August 11, 2024 Come late August, weeding is one of my least favorite tasks. It is hot and sweaty work and even in drought, the weeds grow with gusto and flourish in every flower bed, vegetable garden and even my driveway. I try not to use chemicals, but sometimes resort to pouring boiling water onContinue reading “Late Summer Weeding”
Author Archives: bmdavis1
Healing Through Service
April 14, 2024 In the midst of my grief, trying to work a full-time job as a school librarian, and helping run a household, I find that service work keeps me sane, especially when I end up feeling stuck or down. It is not surprising that I have felt adrift in the past nearly nineContinue reading “Healing Through Service”
Beginning Again
March 24, 2024 Last week in Richmond, Virginia we reached the point in the year when it is typically okay to plant potatoes, cruciferous vegetables, and other cool weather crops like lettuce. For many years, I have planted lettuce and kale in my tiny garden on the south side of our house right after St.Continue reading “Beginning Again”
Gratitude in Grief?
January 17, 2024 Today marks six months since my eldest child Joseph Alexander Kossan passed away. His death certificate will forever say the wrong date, but I know beyond any doubt that Alex’s texts, calls, and heart stopped on July 17, 2023. My own heart is still shattered in a million pieces and often IContinue reading “Gratitude in Grief?”
When I got busy, I got better
December 10, 2023 It is December and I have not done a blog post since October. I have written every day, but in my intense grief, I have felt like what I write is too raw or too painful to share with others outside of my trusted writing group. Sometimes, I can only share withContinue reading “When I got busy, I got better”
The Dawn of a New Day
This morning I awoke naturally as the sun began to rise just before 7:00 am. It still wasn’t over the mountains at 7:30 as I brought my cup of coffee and journal outside on the porch to meditate and begin my day. I enjoyed watching the clouds slowly change color from purple and red toContinue reading “The Dawn of a New Day”
Yoga For Grieving
Breathe in, breathe out. Stretch into an inhalation and relax into an exhalation. Doing yoga has been part of my morning routine for years now. The asana vary, the position of my yoga mat has shifted as I rearrange and make the room my oldest son left a year ago into my space. Yoga hasContinue reading “Yoga For Grieving”
Coming Out of the Storm
July 11,2023 Getting to the beach this year was more challenging than I ever expected. I have come to Wrightsville Beach or the Outer Banks of North Carolina for a week almost every summer of my life. I am lucky that although I have never been wealthy, my family and I are both middle classContinue reading “Coming Out of the Storm”
Rest, Relax, Repeat
It is officially summer, yet a different one from my typical. My husband recently took a job with the county and this year I am teaching summer school. We get a 3-day weekend each week and some weeks the county gives us extra-long weekends due to national holidays, elections and other things that merit closingContinue reading “Rest, Relax, Repeat”
Going to the Beach in My Mind
June 13, 2023 My dear friend and former colleague, Honor, taught me years ago to “Go to the Beach” whenever I needed a break from the stresses of our jobs and at the time a very difficult co-worker. She inspired me to find ocean wave soundtracks to listen to as I drove around town orContinue reading “Going to the Beach in My Mind”
