“Hiareth” is a difficult word to say unless you speak Welsh, and there is no direct translation. Lily Crossley-Baxter described it as “A blend of homesickness, nostalgia and longing… a pull on the heart that conveys a distinct feeling of missing something irretrievably lost.” I can’t say the word properly, but there are times when … More Between Hiraeth and Vgatenohv

We are blessed with more than just four seasons here in the Southern Appalachians. We’ve already had Winter, Fool’s Spring, and Second Winter this year, and now we are nearing the end of Spring of Deception. What follows next will be a brief Third Winter, and then, sadly, The Pollening. This is one of Tracey’s … More Spring of Deception

We have long conjectured that the primary function of modern media is twofold: to influence the movement of money from our bank accounts, and to act as a herding mechanism for our beliefs and behaviors. With this in mind, we embarked some time ago, here in our little home away, on a life altering journey … More A View From A Happier Place

“I like old things.” “Here’s a rock for you then,” said one of my friends who still has a sense of humor. While I might understand the affection a geologist could have for a particular rock, I prefer one with a connection to living memory. When I pick up one of our arrowheads, for example, … More Old Things

I was chatting with a friend recently. This was an actual friend, not a pixel “friend,” such as someone on Facebook you’ve never actually met, or might have known years ago but you never talk on the phone or sit across a table from one another. Such a person I would call a “pen pal,” … More Concerning the Practicum of Good Humor

I love this time of year in the mountains. Admittedly I could make that statement on any given day, but to those of us more suited to tranquility than bustle, the short pause between the holidays and the springtime return of tourists and part time residents is to be savored. Winter has its charms as … More The Means and Modes of Consumption

“The Road goes ever on and on, Down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, And I must follow, if I can…”  -J.R.R Tolkein  The word “sentimental” is sometimes wielded like a weapon. The dictionary describes a result derived from feeling rather than reason or thought. I welcome the … More Lonesome as a Train Whistle

We opted for a change this holiday season, and decided to spend some time in a place where the low temperatures in December are consistently double digits rather than the “not-nearly-enough-degrees” predicted for the mountains. When you travel during Christmas there is always a chance that Santa may not find you in your proper place, … More Notes From A Holiday Trek

Each year we come into the Christmas season led, or followed by every expectation on that scale from hope to dread. The needle is seldom stationary. Some of us compare our lives to the brightly colored images of merriment we see advertised and we find our own lives wanting. Some are filled with the spirit … More Why Christmas?

I was standing in line at the post office yesterday, and as a longtime resident of this area, feeling inconvenienced by the wait. Not too many years ago our town was very quiet in December, by comparison. I struck up a conversation with the gentleman in front of me. He was standing contentedly with a … More By Comparison