Happy Saint Patrick’s Day to all who feel at home in these ancient mountains.

It’s true. The similarity is in the undulations of the hillsides, the lush greenery, the rocks that feel as old as time itself.

When Tim and I visited Ireland 7 years ago, he kept saying to me…”this looks just like home…except there’s an ocean. And more sheep. And less trees.”

Many of us here in Southern Appalachia believe this is why our Scottish, Welsh, and Irish ancestors settled here centuries ago…and never left, hemmed in by a landscape that their very bones recognized as home.

Now divided by an ocean, I still believe these mountains call to one another.

Geologists believe that before the continents split off, Appalachia, the mountains of Western Ireland & Wales, and the Scottish highlands were all part of a single mountain range.

Every year on St. Patrick’s Day, I like to play a little game called “Is it Ireland or Appalachia?”

Are we at Threat Level Midnight yet??? 🤔🤔🤔

New post!
Fire and Flood: “Whatsboutisms,” Blame, and Disaster Rage

I know we’ve been greedy for prayers over here in Southern Appalachia, but high winds & snow are coming in tomorrow, & we’ve still got limbs & branches hanging all over the place. Folks are worried about losing power & ice cold temperatures. (Video taken last month on Fork Mountain Road).

Me leaving it all out on the field on the other app. 🫠