https://www.nancarlton.com/blog daily 0.75 2026-03-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/685ff51d-75a4-4881-987b-11bc705e95bf/the+journey.jpeg https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/a-still-small-voice- monthly 0.5 2026-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/2b1f7bfd-4de4-407b-aa78-23d010d5823e/american+flag+CC.jpeg Blog - A still small voice . . . - In Cape Charles, Virginia, the month of March is typically windy. (That’s an understatement!) If I’m not dressed properly for the great outdoors, the wind coming off of the water of the still frigid Chesapeake Bay chills my body to the bone marrow, and more importantly, makes it difficult for this gal to have a good-hair day. Sand from the beach blows indiscriminately, stinging my face and covering the streets and lawns of my fair town with grit Ugh! And w hen the wind howls, as it often does in March, the flags dotted here and there throughout Cape Charles incessantly flap about, creating a loud, snapping noise and making it impossible for me to hear myself think as I stroll along. But at night, when I’m trying to sleep, well, that’s the worst. Our cottage groans and creaks as if to protest the wind’s unrelenting assault on its extremities. The windows rattle. Unsecured trash bins tumble and skip down the street, forming a nocturnal parade of sorts. A pair of unoccupied rocking chairs scoot across our front porch. The wind even whistles as it rounds each corner of the house—and trust me, it’s not a happy tune. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/80fb1b81-1075-48b1-be68-f066efe6fea0/stained+glass+window.jpeg Blog - A still small voice . . . - If you’ve read my 2026 website blogs for January and February, you know that my word for the year is still—as in calm., quiet, silence, SHUSH! I n the merry, merry month of March, still doesn’t happen too often in Cape Charles. This blustery season on Virginia’s Eastern Shore reminds me of a scripture passage from the Old Testament. In these verses the Lord is speaking to the prophet Elijah who is atop Mount Horeb. 11 And he [the Lord] said, go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind. an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake, a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire, a still small voice. (word in bold is my doing) 1 Kings 19:11-12 (KJV) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/93e5f30b-cc04-4001-8650-9c083c464e18/sunset+james+river+HRBT.jpg Blog - A still small voice . . . - Most often, I hear God’s still small voice when I intentionally carve out quiet time to be in His presence. taking a brief respite from my busy schedule reading, studying, and meditating on His word singing a favorite hymn sitting in silence after praying enjoying a sunset, an ocean, a wildflower, or a snowy day But sometimes, God speaks to me when I least expect it and in the strangest places. at the grocery store in the waiting room of a doctor’s office during a book event as a lady shares her life story on a long car ride during a Hallmark movie https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/a-harbinger-of-spring-h6w9g-ldaak-y8c97 monthly 0.5 2026-02-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/9f88ebca-4eb1-44a3-8429-d4b581afcfd0/book+-+heart.jpg Blog - Be still, my heart! - Or o ne could enjoy a still, quiet evening at home and read a great love story—from the Bible. The Bible records some epic romantic scenes. My favorites couples from the Old Testament include Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Rachel, Boaz and Ruth. But I suppose my top pick from the Bible is the tender love story of Joseph and Mary in the New Testament. As I read these classics, I can’t help but wonder what the Biblical lovebirds were thinking the first time they saw each other. Did one, or maybe all, of them say: Be still, my heart? (In Hebrew, of course.) Have you ever read the Old Testament book, Ruth? Now, that’s a great love story. It’s a short book (only four chapters), but man, does it ever pack a punch in just a few words! Having read this book a dozen or so times, I think I can safely infer that when Boaz first spotted Ruth gleaning crops in his field, he said to himself: Be still, my heart. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/099224d3-fc8e-4982-8661-35d510059aaf/box+of+chocolates.jpg Blog - Be still, my heart! - All of this talk about love and Valentine’s Day and the word, still,—well, it reminds me of the 1950s doo-wop song, “In the Still of the Night.” Sung by the American group, The Five Satins, the love song was released in 1956. Shoo-doop, shoo-be do, Shoo-doop, shoo-be do… In the still of the night, I held you, held you tight. 'Cause I love, love you so. Promise I'll never let you go In the still of the night. https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/oh-the-people-youll-meet-xe6td-hrg24 monthly 0.5 2026-02-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/02c53fb1-ef72-46fe-b5ed-3cfe5f632aab/sunrise+FL.jpeg Blog - “He leadeth me beside the still waters.” - (Photo location: Lake Yale, Central Florida) Psalm 23:1-3a KJV The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. Psalm 23 is a familiar scripture passage, and chances are that you have most or all of it memorized. But in my January 2026 blog, I will focus solely on the second half of verse two…He leadeth me beside the still waters. You know, the more that I study the Bible, the more I’m fascinated with the entomology of words. Here’s hoping that you’re ready for a brief—mercifully brief—Hebrew lesson. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/385df4b9-8913-4098-84e4-193b83415003/Canadian+goose.jpeg Blog - “He leadeth me beside the still waters.” - (Photo location: James River, Richmond, Va.) Hebrew 101 The literal Hebrew translation for Psalm 23b reads… Beside the waters still, He leads me. The Hebrew equivalent for our English word still is menuchah. (It is produced meh-noo-KHAH.) However, in other verses in the KJV, this same word is translated as comfortable, ease, quiet, rest, or resting place. In my perfunctory study of menuchah, I was most surprised to learn that menuchah is a noun because, when translated to English in Psalm 23, it is an adjective. And at other times in scripture, it is used as an adverb or a noun. How confusing! Thus ends our Hebrew lesson. (Whew! So grateful that I took French in high school and undergrad. I likely would have flunked Hebrew.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/93e53685-f6a3-42a1-bb63-5a210ddb076f/smooth+sailing.jpeg Blog - “He leadeth me beside the still waters.” - (Photo location: Chesapeake Bay, Va.) Speaking of still waters . . . John and I are doubly blessed. We live by the James River in Richmond, Va. for part of the week and by the Chesapeake Bay in Cape Charles, Va. for the remainder of the week. It’s been my observation through the years that no two days are alike on the water. Even though both of these bodies of water are tidal, some days, they look like a lake on a calm, windless day. Not a ripple in sight. Smooth sailing. But at other times, when the wind kicks up and a storm is brewing, these same waters are anything but still. It’s during these days of choppy, churning, rushing water that I’m reminded of how topsy-turvy things can become during the busyness (or business) of life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/f033cf21-5787-48ad-8482-e4eddae0f680/container+ship+james+river+2.jpg Blog - “He leadeth me beside the still waters.” - (Photo location: Savannah River, Savannah, Ga.) Gonna lay down my burdens, down by the riverside… When my burdens are the heaviest, that’s when I yearn to be in the presence of still waters. For there, in the much-needed, much-welcomed stillness, I can talk to God, share my troubles, and find comfort. And as I pray, I know that the peace that passes all understanding will wash over me—a peace that can only come from Him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/150abf21-7546-4c97-bc16-fa98001de5a9/sunset+with+Chesapeake+Bay.jpg Blog - “He leadeth me beside the still waters.” - Make it stand out (Photo location: Beach, Cape Charles, Va.) https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/oh-the-people-youll-meet-xe6td-33tnc monthly 0.5 2025-12-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/1763412004943-9099UQBKGIPJKB5PJ5PC/morning+glory+.jpg Blog - Behold that star up yonder! