Last year I retired from a long career focused on the interests of others. My work was rewarding, of course, but it was directed outward and not inward, where my true passion lay dormant. So about five minutes after retiring, I found myself yearning to pursue my true passion of writing. To write about things that mattered to me, and that might be of interest to others. But I mostly yearned to write for myself and to reflect on the people, places and events that have comprised my life. By reflecting, I hoped to finally slow down and understand my life’s journey. A problem quickly surfaced. I …

When I was in college, I loved scheduling a home spa treatment. This was in the time before neighborhood nail salons and full service spas. And even if those merchants existed, I could not have afforded their services. So, about once every semester, I set aside several hours for a pampering session. It usually occurred right after mid-terms and was a reward to myself for surviving the halfway mark of the term. My pampering time left me feeling both energized and relaxed. I continued treating myself to home spa sessions as a young mother, though they were less frequent. Children demand much …

Moms spend most of their time caring for others and too often neglect their own needs. It is a common trap into which we fall from the moment the nurse hands us our swaddled newborn. For some mothers, escaping the house for “me time” is simply not an option. Child care may be unavailable, unaffordable or maxed out for moms who hold jobs outside the home. But there are still ways to escape, even for a few minutes, even in your own home. One of the most valuable things I did for myself as a young mother was to find a few moments of quiet time each day to write in a personal journal. And I …

Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you can’t take some time for yourself and head to our beautiful and beloved North Georgia mountains, especially if you return with newfound knowledge about a Southern Appalachian tradition practiced for generations by mountaineers and Cherokees before us. As a young girl growing up in Miami, my mother brought me to the North Georgia mountains for several summer vacations. I recall seeing rows of gourd bird houses hanging from tall poles as we passed farm houses along rural roads and being fascinated by these unusual objects that I soon learned were …

As much as I love my husband and son, it isn’t always easy living in a house with two guys. Oh, how I miss lace, florals and pastels. My men would prefer paper plates on special occasions, rather than my treasured Limoges china and crystal stemware. They just don’t get it. Over the years, I learned to serve hot dogs with a smile and to quit buying stuff like delicate spring greens and morel mushrooms. Yes, we moms from all-male households eventually find ourselves repressing our preferences as we accommodate our family members’ masculine interests. You know, monster trucks, televised sports, …

My late mother loved her backyard birds. She set out feeders, baths and houses year round and spent hours watching her feathered friends as they weathered each season. She actually built her own birdhouses and knew the proper dimensions and characteristics required for particular species. Until recently, I did not allow myself to slow down long enough to learn about and enjoy creating a bird feeding habitat in my own backyard. But now I am hooked! I still have much to learn about the different species of birds in our community, their dietary requirements and seasonal considerations. …

When my son was young, I would drag my husband and him to all sorts of events in which they had zero interest. I saw these outings as educational opportunities, as well as ways to spend time together as a family. But I failed to take into account our different entertainment preferences. Yes, my son tolerated just so many museums and historical sites before he eventually balked and demanded afternoons of miniature golf or go-kart racing. And my husband sheepishly agreed. So I ditched the bird watching, flower shows and art exhibits all together. For years, my recreational activities mirrored …

I spent close to 20 years working in downtown Atlanta, which means I traveled comatose on 1-75 along with thousands of other miserable commuters. Rain, sunshine and snow did not deter us from our required path. Oh, occasional road ice brought a reprieve, but not often enough. Now my math may be a bit off, but assuming I drove to my office at least 15 days each month, with an average commute time of three hours per day, I spent about 1.3 years in my car inhaling exhaust fumes and listening to really bad talk radio. By the time I arrived home each evening, I had very little energy left for …

When our son was young, Lewis and I were not always able to escape the house and parenthood to spend time with friends and each other. We lived within a tight budget and did not have access to reliable babysitters. We knew, however, the importance of setting aside some adult time each week. So we began inviting one or two other couples to our home on Saturday nights for food, conversation and card games. These gatherings soon became a fun routine to which we looked forward as the weekend rolled around. The secret was to keep it simple. After all, an escape should not involve a lot of work. …

Every October, the tiny town of Loachapoka, AL, with a population 170 or so, hosts Syrup Sopping Day, an event celebrating the history and demonstrating the traditional methods of making syrup out of sorghum and sugar cane. It’s a lot of fun, and there’s even a mule in a harness that walks in circles to grind the cane. Syrup Sopping Day is a big deal these days. More than 15,000 people attend and enjoy an afternoon of fall weather, arts and crafts, bluegrass music and lots of syrup. My late mother loved this community event and was a craft exhibitor for a couple of years before her health …

