Some days there is nothing. It stretches out, bland, as I search my mind, shaking out books and folding blankets and fluffing pillows, like I could be searching for lost change. I am looking for the note I wrote to myself hours ago, when I thought, “when you sit down to write tonight, if you don’t have anything else, write about this.” But of course I didn’t write down my idea, that would be ludicrous! Surely I can remember something so simple!

It is no use patting my pockets, it is not there. It is not in the pile of receipts on the desk, or stuffed into a compartment of my pocketbook. I did not even whisper it to my dog.

The simplicity of my life must come as a surprise to some people, who couldn’t stay home if you pinned them to their couch like a rare butterfly specimen. Speaking of specimens, did y’all see where we will have two broods of locusts at the same time this year? Have the entomologists been looking forward to this for decades? Or did they just recently procure the data to predict it? I remember a major locust emergence as a child. I went to Uncle Dale’s and plucked them off his maple trees, entertained for hours on end. No, I wasn’t scared. Bugs don’t bother me. Snakes do. Typewriters intimidate me. House fires terrify me. But not bugs.

So today is my good friend Kay’s birthday. She counted it up, and this is the first year she’s been home on her birthday in over ten years. She’s usually at the gift show in Atlanta. Kay is so much fun. Y’all would love her, if you don’t already know her. We are at our shiniest over a couple of martinis, and we’re always garnering attention from fellow bar mates. “Can’t sit here and wish, gotta move on!” Yeah, we moved on, alright. “We stick out like two sore thumbs in here, but the food is good!” What a night! And her afraid we were going to jail because I was packin’ Annie. I’m ALWAYS packin’, I don’t know why she was surprised. Her only flaw is she rides Arabians! I can overlook her tardiness, but the Arab thing…..🤣🤣 So a BIG Happy Birthday to my fellow red headed friend! We shall ring it in when you return. I know it’s your busy time. What, 52 airplanes in 30 days? So glad you are one of my Co-op customers turned friend ❤️❤️ Don’t know what I would have done without you the last several years.

I came across a recipe for a lemon crème cake a few minutes ago and it’s pretty much all I can think about. Here’s the recipe in case one of y’all want to make it for me. I’m hoping if you click, it will show you the whole picture, because it looks cropped here on my screen.

I am procrastinating on reading my book. It sucks so bad. I honestly don’t know why I even borrowed it. It’s a Hallmark movie came to written form and blech. It is turrrrible. But it goes back tomorrow and I have 28% to go and I AM NOT A QUITTER.

At least I got my house cleaned and my porch swept today. It’s always good to have as much done as possible before a storm. Lots of people were without power yesterday and last night from the high winds and rain. I’m pretty fortunate, but I’m also not in the sticks.

Well, I’m gonna get back to the book, bad as I hate to. Then I can start something new. It’s a crying shame I’m two weeks into the new year and haven’t read not one book yet. But I’m working on it. And you know what they say….if you can’t find anything you like to read, write something yourself!

Love from Appalachia,

~Amy