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/1763412040107-E9WEQ7OIHE10VQT2MZC3/rose.jpg Blog - Behold that star up yonder! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/1763412750484-JWDZ6R7QU8GJDRGMZRK3/vinca.jpg Blog - Behold that star up yonder! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/9d227865-e731-4b53-aeaf-f9343a91ea9d/Virginia+creeper.jpg Blog - Behold that star up yonder! - And I can’t help but sing the lyrics of a traditional Christmas spiritual that I learned as a young child in my church’s Cherub Choir. There was no room found in the inn, This is the star of Bethlehem. For him who was born free from sin. This is the star of Bethlehem. Behold that star! Behold that start up yonder! Behold that star! It is the star of Bethlehem. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/1763471007054-K025EZWKDM5PDNHRZ781/orange.jpg Blog - Behold that star up yonder! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/1763414137975-Y9OZZ939NGYMY390DJJ1/blueberry.jpg Blog - Behold that star up yonder! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/1763413948344-NSPGBLGKWQ9DM81XNSKU/apple.jpg Blog - Behold that star up yonder! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/1763413992638-C2UY1LFBYIG7NVBJXV83/pumpkin.jpg Blog - Behold that star up yonder! Why would so many things in creation have a star-shaped design? I’ve thought about this many times over the years and have developed an unscientific theory—also known as my own humble opinion. (I’m also quite open and willing to listen to your thoughts on this subject. Feel free to share them with me.) I do not believe that this repetition of a geometric design in nature is a fluke. And certainly, it’s not a mistake because the Creator of this universe doesn’t make mistakes. Perhaps God is declaring His creative, glorious handiwork. Or maybe He’s reminding us to reflect on the wonder of the nativity story not only in the month of December but throughout the entire year. Or perchance when we see this shape in nature, He’s prompting us to look heavenward at a star-filled nighttime sky and be cognizant of His presence. Maybe, it’s all of the above. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/1763414556916-XUHA96FI2J5JKJHQVQ9Z/sand+dollar.jpg Blog - Behold that star up yonder! - A song broke forth upon the night, This is the star of Bethlehem. From angel hosts all robed in white. This is the star of Bethlehem. Behold that star! Behold that star up yonder! Behold that star! It is the star of Bethlehem. https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/a-harbinger-of-spring-h6w9g-ldaak monthly 0.5 2026-01-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/e563434c-31d1-44ab-8ea4-398bdbd7e21b/sassafras+leaves+green.jpg Blog - A bit of encouragement… - But there’s something even more spectacularly unusual about this tree. On the same branch, the astute observer can find leaves with one lobe, two lobes, and three lobes. I did not make this interesting discovery on my own. My father—an expert on tree identification—first “introduced” me to the sassafras tree when I was a child. I remember giggling and suggesting that God must have a sense of humor. As an adult, when I study sassafras leaves, I give thanks to God for hitting it out of the proverbial ballpark when He created this tree. Its beauty and uniqueness always cause me to pause and ponder for a few minutes. If He gave this much special attention to the design of one tree, how much more does He care for each of His human creations? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/ecc214b1-b6d5-4140-b0d4-838beb83485b/sassafras+tree.jpg Blog - A bit of encouragement… - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/oh-the-people-youll-meet-xe6td monthly 0.5 2025-11-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/6e0c051a-0f6b-4239-84ec-37074909d56a/green+apple.jpg Blog - An apple a day . . . - Precious Memories In the backyard of my childhood home, we had an apple tree. I have no clue which variety of apple this tree produced. However, I do remember that they were cooking apples and that a bite of this freshly picked fruit would cause me to pucker, shake my head, and repeatedly spit. YUCK! But peel and slice this fruit, stir in sugar and spices, add the mixture to a pie crust, and bake—and let the magic begin. As Grandma Carlton would say, “That’s some mighty good eating.” My grandmother ought to know for she was a master of traditional Southern cuisine. (Chicken fried in a cast iron pan. Made-from-scratch biscuits. Candied yams.) I suppose that there was nothing she liked better in this world than feeding her family. Lucky me. But I digress. Enjoy her apple pie recipe. (Don’t forget the vanilla ice cream!) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/fc51a1ce-d93c-4e79-8036-74ea6ccdcebb/apple.jpg Blog - An apple a day . . . - Grandma Carlton’s Apple Pie 5-7 cooking apples 1/2 c. brown sugar 1/2 c. white sugar 2 T. all-purpose flour Dash of salt 1 t. ground cinnamon 1/4 t. ground nutmeg Core, peel, and slice apples. Mix remaining ingredients and add to apples. 2 9-inch pastry crusts Butter pats Fill 9-inch pie pan with pastry crust. Pour apple mixture into pan and spread evenly. Dot with butter pats. Add top crust. Cut slits in top crust. Bake at 400 degrees for 50 minutes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/abef5e51-c923-44ed-98c8-dd238e3795d1/collage+apple.jpeg Blog - An apple a day . . . - Speaking of apples . . . Did you know that the word “apple” occurs in the Old Testament several times and is used symbolically to represent beauty and something valuable and deserving of protection? A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. Proverbs 25:11 KJV As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved. Song of Solomon 2:3a KJV Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings. Psalm 17:8 KJV These verses are worthy of our rumination—regardless of the season. https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/a-harbinger-of-spring-h6w9g monthly 0.5 2025-11-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/42d4cea9-d689-4ea2-98f0-bb87d3ffbd95/Snow+205+Jefferson+Ave.jpg Blog - Happy 95th Birthday, Old Gal! - The house has had numerous owners through the years, but I dare say that none of her inhabitants have cherished and enjoyed this Craftsman bungalow more than John and I. Sometimes, I sit on her front porch and write. Other days, I lollygag in the wooden swing and daydream about the other families who have lived here. Did they have grand Christmas celebrations in this house? Cookouts on the Fourth of July? Birthday parties for the children? Were snowmen built in the yard? Which child (or children) played with the marbles that John and I find buried in the ground beneath the porch railing? I also think about how proud the Brimers must have been when the construction of their kit home was complete. After all, it was 1930, and the ravages of the Great Depression were looming over our nation. This was quite the accomplishment for a middle-class family. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/b5799493-cb19-4d6b-91ff-86ec19978a1a/ceiling+2.jpg Blog - Happy 95th Birthday, Old Gal! - The exterior of the house has seen the changing of many seasons, an occasional snowstorm, a handful of floods, and the blistering hot days of summer. And still, she stands strong and sturdy—a lovely respite place for her current caretakers. John and I have made our share of changes to the house. We’ve painted the exterior a fun, beachy color and renovated the original bathroom. We’ve added a second bathroom, an outdoor shower, and a laundry closet on the main floor. But our biggest project by far was the kitchen renovation. This room was functional but outdated (translation—ugly). And now, well, it’s gorgeous. My favorite part of the kitchen renovation is the ceiling. A portion of the original maple flooring was salvageable (because it was buried under 3 layers of vinyl flooring and 2 layers of ceramic tiles). This recycled wood was used to create a design of concentric squares in the middle of the ceiling. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/3ba71aca-0495-430b-9c42-0c4e4c895d6d/205+Jefferson+2.jpg Blog - Happy 95th Birthday, Old Gal! - Happy Birthday to you, old gal. And many more! (P.S. I hope I look as good as you do when I’m a nonagenarian!) https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/oh-the-people-youll-meet monthly 0.5 2025-09-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/b4d1cadf-c9c5-4ca1-9141-8dd1c19d53fd/George+and+Cindy+Tennessee.jpg Blog - Oh, the People You’ll Meet! - George and Cindy Carder A vendor at the booth next to ours invites a couple to take a look at this local company’s seamless gutters. The husband declines the invitation, stating that he and his wife are from Tennessee. Hey, I know that accent. When these folks speak, they sound exactly like someone I know—me! Ah, that unmistakable regional drawl—sweet music to my ears. They stop at our booth and read the first sentence of You Can’t Judge a Bee by Its Color. “Among the hills of Tennessee, A beehive hangs beneath a tree.“ One sentence. That’s all it takes for them to make a decision. They buy the book and promise that it will be placed on a bookshelf with “all their most special books.” I am honored—and humbled. Meet George and Cindy Carder—residents from “the hills of Tennessee” (Johnson City to be exact) and fellow connoisseurs of all things Southern. What a joy to meet “neighbors” from just across the NC/TN state line. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/d7f348a9-e210-47eb-abd7-f1bdc8ef07cd/John+and+Nan+Large+Duck.jpg Blog - Oh, the People You’ll Meet! - Eric Long John and I are chatting with several folks at our booth. We’re both quite busy but not too busy for me to notice a guy standing a few yards away taking multiple photos of us. His camera looks expensive. A professional photographer? Perhaps. Discreetly, I whisper to John, “Who is that dude? Ever seen him before?” John shrugs his shoulders and shakes his head no in reply. We make a book sale. Yippee! Autographed picture book in tow, the folks depart. The mystery “dude” approaches us, introduces himself, compliments our booth, and offers to take a photo of the two of us. We accept his kind offer. Meet Eric Long—retired professional photographer for the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. Specifically, his job entailed work for both the Museum of Natural History and the Air and Space Museum. Eric resides in Crisfield, Md. What a fine gentleman. And what talent! (I regret that we didn’t take a picture of Eric. The next time our paths cross, we’ll take care of this oversight.) Photo credit: Eric Long https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/7a23eb05-e2bd-4e75-aa88-5900a6095528/Nan+and+Crystal+Nigeria.jpg Blog - Oh, the People You’ll Meet! - Crystal Raphael It’s hot as blue blazes today. A lady walks up to our booth looking as fresh as a daisy. Instead of my normal polite greeting, I blurt out, “Why are you not dripping with sweat?” Before she can offer an explanation, the lady’s sister responds, “This is her kind of weather.” What? Did I hear correctly? Who in their right mind likes high humidity and temperatures in the 90s? This, of course, necessitates a follow-up question. “Where do you live?” I ask. Smiling, she responds, “Nigeria.” “NIGERIA! You’re a long way from home. What, pray tell, are you doing on the Eastern Shore of Maryland?” I quiz her. Meet Crystal Raphael—a missionary from Africa. She and her family are waiting to take the ferry to Tangier Island. There, they will share about their mission work. And when they return home, Crystal will share my picture book with the children in Abuja, Nigeria. Amazing story. Amazing gal. Photo credit: John https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/all-work-and-no-play--5dp5m monthly 0.5 2025-07-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/be2605a3-0b77-47a3-b826-3ef06416b102/the+sisters+3.jpeg Blog - Grateful. - Bless this house, oh Lord, we pray. Make it safe by night and day. Bless these walls so firm and stout, Keeping want and trouble out. Bless the roof and chimneys tall. Let thy peace lie overall. Bless this door that it may prove Ever open to joy and love. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/a968bb07-cb42-48a5-ac0f-1bb4cdc4e425/log+cabin.jpg Blog - Grateful. - Bless these windows shining bright, Letting in God's Heavenly light. Bless the hearth, a-blazing there With smoke ascending like a prayer! Bless the folks who dwell within. Keep them pure and free from sin. Bless us all that we may be Fit, oh Lord, to dwell with Thee. Bless us all that one day we May dwell, oh Lord, with Thee! (Words by Helen Taylor, 1927) https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/all-work-and-no-play- monthly 0.5 2025-07-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/c41ca044-bbe2-4e72-91a2-9b7a38bcd57a/flamingo.jpg Blog - All work and no play - Salisbury Zoological Park Salisbury, Maryland Flamingos! Finally, I can say that I’ve seen a flock of flamingos in person. (The fake plastic ones in someone’s front yard placed there as a prank—they do NOT count.) I can now check another item off of my bucket list. Ah! So colorful. So gorgeous. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/c0087b9b-0054-4ed0-a8c7-30e43443d818/alligator.JPG Blog - All work and no play - Shipyard Golf Club Hilton Head, South Carolina When we’re on vacation, John enjoys making new friends on his golf outings. (FYI: I personally would not hang around and take a photo of this fellow. Instead, I would head for the club house and ask for a full refund. John, honey, are you nuts?) While my husband chases a little white ball and repeatedly hits it with a stick until it finally falls into a hole, I enjoy the peace and solitude of walking on the beach, listening to the squawks of seagulls, staring at the ocean, and not thinking about alligators. Photo credit: John (of course) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/16398401-89cb-42f8-89af-0146d825a99d/covered+bridge.jpg Blog - All work and no play - Zook’s Mill Covered Bridge Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Lancaster County, Pa. has a number of historic covered bridges, and John and I have had the pleasure of visiting several of them. This particular bridge was built in 1849 by Hennry Zook. The rural areas of Lancaster County also afford visitors the rare opportunity to witness Amish folks working in the fields, gathering for an outdoor meal, and driving horse-drawn buggies. So fascinating. (Out of respect for their preferences, we didn’t take any pictures of the Amish. But honestly, on more than one occasion, I was tempted to do so!) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/ec3990b9-e07e-4077-959c-0cf267d2af1f/Louisville+Slugger+Museum.jpg Blog - All work and no play - Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory Louisville, Kentucky Take me out to the ballgame. Or if that isn’t possible, a place where they make baseball bats will do nicely. This place is a must-see attraction for baseball lovers. Watching a long slab of wood being transformed into a bat in only a few minutes—that’s pretty cool. But even more exciting is taking a selfie with Hank Aaron, my childhood hero. Okay, it is only a life-sized photo of Mr. Aaron, but still . . . https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/13197bca-908a-4ff8-8bcb-5d036f07e3ac/sutherland+umc.jpg Blog - All work and no play - Sutherland United Methodist Church Zionville, Ashe County, North Carolina Every chance we get, John and I head back to our “old stomping grounds” in western North Carolina, and if time permits, we visit the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains—also known as God’s country. Is there anything more beautiful than a light dusting of snow in the Appalachians? Simply breathtaking. (If you are a professional editor, I offer my sincere apology because I’m going to do the unthinkable and intentionally incorporate a cliché here. Consider yourself warned.) There’s no place like home. Come to think of it, this phrase is probably overused because everyone knows that it’s true. https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/this-little-light-of-mine monthly 0.5 2025-06-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/e49ef0a1-70c9-4554-a2d1-0ed29697f72e/Azores+cliff.JPG Blog - This little light of mine - Make it stand out Photo credit: John https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/8bbaffc3-04fd-4c42-b61e-79db4c6546c4/Nilsen+family.jpeg Blog - This little light of mine - A month before