Wild caving in the belly of Bridgewater, VA

A black and white chick sits on my shoulder.

I was holding this peep close when she hopped up on my shoulder. (Doesn’t the red glow from the heat lamp look like some portal to hell ripped open my spare bedroom? There’s a story right there.)

A gray chick stands on Flannery O’Connor’s collection of short stories.

Peep peep

Four black chicks in a box

Four olive eggers joined our flock.

A tuxedo cat reluctantly wearing bat wings

Bat cat. Cat bat. Either way, unhappy about it.

When my dad was in the hospital, my son (6 at the time) wrote a card that said, “I hope you feel better later.” He was trying to articulate the “get well soon” sentiment, but now our whole family just says, “hope you feel better later.”

My sister’s memorial scholarship application is live! Open to HS seniors in Chesapeake, VA who are future nurses! Applicants will compose an essay on domestic abuse. Chelse was a DV victim. She died by gunshot wound in the middle of her forehead on 11/2/25.

This looks amazing! Love the concept! I preordered my copy. ☺️

brass solidarity band performing “stand by me” in the streets of whittier next to alex pretti’s memorial. the crowd started chanting “the people united will never be defeated” so they incorporated it into the song. i love minneapolis

26th and nicollet in minneapolis is closed to vehicle traffic now as brass solidarity performs

When my son was four, he asked me, “What kind of animal did they kill to make this hush puppy?” It wasn’t a joke; he was concerned I had fed him dog meat.

Love this thoughtful piece with geological layers!

“In them, he’s smiling. Carefree. Like his whole life’s ahead of him, not behind. And he’s looking forward to living that life.”

This beautiful CNF piece hits close to home with the recent loss of my sister.

Beautiful! I love the light and shadows by the door. <3

Donate to Chelse Widen Memorial Nursing Scholarship, organized by Katie Robinson To honor Chelse's legacy as a nurse and raise awareness about domestic abuse,… Katie Robinson needs your support for Chelse Widen Memorial Nursing Scholarship

I created the Chelse Widen Memorial Nursing Scholarship to honor my sister, a DV victim who died by gunshot wound in her forehead 11/2/25. Please consider donating to the scholarship fund: gofund.me/3e8b51191

A small bouquet of dried flowers.

When you’re mourning, everyone looks at you like you’re a reptile person. I don’t know how to be anything else. I would really like to go be a reptile in a secluded cabin. Or maybe a salamander.

Tonight, I submitted my MFA thesis. Then I made nachos for dinner. Tadaaaa!

This is my beautiful sister! The brightest light! She was snatched from us November 2. Praying for justice. Waiting for Macbeth 3.4 to unfold.

While writing a story this week, I intended to give a woman a pet skunk. I think I gave her a mental breakdown instead. Oh well. The skunk will go to another character another day.

Spent the past week with this beautiful collection! “Sugar Babies” and “Ghost Sickness” make excellent bookends for all these significant stories.

Lovely poem split between the realities of motherhood!

A black and white cat laying on a wicker basket

Been busy writing my thesis! Nine pages left! Here’s a cat picture!

@stonecirclereview.bsky.social Thank you for replaying my piece!

A cat rests her chin on a pile of books.

Book clutter is acceptable clutter.

A yellow lab rests her face under her human’s chin.

Was taking a selfie with my girl Marlowe and then she did this. 💛

Am I the only one who reads Andor as and/or? Yes? OK…

Dozens searched for a missing 2-year-old in the Arizona desert. Buford the dog was the real hero. The 6-year-old Anatolian Pyrenees came home Tuesday morning with a toddler who'd gone missing the day before in a remote part of Arizona.

I am OBSESSED with Buford the dog who rescued a two-year-old lost in the AZ wilderness. who’sagoodboyyy?!

www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...

A squirrel on a rock overlooking the Grand Canyon

I met this squirrel at the Grand Canyon today.

“In Alice’s stories the mother always dies. Or is dead already. Or is absent in a way that suggests, to the perceptive reader, that she is likely dead.”

Compelling piece on the necessary process of storytelling and revision.