Blog
Blog Read More
Sometimes some of us travel to get away. That space—that distance—from our home life offers perspective and breathing room. We get a chance to reflect on what is beautiful and what is broken. Often, we return refreshed, reinvigorated to dig in or embrace or forgive or simply slip back into our normal with a sigh […] Read More
©11/20/14 Funny how certain experiences in life attract apathy. Physical and emotional trauma. Loss. Abuse. Dismantling relationships. Rejection. Loneliness. I’ve been apathetic before, for a few years—and they were the worst years of my life. I disappeared and went through the motions. I don’t remember much about those years. I’ve found receipts and journals from […] Read More
Spalding MFA Alumni Blog, 2017—On this episode of A Day in the Life we meet Summer 2014 graduate Karen (Chronister) Leslie, a fiction and travel writer based in Franklin, Tennessee. When Karen isn’t working on her own writing she’s helping other creatives to market their writing. Karen has a wholistic approach to life and writing […] Read More
April in Jackson, WY, can mean a lot of “Closed” or “We’ll be back in May” signs. The ski slopes have closed for the season—this Winter produced just shy of 500 inches of snow! There’s still a significant amount of snow on the ground this year and still flurrying. It’s below freezing today. The roads […] Read More
Packing from a list helps eliminate unnecessary “stuff” in my suitcase. I have packing lists that are specific for warm, cold, and international travel. You might have a camping list, a cruising list, traveling with kids packing list, and a going-to-visit-the-kids list! I’ve curated a new list with warm weather destinations in mind. Your bags won’t pack themselves, but maybe sharing packing lists with you will take the heavy thinking… Read More
I know what makes me happy and whole. I also know the list of things I need to thrive is not simply filled with selfish wants—and, those things aren’t solely self-focused. Often, even if an act of self-care starts with a form of isolation, it will press outward in some way in want of connecting with another human being or a higher being. I believe we need downtime alone, with our loved ones, and with the world at large—all of these to thrive. To move out of survival mode. Writing a “Love List” is a good start. Read More
Making Baked Brie for your next gathering is a guaranteed hit. Baked Brie is easy and quick to assemble, and you can keep all of the ingredients on hand to throw together in a pinch. You can even assemble it the day before and pop it in the oven at the last minute. Voila! Delicious, decadent, […] Read More
The Dukan Diet galette is a tasty low-fat, low-carb breakfast delight. It’s been a long-time favorite of mine when I crave something warm and bread-like. The galette is a healthy low-carb, fiber-filled pancake, so I make it for breakfast a few times a week. As a traveler, when I know I’ll have access to a kitchen, I pack a small container of gluten-free oat bran… Read More
Last fall, I traveled to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, after a fifteen year absence. As I deplaned, within sight of Grand Teton National Park, I was delighted again to descend the rolling steps onto the tarmac. Fighting an icy wind, I forgot to look up. When I rounded the nose of the plane, I stopped still in my tracks. They greeted me in panorama: those Grand Tetons. I stepped aside to allow the other travelers by, hesitant to hurry the moment. I’d come here to be outside, to write, to take photographs, to be still, so I stood and honored the mountains with silence. They… Read More
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.