Creekbank Blog

1.0 The Sign Phantom

. The Sign Phantom of Dry Creek From the book, The Old House, by Curt Iles It all began in the Spring of 1974, just prior to my high school graduation. A rainy April had kept the local streams flooded in “Dry Creek.” (The world’s most overworked cliché, “Well, how wet is it in Dry Creek?”) One afternoon, I went …

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The Dry Creek Sign Phantom 1974-1992

Everyone’s favorite story from my previous book, The Old House, was “The Sign Phantom.” It told of my dad’s hilarious roadside signs as you entered the community of Dry Creek. The following is a list of all the signs as he remembered them. You may not understand them all. (You would have needed to have been there on some of …

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My Favorite Jimmie Barrett Story

  My Favorite Jimmie Barrett Story Excerpt from my upcoming short story collection, Where I Come From. I close with my favorite Jimmie Barrett principal story. One day, I was teaching chemistry when he slipped into the back of the classroom to observe me. He got comfortable.  He always looked kind of sleepy and was soon leaning on his elbow. …

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Monday, July 29: It’s a Big Writing Day at the Creekbank.

Monday, July 29: It’s a Big Writing Day at the Creekbank. Follow this post as I add photos and text. We’ll be blogging throughout the day as I work on our upcoming short story collection, Where I Come From. We’re shooting for a release date of Black Friday 2024. There’s an adage in writing,  “A book needs friends before it …

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The Dry Creek Tabernacle

A Tabernacle Prayer A word from Curt You can’t understand me unless you have insight into how Dry Creek Baptist Camp has shaped my life.   I got my first job there at age 13.  I was in charge of picking up glass Coke bottles on the grounds for deposit return. After that summer, they couldn’t run me off.  I’ve …

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What Really Matters: My Life Statement

  What Really Matters: My Life Statement Scroll down for an expanded version of My Life Statement As of Monday, July 22, 2024 Throughout my adult life, I’ve kept a journal of my priorities, which I call “My Life Statement.” I’m sharing them to encourage you to develop your own statement. Make it personal.  Write it down. Do it now. …

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‘Where I Come From’ Chapter Titles and Taglines

            Creekbank Family, My upcoming short story collection is entitled Where I Come From: Field Notes from the Pineywoods. I’ve listed chapter titles and taglines.  I’ll be adding new chapters, so stay tuned. Most of these chapters have been published on the Creekbank.net/blog. Take a look. As always, I welcome your input. questions. and feedback …

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EPILOGUE: WOUNDED HEART DRAFT

CHAPTER No tears NO TEARS THE GIFT OF TEARS HARVARD MENTAL HEALTH   “You know I cried when I read your story.” I smiled, “So did I.” No tears in the writer. No tears in the writer. I want to tell stories that move people. Laughter Tears Shaking of the head I don’t believe Walking away from that story moved …

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Leaders Have Big Hearts

Visit The Quiet Leader Blog more at www.creekbank.net Leaders Have Big Hearts   “Always put people above paper.” -Dwight D. Eisenhower The best leaders always have big hearts. They are looking out for their people. Their big-heartedness overflows into mutual love and respect. A team will follow a big-hearted leader wherever she leads. She’s built trustworthiness by being a servant-leader. …

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Solving a problem with a sandwich and cup of coffee

A cup of coffee . . . and sandwich with Paul I hope you’re enjoying our thoughts on the short book of Philemon.  I ask for your comments and insights.  That is how we learn best! In verse 1, Paul identifies himself as a “prisoner of Christ Jesus.” This humble term identifies Paul and is the first floorboard in building …

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The Old House at the end of the road

OLD HOUSE AGLOW

            ”The Old House at Night”  1963  tempera on cardboard by my uncle, Bill Iles. The Old House in Dry Creek. First constructed by my great-great grandparents circa 1892, this family home is my favorite spot in the world, the source of many of my stories, and my best writing muse. Below is the opening …

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Love and Discipline

Love and Discipline I once read a story about a father’s wise advice to his daughter, who was struggling with disciplining her young children. The father invited her to take a boat ride on a nearby lake.  The boat had two oars and the father told the daughter to take one oar and row. The boat went in a circle. …

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Surround Yourself with Good People

red cedar section

  Wise words from King Solomon, the wisest man: “Without good direction, people lose their way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭11‬:‭14‬ ‭The Message   Surround yourself with good people Surround yourself with good people. Surround yourself with people who will give wise counsel. Surround yourself with people you respect and will listen to. …

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Leadership 101: “I want to thank you . . .”

  On Leadership   As I begin my 68th year on Planet Earth, I can sum up what I’ve learned about leadership in one sentence: “I want to thank you ahead of time for doing this, and I know you won’t disappoint me.” I’ve been a youth leader, parent, coach, teacher, principal, camp manager, missionary, and now a grandfather. That …

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