we departed for our trip, I did a search on the internet to see if I could find any American missionaries serving on Terceira Island. In only a few minutes, I found Dan and Tori Nilsen. I immediately sent the missionaries an email stating that we were coming to their “corner of the world” and would love to meet them. Below is a portion of the response that I received. Your email was a pleasant surprise; we don't often get emails out of the blue. We love meeting new people, especially when we get to share the incredible beauty of these islands with them. If you don't mind me asking, how did you pick the Azores for your trip? Most people don't even know these islands exist. Photo credit: Seika Ito https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/8a9e3bf0-1845-41dc-a4ff-08a5f3337864/lajes+field.JPG Blog - This little light of mine - Make it stand out Photo credit: John https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/3f4d5eb7-eb3a-4e96-889b-070ec36ddd38/Azores+beeswax+candle.jpg Blog - This little light of mine - Recently, John and I were delighted to receive a surprise in the mail—a package from the Azores. Yippee! Ripping open the package, I pulled out a carefully wrapped beeswax candle made in the Azores. I’m sure that Dan and Tori are aware of my affinity for bee “things” following the release of my picture book, You Can’t Judge a Bee by Its Color. What a thoughtful gift and one that we are certainly enjoying. There’s just one problem. Since receiving the candle, I can’t stop singing a song I learned in childhood. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine. (Lyrics: African-American Gospel Song, Copyright: Public Domain) Photo credit: Nan https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/ive-heard-this-one-before monthly 0.5 2025-05-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/1d00b6de-43a9-4e8d-ac44-a23477aa7067/Stella+2.jpg Blog - We’ve heard this one before. - “Melissa!!! ... I have been meaning to text you for months ‘cause I think of you often when we read this book. (Child’s name) is OBSESSED with Huck, Chuck, & Bruce: At the Shore. We read it every day, and we’ve even had to tape pages back together because of the ‘love’ it’s gotten. You will have to tell Nan! (We’re) currently at the beach, and you probably can guess what she brought along.” Photo credit: A young mother who understands the importance of books and reading! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/91910958-d1b0-4542-b029-a68ae6e6edb5/baby+gift+and+Huck.jpg Blog - We’ve heard this one before. - John and I have heard variations of this story before. At festivals and shows, we typically sell multiple copies of this book to folks who either need a baby shower gift or to those who are awaiting the arrival of a grandchild. (And yes, I always bring a few books already wrapped to these events because, unlike me, not everyone loves wrapping presents.) It never gets old hearing that little ones enjoy the three feathered friends in Huck, Chuck, & Bruce: At the Shore. And I’m over-the-moon thrilled to receive reports from families who live all over the world claiming that this is the first book their child can read independently. Yippee! Mission accomplished. https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/howcanihelp monthly 0.5 2025-05-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/3c823196-1833-468e-9fb8-8613d2553973/Front+Cover+-+HCB.jpg Blog - How can I help? - The guidelines for leaving an Amazon review are simple. You do NOT need to have purchased an item on Amazon to leave a review. This includes books. You need to have spent $50 on Amazon during the past twelve months. There’s no need to write a novella. A one-sentence review will do nicely. (If you’ve never left an Amazon review before, no worries. Give me a “holler”—or send me a FB message or an email—and I’ll explain the process. It takes only a minute or two.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/d33e644e-def8-4808-a496-45c35e486ae9/Cover+of+Bob%2C+the+bee.png Blog - How can I help? - Why are Amazon book reviews such a HUGE deal to a newbie author and illustrator like me? Positive reviews can lead to increased book sales. Reviews give readers and potential buyers the necessary information to make an informed decision about purchasing a book. Amazon reviews give increased exposure to new authors and illustrators. In the United States, the majority of books are purchased on Amazon. (No surprise there!) Doing so will please my publisher and my literary agent. And I want them to be happy. https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/a-harbinger-of-spring-6wsr9 monthly 0.5 2025-04-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/d04163b2-e153-456c-b1e0-f58692ad72f3/sunrise+++cross+++Nan2.jpg Blog - Good Friday! - Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast Save in the death of Christ, my God! All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his blood. (Photo credit: John, Location: Lake Yale, Leesburg, FL) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/bf938aae-dab6-4607-96a5-ba3738ffe70e/cross+on+Hibriten.jpg Blog - Good Friday! - See, from his head, his hands, his feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down. Did e'er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown? (Photo location: Hibriten Mountain, Lenoir, NC) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/de11aa78-b149-44ad-9ca1-fd085f927b63/Easter+Sunrise+Service.jpg Blog - Good Friday! - Make it stand out Photo credit: John, Location: King’s Creek, Cape Charles, Va.) https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/happy-birthday-to-you monthly 0.5 2025-03-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/d49e37d3-7e7e-4f37-8f0c-1a248c6ac0ed/Happy+Birthday%2C+Huck+2.jpg Blog - Happy Birthday to You! - “Can't believe it's been one year already. Happy birthday, Huck. I remember when you became—you. You were such a cutie. So glad you love your new life. You've seen a lot in one year. Enjoy your day.” - Linda Roff Daugherty (Linda’s sister, Barbara, crocheted this version of Huck, and therefore, Linda had the opportunity to see all the stages of his creation as a fluffy-stuffy. Lucky Linda.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/67a5d37e-308c-468e-94cb-48324f9e59ad/Nan+and+Carter.jpg Blog - Happy Birthday to You! “Huck, Chuck, & Bruce are celebrating a birthday!! If you have small ones, make sure to read books from Nan Carlton. She is a celebrated children's author. More importantly, she is a dear friend. My grandchildren love when she visits their school. There is plenty of sunshine left in this world. You just have to open the shades. Happy Birthday, guys!!” - Barry Mears (Photo credit: Nikki Zavala) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/e943bfc5-19fb-4769-9afd-68fd31cd2c5a/HCB+Kimberly+Gardner.jpg Blog - Happy Birthday to You! - “We read the recently ‘turned one’ Huck, Chuck, & Bruce: At the Shore for bedtime tonight! It’s a favorite! Happy Birthday!” - Kimberly Gardner (Photo credit: Kimberly Gardner) https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/a-harbinger-of-spring monthly 0.5 2025-04-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/51410520-b6b1-4358-bc70-4c530713fbe1/Frankie%27s+daffodils.jpg Blog - A Harbinger of Spring - Shades of yellow, orange, pink, and white sway and dance in the March breeze and beckon to each passerby with these unspoken words, “Why are you in such a hurry? Stop what you are doing for just one minute and look at my beauty.” And John and I do stop and look—again and again. And we take photographs of the daffodils in our yard. Some are blossoms from bulbs that we transplanted from Nana Frankie’s yard years ago. (Frankie was John’s mother. She is now in heaven.) Others are beautiful double-blossom daffodils that were a gift from a dear friend, Barbara. (Sadly, she now lives more than 10 hours away.) We stop and look and remember the people that we love. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/493dde10-8de0-436c-8b4f-2757cc2b8d37/double+blossom+daffodil.jpg Blog - A Harbinger of Spring - The truth is that John and I are not the only ones who enjoy this springtime feast for the eyes. At the 2023 Florida Christian Writers Conference, I met an author (Reese) who lives on Anderson Island, Washington. She recently shared, “Our whole island is covered with daffodils each spring—it’s spectacular. They’re so cheerful and bright. Anywhere on the island, if you venture outside when they’re blooming, you can’t help but have a goofy smile plastered on your face. God is good.” Yes, He is—all the time. https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/blog-post-title-one-cd34x-dchry monthly 0.5 2025-02-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/2b29f7ef-5317-4b37-a3e6-1cd27fc52c04/sundial+books.jpg Blog - Picture Books Aren’t Just for Kids - Saturday, November 30, 2024. It’s Small Business Saturday—the day after Black Friday. Holiday shoppers are out and about on Chincoteague Island, and a steady stream of book lovers enters the town’s idyllic bookstore. John and I are seated at a table near the front door. This is our second book signing at Sundial Books, and we’re extra excited today. For this time, we have two books to offer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/75bd1a87-8818-451c-b71b-d0ef62c83295/2+books+FCWC.jpg Blog - Picture Books Aren’t Just for Kids - Arthur tells us that he’s learning to read—again. Several months prior, he had a stroke. He goes on to share that he’s already relearned how to walk and to talk, and now, he’s ready to tackle reading. He has interest in my books for two reasons. Arthur’s neurologist has suggested that, in this start-from-scratch pursuit of reading, picture books with rhyme and repetition are a good choice. Additionally, the doctor recommends that Arthur choose children’s books that he has never read before to assure that he’s not repeating a familiar text from memory. Pretty smart neurologist, if you ask me. https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/m4mislujsxcua3rjlwwlesq1vqfckt monthly 0.5 2025-02-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/56b7e9f3-3a18-410b-81f0-87c970fa4540/Middle+grade+2.jpg Blog - When’s the last time you read a middle-grade novel? - Stow away with Hayden and Chloe on an enchanted boat ride! (The) siblings hitch a ride on the boat carrying nurses across the Chesapeake Bay to Smith Island. Join Hayden and Chloe on their grand adventure as they explore the island, meet the locals, … bake a Smith Island layer cake, pick crab meat, and even hunt for buried pirate treasure! Will Smith Island surrender its secrets? - Michele Davidson Nan’s recommendation: This is an especially good choice for folks who love the Chesapeake Bay area. (The author is a sweet friend from Cape Charles, Va.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/82d84658-9128-4cb8-9690-249dc82a0f0c/Middle+grade+4.jpg Blog - When’s the last time you read a middle-grade novel? - The sun is shining and today feels like an adventure … because I have a bicycle and friends and a city just waiting to be explored. With their new teacher’s help, the kids in class 5D ride to school together in a bicycle bus. … Everyone loves their new way of getting to school. But there’s a narrow stretch on Fisher Road with no white line to separate the cyclists from the traffic. Zoe and Max decide they need to make it right, even if that means breaking a few rules. - Steven Herrick Nan’s recommendation: This is an excellent choice for the bicycle enthusiast and those interested in the environment or pursuing an active lifestyle. It’s a novel-in-verse and a quick read. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/0a6b385b-c259-4982-a418-e13eed93371a/Middle+grade+5.jpg Blog - When’s the last time you read a middle-grade novel? - Grady’s hoping a mysterious inheritance will lead him to a buried treasure. But what if it’s a dead end? When Grady and his dad learn that the town oddball … left something for them in her will, … Grady just knows this could be the chance of a lifetime. But Grady soon learns that there’s more at risk than he bargained for, and solving this mystery just got a lot more dangerous. - Taryn Souders Nan’s recommendation: Do you like an action-packed (but not too scary) who-dun-it with a cast of interesting characters? Then, you’ll love this exciting mystery. (The author is my friend and an amazing, award-winning MG writer.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/7434a3b2-cef8-4d80-a52a-41b8c4fab857/Middle+grade+3.jpg Blog - When’s the last time you read a middle-grade novel? - One year, one classroom, and one unique group of students (The) unforgettable students in this fifth-grade classroom reveal there is more to them than last night’s homework. Here, their complicated lives at home and at school come together as they share their private feelings about birth and death, a missing bicycle, a first kiss, recess, report cards, fitting in, and family. Using a rich array of traditional poetic forms, … the award-winning Helen Frost weaves the stories of the kids and their teacher in “Room 214.” - Helen Frost Nan’s recommendation: Less than 100 pages, this is the perfect book for the reluctant reader. It’s a novel-in-verse and is written in free verse—no rhyme and no strict rhythmic pattern. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/25990e7e-dbf1-4ac4-b4a4-e3dae47be760/Middle+grade+6.jpg Blog - When’s the last time you read a middle-grade novel? - Only after she escaped from fear did she really find her strength. Ada is ten years old and has never left her one-room apartment. Her cruel mother is too humiliated by Ada’s twisted foot to let her outside. So, when her little brother, Jamie, is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada sneaks out to join him. … In the end, will their bond be enough to hold them together through wartime? Or will Ada and her brother fall back into the hands of their mother? - Kimberly Brubaker Bradley Nan’s recommendation: This will have great appeal to folks who like WWII novels. Because of the biological mother’s cruelty to her children, I feel the book is best suited for older kids. https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/blog-post-title-one-cd34x-ccmd2 monthly 0.5 2025-01-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/07278a42-5961-44bd-aeb9-503084746da0/sutherland+umc.jpg Blog - Where two or three are gathered … - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/1737241103475-NXFGORXB7Z6LOQAWHR75/Western+NC+Strong.jpg Blog - Where two or three are gathered … - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/leave-em-laughing monthly 0.5 2025-01-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/f5d03003-fb4e-47b9-8b63-8b7110a3d760/ducks+shirts+John+and+Nan.jpg Blog - Leave ‘em laughing. - “Hey, there. I love your shirts.” When we have been at book events, John and I have heard this comment countless times. Until recently my response has been, “Thanks. We enjoy doing the matchy-matchy thing.” But in November, a young person (politely) corrected me and shared that this phrase is no longer “cool.” The teen told me that John and I are twinning. Now, I do not suffer from a hearing loss, but I misunderstood the young man. I thought he was saying something about the two of us being in our twenties. So, I (politely) corrected the lad and shared that we were in our sixties. After he stopped laughing uncontrollably, he replied, “I said TWINNING - not TWENTY.” I stand corrected. We enjoy doing the twinning thing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/100eb102-58f0-4c52-a466-b9c3960d96ee/surfboards.jpg Blog - Leave ‘em laughing. - John and I were visiting an elementary school in March. (In order to protect the guilty parties, I’ll not disclose our location.) All was going well until I came to the page in Huck, Chuck, & Bruce: At the Shore where the waterfowl are on surfboards. I interjected that I have never been on a surfboard - nor do I plan to ever get on one. Immediately, a 5-year-old hand popped up. Smiling, he stated, “I know why you’ve never been on a surfboard. It’s because of your weight.” The kindergartener seated next to this outspoken child added, “Or it could be her age.” I looked over at John who was trying not to laugh. I looked at the poor teacher whose face had drained of all color. And then, I looked at the boys, smiled, and told them that they were both correct. From the mouth of babes. https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/blog-post-title-two-8a3t7-tgs8h-trk8z-xsctl-jehgn-5gkzt monthly 0.5 2024-11-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/34313312-c640-4da8-b25a-68fbaaa81107/rapeseed+2.jpg Blog - Come, ye thankful people, come. - Come, ye thankful people, come. Raise the song of harvest home! All is safely gathered in, Ere the winter storms begin. