It seems so natural to me to write your name, yet it has been years since I have done so.

And so begins one of Ivy's many letters to her sister Silvaney in Fair and Tender Ladies, my latest obsession. The high school my husband and I (and nearly every other person I care about in the world) attended recently closed it's doors and while I have had my share of sadness about it the positive outcome was that because my mom was an employee of the school she was able to swipe some free books from the library...say it with me SCORE! I read the above-mentioned in 3 days and could not put it down, it makes me miss home. Even though I did not grow up on a mountain in isolation, I still fancy myself a kindred spirit to Ivy in so many ways. However this book has spoiled me because I have since tried to start 3 other books and can't get into any of them the way I did when I moved to Sugar Fork for a few days with Ivy.

I will be the first to admit I have not always been an avid reader, and I'm pretty picky. For most of my life I've been a trashy tv junkie. Name a housewife on Bravo and I could give you their E! true hollywood story. I always used them as my outlet from my mandatory reading and papers for school but now that I am no longer in a classroom (and missing it something awful) I am proud to say my reading has increased. I intend to read and re-read all of my history novels but I wouldn't mind a little trashiness in my books as well. So now I'm on the hunt for my next read.

Until I find it I have resorted to decorating my apartment, which causes me to curse more often than anyone would like. I now have a streaky hot pink wall in my living room that the liar of a woman at Wal-Mart assured me would be Cranberry Zing. My dear friends Sara and Kristen are probably laughing their as...I mean butts off at me right now because they know how much I loooove pink. Not only is it pink and streaky but I have run out and so am patiently awaiting the arrival of my husband with something that more closely resembles a color that doesn't make me want to throw myself off the balcony. In the meantime here is Wal-Mart's idea of a sick joke:



Thank God it's only one wall is all I can say.

Now I leave you with a little more Appalachian culture with some Folk Soul Revival:

Jesus Never Fails.