December 29 Sharp Hooks Reas Weeks was a Dry Creek legend who lived and died before my time. He was a bachelor who lived in a remote area along Bundick Creek. He never owned a vehicle or held a regular job. He supported himself by fishing, hunting, and farming. He was known as the …
Category Archives: Christmas
December 28: The 100 Foot Line/Bah Humbug Week
December 28 The 100-Foot Line There’s a fine stand of young slash pine at Dead Man’s curve on the Longville Road. I’ve watched the growth of this forest since it was clear cut, then replanted in straight rows. The following year, the pines began to poke their heads above the grass. They’ve …
Continue reading “December 28: The 100 Foot Line/Bah Humbug Week”
Dec. 27 “Two Masters” Bah Humbug Week Continues:
December 27 We’re walking you through the week after Christmas. I call it “Bah Humbug Week.” It’s a time of recovery from Christmas. It’s often a difficult week. I believe it’s an essential week. A time to slow down. A time to take inventory of the past week. An opportunity to look toward …
Continue reading “Dec. 27 “Two Masters” Bah Humbug Week Continues:”
Stocking Stuffers from the Creekbank
It’s Christmas and time to help you with stock stuffers and difficult gifts. We are offering five of our Creekbank books for sale during Christmas. Each book is for sale at a discount of $10 per book and to encourage multiple purchases, there is a total shipping fee of $5 regardless of purchase size. Each …
January 1: Lagniappe
A word from Curt The following story, about King George VI and his famous Christmas message and poem to the British people during the darkest days of the War. Scroll down to read this remarkable story January 1 Lagniappe A New Year This is the final post from our book, Christmas Jelly. We’ve enjoyed …
Dec. 31: “Finishing Strong” Last Day of the Year
December 31 New Year’s Eve Finishing Strong Ted Williams is generally considered the greatest hitter in the history of major league baseball. Two events from his career speak about the concept of “finishing strong.” In 1941, Williams entered the last day of the season with a batting average of .3995. This would qualify …
Continue reading “Dec. 31: “Finishing Strong” Last Day of the Year”
December 30 Moving Out
A Word from Curt Grateful. Gratitude is one of my 6+ words for 2016. I’m thankful for the wonderful gifts in my life. Today I’m thankful to have the calling of writing. It’s what I do. Who I am. I’m thankful that you have chosen to read this blog and …
Dec. 26. . . and now it begins: Bah Humbug Week
For the next week, through January 1, I’ll share a daily short short story with thoughts to help us all navigate that wonderful week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. I lovingly call it “Bah Humbug” Week. It can be the most difficult week of the year. Stay tuned daily for a story, thought, or …
Continue reading “Dec. 26. . . and now it begins: Bah Humbug Week”
Dec. 25 Christmas Day My Favorite: My Grandpas’ Boots
A Story for Christmas During December we’re featuring one short story per day from my latest book, Christmas Jelly. Today’s story is my favourite from the thirty-two stories.* Enjoy! Christmas Jelly contains thirty-two chapters– 0ne for each day in December plus January 1. MY GRANDPAS’ BOOTS CURT ILES My …
Continue reading “Dec. 25 Christmas Day My Favorite: My Grandpas’ Boots”
Dec. 24 Christmas Eve: “Thoughts on ‘Easy Marks.’ “
An Easy Mark “I’m a thousand miles from anywhere, waiting for a train.” -Jimmy Rodgers “Waiting for a Train” Calling someone an “easy mark” is normally not a compliment. We use it in the context of taking advantage of someone and associate it with weakness. I have a story that explains the term’s …
Continue reading “Dec. 24 Christmas Eve: “Thoughts on ‘Easy Marks.’ “”
Dec. 23: Christmas Eve-Eve
The Hay’s in the Barn It’s “Christmas Eve-Eve.” Two days until Christmas. It’s close but there’s still time for planning and dreaming. A strong cold front is blowing in as I arrive at Foreman’s Meat Market. Last night we were in shirtsleeves. By tonight it will be freezing. Long vee formations of geese have been …
Dec. 22 A New Christmas Story: A Soldier Comes Home
Another Soldier Comes Home for Christmas I wonder when they finally took his Christmas stocking down. What year did the family remove his vacant chair from the Christmas dining room table? His name was Lt. Commander James R. Bauder. The date was September 21, 1966. Bauder and …
Continue reading “Dec. 22 A New Christmas Story: A Soldier Comes Home”
Dec. 21: Lazarus’ Second Funeral from “Christmas Jelly”
Lazarus’ Second Funeral I guess I’m only one who attended both of Boaz Lazurus’ funerals. The second one was yesterday. The first one was thirty-one years ago. I remember the first funeral well. I was a young rabbi, only recently assigned to the Bethany synagogue. I’ll never forget the raw grief of his two sisters, …
Continue reading “Dec. 21: Lazarus’ Second Funeral from “Christmas Jelly””
December 20: A Danish Christmas
Christmas Jelly. Learn more at www.creekbank.net This is chapter 20 from Christmas Jelly. It’s written by one of my favorite people, Erik Pederson. Mr. Erik touched all of us with his love, humor, and smile. He’ll always be missed in Dry Creek. I encouraged him …