The strongest communities are those in which the citizens actively give back. That’s why I admire the Master Gardeners of Cherokee County. Coordinated by the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, Georgia Master Gardeners are well-trained volunteers who serve their communities in a variety of ways, but share a common goal of educating the public on the latest in research findings and techniques in gardening. Information regarding the volunteer activities of the Cherokee Master Gardeners is located on the UGA Cooperative Extension website. Browse the site and learn about the wonderful …

My mother had so many talents, including an ability to paint lovely pictures. She was never fully satisfied with her various still lifes and landscapes. But I think they are beautiful. As a young child, I would sometimes set up an easel by the window next to her and imitate her paint strokes, her mixing of colors. Unfortunately, I did not inherit one dab of her talent. Still, I love the idea of painting. I love the smells, the texture of the canvas, the feel of the brush in my hand. But I simply don’t know what to do next as I sit in front of that canvas and hold that brush.   Thanks to the …

Regular readers know how much I love my North Georgia mountains. And what better time to enjoy them than during these pleasant autumn days and evenings? We are fortunate to have so many beautiful state parks and historic sites within close proximity to Woodstock. Our Georgia Department of Natural Resources works hard to plan interesting seasonal activities at each of the parks, and this fall’s calendar of events has something for everyone. Mountain music tops the list of activities that interest me. I was first exposed to mountain music when my mother brought me to North Georgia as a little …

If you read this week’s Family Matters article, Playing in the Sprinklers, you know that I’m rediscovering my inner child these days. Like too many busy mothers, I forgot about her around the same time they placed my own infant child in my arms and life as a parent began. Being a mom continues to be the greatest blessing of my life. But it is easy to lose ourselves to the role, to forsake the pleasures we once found in the little things. We forget how to be girls. And that’s what led me to learn about fairy gardens. My friend Kathy recently mentioned a fairy garden and I was immediately …

My To Do list runneth over. I awoke the other day and faced the routine tasks of unloading the dishwasher, starting yet another load of laundry, folding linens and vacuuming the main floor. Then the need to sit down and pay bills, balance the checkbook and schedule various home repairs. Additional tasks haunted me. You know, the deep cleaning stuff– declutter the drawers and closets, wash the decorative dust collectors that sit high atop the kitchen cabinets, roll out the refrigerator and face the mess that lurks behind it. Then there was the list of errands. Pick up odds and ends at Kroger, …

Now that I’m older, my camping involves an air conditioned RV with satellite TV and really nice down comforters and pillows. But I was intrigued when I read about an upcoming opportunity to hit the woods for the weekend with other women who want to learn about conservation. Women for the Woods is scheduled for Sept. 10 and 11 at the Smithgall Woods State Park near Helen. This two-day, all women campout includes three daytime teaching sessions and a variety of other group activities. Choose from multiple teaching sessions to be held on Saturday, including archery, spin fishing, fly-casting, …

There are never enough hours in the day. And that is particularly true for moms! As the mother of a young child, I longed for one hour of time to myself. But sometimes I felt as though I would never again have even one minute of my own. Whenever my son was at school, I felt compelled to tend to the laundry, dishes or the thousands of other tasks that awaited my attention. Then, when he returned, I was out of energy and not up for much quality time with him. Moms, please don’t make that mistake. Now that the kids are back in school, take a mere hour or two to do something for you. It will make…

Last year I bought a really nice digital camera right before a family vacation. Picture-taking is a lot more fun now that I have the right equipment. But I've concluded that I am not utilizing my camera’s full potential. Yes, I have this really cool apparatus with lots of bells and whistles, but I keep it set on auto pilot. Certainly using all those additional knobs and dials would yield better photographs. I am also hopeless when it comes to downloading, organizing and sharing my photos. In fact, I recently deleted--by accident--photos of a 2008 cruise with gal pal Ashley and our sons. And …

This heat wave has worn me out! My skin and hair are dry, I’m sluggish and feel lousy in general. And I am not alone. Sustained high temperatures take their toll on us physically and emotionally. The Center for Disease Control describes multiple health conditions and risks associated with heat waves ranging in severity from mild heat rashes to heat strokes. These are the days in which we are most susceptible to dehydration and other physical and psychological stresses. So what are you doing to escape the heat? Now that the kids have returned to school, perhaps it is time to spend some time …

A long time ago, I set a goal to skydive and scuba dive in the same year. Who knows why this became important to me. Perhaps the responsibilities of career and homeownership caused me to yearn for adventure, and those two activities sounded pretty cool. So I soon found myself staring out of the open door of a small plane, looking down at tiny plots of land and buildings 10,000 feet below me. And yes, I jumped. I’ve attached a couple of photos as proof. Before you think of me as a brave and skilled skydiver, let me explain that I did not jump alone. I went tandem. Tandem skydiving is a common …