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/669daf11-1d53-41dc-b298-3bbfe937f17a/blackberries.jpg Blog - Come, ye thankful people, come. - God, our Maker, doth provide For our wants to be supplied. Come to God’s own temple, come, Raise the song of harvest home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/65802d50-5ec2-4cdf-a57f-8683d79821ce/apples+in+CC.jpg Blog - Come, ye thankful people, come. - We ourselves are God’s own field, Fruit unto His praise to yield. Wheat and tares together sown Unto joy or sorrow grown. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/37c7425c-4ed8-4aab-9569-041651a11e47/Corn+harvest.jpg Blog - Come, ye thankful people, come. - First the blade, and then the ear, Then the full corn shall appear. Lord of harvest, grant that we Wholesome grain and pure may be. Amen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/52e753c5-21bc-47fd-bd43-27922d45a2f8/cornucopia.jpg Blog - Come, ye thankful people, come. - Make it stand out Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. Psalm 136:1 https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/why-do-i-do-this-mdgfb monthly 0.5 2024-11-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/ad1e6473-4739-40c9-aa06-636f3c96b454/OCC+boy+shoebox.jpeg Blog - Thanks + Giving = Happy November! - No time to shop? Not able to go out and shop? Not a problem. There are other options available. Samaritan’s Purse has an online Christmas Gift Catalog. You can participate in this project without leaving your house! A few of the kid-friendly gift choices that pique my interest are providing … honeybee hives and beekeeper training, chicken coops and baby chicks, and “Jesus Loves Me” musical lambs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/fb5c5811-7751-45a2-8538-c545e93a6f27/baby+jesus+and+star+3.jpeg Blog - Thanks + Giving = Happy November! - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:16-17, KJV https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/babb02ef-a3c4-4904-b29e-033b7729b749/OCC+shoeboxes.jpeg Blog - Thanks + Giving = Happy November! - Oh, yes. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. And now, I wait and wonder … Where will my shoeboxes go this year? Somewhere in the United States? Or to the ends of the earth? I give thanks for the annual opportunity of giving to this worldwide mission’s project. May God richly bless the recipients of all the shoeboxes that will be distributed in 2024. https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/an-apple-a-day monthly 0.5 2024-11-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/6e1d012b-3e6a-4e96-9eb8-c597a19c8152/picking+apples.jpeg Blog - An apple a day... - (Picture: cut-paper collage illustration from my unpublished picture book, MY OTHER BROTHER) Reason #1: Our solitary apple tree leaned at a 45-degree angle. From the perspective of a 10-year-old tomboy, this was definitely a redeeming quality. The tree was a piece of cake (or should I say a piece of apple pie) to climb. I fondly remember the days when I grabbed hold of a low-hanging branch and shimmied up that tree with the greatest of ease. (In case you are wondering, shimmy is a real word. I just looked it up. The Oxford Dictionary states that it means “to move effortlessly.” Oh, yes. I remember the days of moving effortlessly.) From this perch on high, I spent countless hours in the most splendid open-air cockpit where I routinely flew above our church’s rooftop, over the Blue Ridge Mountains, and through puffy, cumulous clouds. Back in the day, my adventures were only limited by my imagination. Precious memories. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/68d1ef30-2a24-48ef-8008-f4473aa776d6/apple+trees.jpeg Blog - An apple a day... - Make it stand out (Picture: cut-paper collage illustration from the front cover of You Can't Judge a Bee by Its Color) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/734613df-9b8c-4288-b872-a49d4798f4f5/three+apples.jpeg Blog - An apple a day... - (Picture: cut-paper collage illustration from the Recipes page of my website) Reason #2: My grandmother’s old-fashioned Fried Apple Pies. Each autumn, Grandma Thompson took fruit from our tree, washed the apples, sliced them, and dried them in the sun for days and days on baking sheets. After what seemed like an eternity, the apples were ready for consumption. Then, Grandma T. employed her vintage cast iron skillet and made one of the best-tasting foods I ever put in my mouth. Nothing says autumn to me like the following recipe. Enjoy. https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/blog-post-title-one-cd34x-m2ns6 monthly 0.5 2024-11-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/11e8bdf7-faf2-4c4c-98cb-52e08c30c412/Huck+Barbara.jpg Blog - A Letter from Huck - Hi, I’m Huck. Can I live with you? The lady I lived with said you would love me. She had to put me in this dark place because she said it would take me to you. It was a long time before I got here. I kept hearing funny noises, and I got bumped around a lot. I don’t think that any part of me is broken, but I do feel out of shape. I am here at your house now, and my new life with you will begin. Love, Huck https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/a-funny-thing-happened-on-the-way-home-from-the-festival monthly 0.5 2024-09-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/c8038bdf-5f68-493f-9ae0-e29a6a5da4c3/Duck+Shirts.jpg Blog - A funny thing happened on the way home from the festival. - Chance Encounter #2 After what we determine to be a substantial wait time (remember that we’re hungry), Owen arrives with our food. We thank him. He replies, “My pleasure.” (I never tire of that reply.) We expect Owen to leave our table. He doesn’t. Instead, he lingers and asks, “What’s up with the matching shirts?” I give him the Reader’s Digest version of being the author/illustrator of a children’s book titled Huck, Chuck, & Bruce: At the Shore. Then, I share that we wear these “Huck, the Duck” shirts at book events. (I purposefully keep it pithy because our food is getting cold.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/241e3abc-2b7f-4019-a54b-21074da17a98/ducks+shirts+John+and+Nan.jpg Blog - A funny thing happened on the way home from the festival. - Chance Encounter #3 Halfway through our meal, I notice the presence of a young lad close by. John and I are seated indoors next to a window. The pre-teen and his family are seated outdoors. In our peripheral vision, we notice that the boy is looking our way and making some type of motion with his hands. Of course, John and I look to see what’s going on. Smiling, he gives us two thumbs up and then, points to our shirts. In return, we wave to him. Through the window, we carry on a most pleasant conversation. I hold up the paperback copy of my book and point to Huck and my name on the cover. He understands. The entire family smiles and claps. I take a tiny bow and resume eating my cold chicken. https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/why-do-i-do-this monthly 0.5 2024-11-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/44e6139b-76e9-4dcf-b8da-028dec8f62d0/pencil+and+paper.jpg Blog - Why do I do this? - WORKING For several years, I … wrote and erased and rewrote a manuscript, crafted the illustrations, collaborated with editors, watched graphic designers do their “magic.” And then, the day came when the publisher said, ”Your picture book has gone to press.” Somewhere, someone has my book and is preparing to print it. And now, I wait. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/1715342636273-JG9K41ULZA87B0WR65OU/package+at+door.jpg Blog - Why do I do this? - DREAMING I don’t like the waiting part. Actually, I abhor it. The interminable wait— a necessary evil on this writing journey. So, until the book arrives on my doorstep, I dream … Of ripping open the long-awaited, heavy box, Of enjoying that “new book” smell, Of holding this labor of love in my hands for the first time, Of listening to a child read my book. Waiting is hard. But dreaming is nice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/af6b160e-f78b-41be-807d-ba828c40221d/matt+pennington%27s+kids.jpg Blog - Why do I do this? - READING Clapping, smiling, and sometimes, even squealing … I hear an elated toddler shout, “I can read! Did you hear me, Momma? I just read a book all by myself! Did you hear me, Momma?” With tears in her eyes, the mother responds, “Oh, yes! I heard you read, sweetie. And I’m so proud of you.” Huge milestone— Reading your first book. https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/blog-post-title-two-8a3t7-tgs8h-trk8z-56a9y-xebt2 monthly 0.5 2024-08-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/ad6f5427-a09e-4841-9379-1ad464e82467/Bob+the+bee.jpeg Blog - Meet the bees. - The “Newbie” Well, look who’s here. It’s Bob, the bee. You’ll love this guy. I guarantee. