there are good things about returning home after a month in the western north carolina mountains. chief among them are things like air-conditioning and laurelwood pediatrics.

but mostly, i am sad that our montreat month is over. below is a little preview of the blog inspiration i’ve got up my sleeves for the coming days. but who am i kidding? i don’t have on sleeves. it’s too hot. the ideas are stuck to me like sweaty toddler legs grip a vinyl seat. nevertheless, here is the “amuse-bouche” as they say…

hiking

ridiculously good food and drink

barn dances, cloggers, and the fabulous red june band

a variety of textiles

stay tuned!

having been on the receiving end of some pretty unwanted, ludicrous, and rudely-delivered parenting advice, i vowed long ago not to volunteer my unsolicited “wisdom” to other parents. you will not find me approaching strangers in parking lots with unsympothetic words such as, “you need to put a hat on that baby!” in fact, my children convince me more and more every single day that, when it comes to mothering, i have no idea what i am doing.

but i must break my no-advice rule just this once to impart this sage tidbit:

if you go to a friend or relative’s house for dinner, and the other guests there happen to be members of a folky, old-time, blue-grass band, YOU SHOULD DEMAND A CONCERT ON THE SPOT. i mean it. don’t let these people eat until they play for you. it will be a spiritual experience. your children will be enthralled. the fiddle and harmonies and lyrics will make you cry. and weeks later, your heart will swell just as it did that night, as they played shyly at first from their seats on the couch and proudly in the end in front of the fireplace.

a few weeks ago, my parents hosted the members of red june in their home. will straughan, john miller, and natayla weinstein are friends of my brother, and they were in memphis for the folk alliance conference. they gave us such a gift, and now, i am giving it to you.

enjoy.