In the spring of 1662, in the quiet Wiltshire countryside of England, John Mompesson could hardly have imagined that confiscating a wandering man's drum would lead to one of the most famous haunting stories of the seventeenth century. Mompesson was a landowner, magistrate and local official living with his family at Zouch Manor in Tedworth,... Continue Reading →
The Cottage Weekend: Because Apparently I Needed to Relax
I decided to go to the cottage for the weekend because I needed to “get away from it all.” You know. Relax. Recharge. Reconnect with nature. Nature, as it turns out, had not been consulted about this arrangement. I packed Friday morning with the confidence of someone preparing for a casual two-day getaway and the... Continue Reading →
The Little Things We Carry for Each Other
It had been one of those mornings when everyone seemed to be in a hurry. Cars rushed through the intersection, people hurried along the sidewalk staring at their phones, and the little coffee shop on the corner had a line nearly to the door. In the middle of it all, an elderly man named Arthur... Continue Reading →
The Scream Beyond the Tree Line: The Mystery of the Wampus Cat
The Wampus Cat is one of those Appalachian creatures whose story seems to change depending on which mountain, hollow, or small town you happen to be standing in. Sometimes it is described as an enormous black panther with glowing yellow or green eyes. Other accounts give it an almost human posture, capable of rising onto... Continue Reading →
The Forecast Said “Showers.” The Sky Said “Drown Her.”
It started with one tiny raindrop. Just one. It landed directly on my forehead as I stepped outside, which I chose to interpret as Mother Nature affectionately booping me on the head. “Aw,” I thought. “A little rain.” That was adorable. Ten minutes later, Mother Nature was apparently trying to drown me. The weather forecast... Continue Reading →
The Day the Rain Brought Something Good
It had been raining since before sunrise. Not the dramatic kind of rain with thunder and lightning that at least gave you something interesting to watch. This was the slow, grey, miserable kind - the sort that made the sky look permanently stuck at 4:30 in the afternoon. Maggie stood at the kitchen window in... Continue Reading →
Coffee, Chaos & Questionable Footwear: Just Another Normal Morning
I woke up Wednesday morning with absolutely no intention of achieving greatness. I wasn’t going to exercise. I wasn’t going to meditate. I wasn’t going to journal about gratitude while drinking lemon water and watching the sunrise. No, my goal was much more realistic. Coffee. Pants. Survive. I felt this was an achievable three-step program.... Continue Reading →
A Little Time, A Lot of Kindness: The Saturday That Changed Everything
When Gwen signed up to volunteer at the local food bank, she told herself it was going to be a one-time thing. One Saturday morning. Three hours. Sort some cans, pack a few boxes, feel mildly productive, and then go home. That was the plan. She arrived just after eight, still clutching her coffee and... Continue Reading →
The Footprints in the Snow: The 1951 Yeti Mystery
High in the Himalayas in 1951, a group of experienced mountaineers stumbled upon something that would become one of the most famous mysteries in the history of cryptozoology. They weren't searching for the Yeti. They were looking for a way up Mount Everest. British explorer Eric Shipton was leading a reconnaissance expedition into the remote... Continue Reading →
I Finally Got My Life Together… It Lasted 75 Minutes
At 7:03 on Monday morning, I made a terrible decision. I decided to get my life together. I’d seen one of those inspirational posts the night before. You know the ones. Some suspiciously cheerful woman was sitting cross-legged on a perfectly white bed holding a cup of tea while sunlight gently streamed through the window.... Continue Reading →