it 5) children, is a passionate advocate for the coastal wetlands, and goes fishing and messes about with 'gators (with a camera anyway).

Bayou Woman's photography of the bayou she loves is stunning; her pictures of the aftermath of Ike are heartbreaking. If you do nothing else this weekend, take a minute to go to her blog and offer a few words of encouragement to this brave heart.