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/87f8918a-2553-4d9b-ad9f-fe480c631959/Sweetie+Bee.jpeg Blog - Meet the bees. - Sweetie Bee A sweetheart of a honeybee— She’s fond of flowers and sweet tea. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/7511ac64-302c-49b3-8531-380eff51d8de/Fuzzy+Bee.jpeg Blog - Meet the bees. - Fuzzy Bee A proud, outspoken bumblebee— Her favorite words are us and we. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/dd326464-104e-4468-857c-295b813ef240/Busy+Bee.jpeg Blog - Meet the bees. - Busy Bee A fussy, bossy honeybee— He’s always busy as can be. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/4256913d-9989-4250-b863-2390a79e78b5/Humble+Bee.jpg Blog - Meet the bees. - Humble Bee A gentle, loving bumblebee— He brings his town much joy and glee. https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/blog-post-title-two-8a3t7-5rg99 monthly 0.5 2024-08-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/128f39aa-64b0-4b9f-8675-199ea0ac2b14/josephine+2.jpg Blog - Josephine and her jacket of many colors - 9:57 a.m. Our ten-minute class break is almost over. Maggie is seated next to me. She’s doing something on her laptop. Not wanting to startle her, I gently touch Maggie’s arm. Her smile says: Go ahead. I’m listening. Pointing to our classmate who is seated directly in front of me, I whisper, “Would you look at that gorgeous jacket! Where in all the world do suppose that Josephine got it?” ”It is pretty,” Maggie agrees. “Josephine is your friend.?” Maggie asks. ”No, no, no. I’ve never met her. But when we have our next break, I’m going to see if she would like to join us for lunch,” I reply. ”If you have not met her, then, how do you know that her name is Josephine?” Maggie quizzes me. ”I have no clue what her name is. Josephine is the nickname that I have given her. Look at what she’s wearing. Don’t you get it? Josephine and her jacket of many colors!" I reply. Maggie softly chuckles, and we both return our attention to the instructor, Michelle, as she begins a new class session. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/3399b95a-5e70-4e4f-baf5-6a21d3b9943c/FCWC+Donna+and+Nan+.jpg Blog - Josephine and her jacket of many colors - Well, she accepts my invitation for lunch—where I learn that her real name is Donna. And within only a matter of minutes, I realize that much like Joseph in the Old Testament, Donna is a mature, obedient believer—a woman of strong faith. After lunch, I share a concise retelling of how she earned her nickname. Thankfully, she recognizes (and appreciates) my wacky sense of humor. It’s quite interesting how a complete stranger can become a beloved and trusted friend in such a short period of time. I believe that this can only be a “God thing.” Yes, she is Donna—but only when we must be serious. In our lighter moments, her nickname prevails. Josephine has a nice “ring” to it. Don’t you think? https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/blog-post-title-two-8a3t7-tgs8h-trk8z-xsctl-5tt2z monthly 0.5 2024-12-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/23db83b7-2c9b-4af6-9777-f035de4e2dd3/Caldwell+County+Bookmobile+1954.jpg Blog - In the good old summertime… - Make it stand out Photo credit: State Library of NC, Digital Collections (1954) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/e6370796-1e1f-4345-932d-87f3b03eff4a/the+boxcar+children.jpg Blog - In the good old summertime… - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/b0ad024d-dbfe-4c13-acfb-44efb21d72be/Caldwell+Co.+bookmobile+interior+view+1954.jpg Blog - In the good old summertime… - Make it stand out Photo credit: State Library of NC, Digital Collections (1954) https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/blog-post-title-two-8a3t7-tgs8h-trk8z-xsctl-jehgn-d856m monthly 0.5 2024-06-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/57237b20-d07d-4111-924a-b6869b85ce0b/peanut+butter+tree+watering.jpg Blog - The Peanut Butter Tree - John and I are out and about in town when we notice that a neighbor’s small tree looks to be in distress. Drooping branches. Wilted leaves. This is no surprise because the past few weeks in Cape Charles, Virginia have been as dry as the Mojave Desert in mid-May. Knowing that the neighbors are away for a bit, we do what any decent neighbor would do. We give the thirsty tree a nice long drink of water. By the next morning, we see that it has perked up considerably. I text the neighbors to let them know that John has watered their little dogwood tree. I have no doubt that its’ a dogwood. I’ve only lived in two states: North Carolina and Virginia. And for both of these states, the flowering dogwood is the state flower. Heavens to Betsy. Even at dusk or when the tips of the leaves are curled, I know what the leaf of a dogwood tree looks like! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/ccf6a2fb-16fb-41a2-a167-5243ed4ebf2e/peanut+butter+tree+leaf+smelling.jpg Blog - The Peanut Butter Tree - Our friends quickly respond to my text and express their gratitude for our having watered their “peanut butter” tree. What? Is this a joke? Who ever heard of a “peanut butter” tree? Goodness gracious. Mercy me. For the reason previously stated, I’m pretty confident in my ability to identify the leaf of a “dogwood” tree. A follow-up email invites me to go sniff the leaves of this tree. Take a wild guess what I do next. Yep. You got it. I march over to the neighbor’s yard and stick my nose up close to the tree. Then, I rub a leaf between two fingers and take a long whiff of my fingers. Jiminy Cricket! The leaves of a peanut butter tree smell exactly like—wait for it—peanut butter. Well, I’ll be John Brown. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/450386cb-6691-46b3-8c69-826d38e71783/peanut+butter+tree+leaf.jpg Blog - The Peanut Butter Tree I believe in the intrinsic value of hard work and the desire to learn something new. At this point in my writing journey, hard work equates to a minimum of an 8-hour workday of writing, illustrating, and reading. (Sometimes, it’s a 12-hour day.) And currently, learning something new involves webinars, workshops, “how-to” books, manuscript critiques, and conferences. This peanut-butter-tree experience has been a timely reminder of two things. 1. A balance of work and play is a good thing. Opportunities to enjoy life await me at every turn if I will just stop long enough to see them or hear them—or smell them. 2. I can’t possibly know everything. (I’m guessing that you can say the same thing.) Whether it’s new information about a tree or writing and illustrating, I say, “Bring it on!” Therefore . . . https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/blog-post-title-two-8a3t7-tgs8h-trk8z-56a9y-xlcbf-d7klg-bygfy-jegne-rp5ea monthly 0.5 2024-08-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/b8428320-53dd-4262-9eb0-ddce1b236ade/bluebells.jpg Blog - “Robed in the blooming garb of spring” John and I divide our time each week between Richmond, Va. and Cape Charles, Va. Most of our friends who live in the historic district of Cape Charles own golf carts. We do not. Instead, we choose to walk in this very walkable “Mayberry by the Bay.” And we walk a lot! I’m not complaining. No, no. We enjoy walking. (Well, except for the month of March when the frigid wind off of the Chesapeake Bay makes our quaint “Mayberry” feel more like Juneau, Alaska.) It’s my humble opinion that the best season for walking in Cape Charles is when our neighbor’s yards are “robed in the blooming garb of spring.” Oh, my goodness. I’ve never seen such a glorious display of blossoms and blooms in my life. I’m talking both flowers and fruit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/4d79dce2-9e88-42bc-ba9c-55c8527e3a55/blackberry.jpg Blog - “Robed in the blooming garb of spring” Cape Charles, VA 2023 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/8385df31-4585-42d3-8431-aafc219c900e/fig.jpg Blog - “Robed in the blooming garb of spring” - So, what’s my response? I return to the lyrics of this hymn to find a satisfactory answer. Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature, O Thou of God and man the Son; Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor, Thou, my soul’s glory, joy, and crown. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/71e91bd5-78ee-49a9-adce-3b7c9713210b/tulips+at+fence.jpg Blog - “Robed in the blooming garb of spring” - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/blog-post-title-two-8a3t7-s6zjl monthly 0.5 2024-06-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/8e652628-b8dc-4ba5-aac9-91b4ed97b9a7/melissa+prior+holding+camera.jpg Blog - Photographer. Graphic designer. Friend. - The illustrations for Huck, Chuck, & Bruce: At the Shore are rendered in paper collage. Because this type of artwork consists of layers and layers of paper, my attempts to scan the illustrations were nothing short of disastrous. (Lots of wonky shadows.) I could never send t hese digital images to a publisher. What to do now? I looked at the copyright page of other collage art illustrators and found a commonality—a photographer’s name was cited. That’s It! Scanning is not going to work, but taking pictures will. Enter Melissa Prior—photographer extraordinaire. I asked my friend if she would take pictures of the collages. She said, “Yes.” And I said, “YIPPEE!” Pre-husband and pre-children, Melissa was a graphic designer. Little did I know how invaluable this skill would become until a few inevitable glitches reared their ugly heads during the formatting of my first book. What talent. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/904f9b98-c6dd-423e-b4f5-5d4028a7994f/melissa+prior+black+and+white+pic.JPEG Blog - Photographer. Graphic designer. Friend. - And what an . . . Intelligent, Well-spoken, Professional, Thoughtful, Generous, Humble, Lovely, Mature, Godly woman. I could go on and on and on . . . But I’m sure you get the picture. (Pun intended.) She’s the proverbial whole package. https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/blog-post-title-two-8a3t7-tgs8h-trk8z-56a9y-xlcbf-d7klg-bygfy-jegne-ndf48 monthly 0.5 2024-05-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/a7839c91-85d6-498e-a33f-50ad203c4d26/amazon+driver.jpg Blog - A helper—kind and good. - Thanks, Darrell. Richmond, Va. I stand on the catwalk between the parking garage and our condo building. Amazon has just sent updated tracking information for my package, and the Amazon driver should be in my neighborhood within the next several minutes. From this bird’s-eye perch, I can scan several roads and will know the exact time that the driver arrives. Impatiently, I watch and wait. At last, . . . He’s here! My picture books are here! I race down to the lobby and greet the driver. He smiles and places the heavy box in my hands. He even takes a few pictures of me holding a book. The opportunity to watch my first box of paperback books being delivered—what a thrill! Thank you, Darrell. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/19ce6537-9b93-4ead-b62e-c39a6de86cfc/ups+driver.jpg Blog - A helper—kind and good. - Thanks, Chris. Cape Charles, Va. It’s been one week since the paperbacks arrived. Today, I’m waiting for the hardback books. I’ve received no updates from UPS giving me an estimated delivery time. No worries. I have a pretty good idea of what time he’ll be here. Give or take a few minutes, I’ll hear the familiar sound of the UPS truck around 2 p.m. It’s now 2-ish, and I hear the UPS truck and look out the window. There’s no brown truck in sight—but here comes the delivery guy running down the street with a couple of packages in his hands. I met him on the front porch, and he says, "There must be something very important in these boxes." Yes, sir. These packages represent a dream come true. Thank you, Chris. (And thanks for buying one of the books for your wife’s kindergarten class!) Cape Charles, VA 2023 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/b426e474-3832-4474-bcb5-653cfe6b2ae3/ups+guy+Lenoir.jpg Blog - A helper—kind and good. - Thanks, John. Lenoir, NC. Our vehicle has been packed, and we’re heading to western North Carolina for our many scheduled book events. But we have a problem. A big problem. The hardback books that I ordered didn’t arrive in Richmond before we left. There’s only one thing to try at this point. I must attempt to reroute the boxes to Lenoir. Step one: Request that the printers change the shipping destination. Step two: Contact the UPS Customer Center in Lenoir and ask them to hold the packages for pick-up in their warehouse. Despite my concerns and my fretting, “Plan B” worked. We picked up the books from the warehouse at 10:30 a.m. and arrived at the 11:00 a.m. book signing—with 7 minutes to spare. Thank you, John. (And a shout out to all the UPS folks in Lenoir. What an amazing team y’all are.) https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/blog-post-title-two-8a3t7-tgs8h-trk8z-xsctl-3ejd8-7ehkd monthly 0.5 2024-04-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/3e20799d-8369-46e4-bc74-eda0bc002905/The+Mastellers+and+the+Mostellers.jpg Blog - A funny thing happened on the way to the interview room… - “Friends and Cousins” Gary, Karen, Nan, & John (L to R) Florida Christian Writers Conference Lake Yale, Florida Photo credit: Maria Gosa (2023) Homeplace of Clyde and Ruth Taylor, my great-uncle and great-aunt, Hibriten Mountain in background Photo credit: Belle Taylor Carlton, my paternal grandmother (c. 1950s) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/cdb3dedc-8610-4660-8502-74590cd21271/Mosteller+or+Masteller.jpg Blog - A funny thing happened on the way to the interview room… - Make it stand out “Suppertime” Williamsburg, Va. Photo credit: A waiter named Andrew (2024) https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/blog-post-title-two-8a3t7-tgs8h-trk8z-56a9y-xlcbf-d7klg-bygfy-jegne-jttb4 monthly 0.5 2024-04-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/1bbb7d62-05c0-410e-b52f-839929348843/Karen+Barlow.jpg Blog - Reading is FUNdamental! - Silver and Gold After working for years to publish my first picture book, the aforementioned events have been exhilarating and the most fun that I’ve had in a long, long time. Family, friends, food, fellowship. I’ve enjoyed every single minute of the festivities. Remember these lyrics from Brownie Scouts? Make new friends, But keep the old. One is silver, And the other gold. That pretty well sums up the book events experience. Seeing childhood friends. Meeting distant cousins for the first time. Being with immediate family members. Witnessing a total stranger morph into a friend within a few minutes. Now, that’s what I call joy! A HUGE thank you to each of you for sharing this experience with me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/8db14030-a5b4-46f6-8e1a-73e12b71a907/toddler+with+huck.jpg Blog - Reading is FUNdamental! - Was the hard work and effort worth the reward? You bet it was! The book readings and craft times with children have reminded me of something that I’ve known for a long time and something that I’ve even sung about—although not as well as Cindy Lauper. Girls (and boys) just wanna have fun. Parents and grandparents are telling me that Huck, Chuck, & Bruce: At the Shore is a “big hit” at their house, and some are sharing that it’s the first book that their little one has read independently. As an author, you can’t get any better than that! A bedtime story is being shared with young children, and they are learning that reading is fun. Hopefully, my book will be a launching pad of sorts for the ultimate discovery that reading is also FUNdamental. Cape Charles, VA 2023 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/c1f22388-8b68-42d8-911b-11a9f58a1ded/matt+pennington%27s+kids.jpg Blog - Reading is FUNdamental! - Look at the faces of these precious children. Yep, I’d say that’s definitely worth a little elbow grease on my part! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/2ee956be-3517-4715-bf78-723f9c5902cf/john+at+booth+in+CI.jpg Blog - Reading is FUNdamental! - Thank you, love. One of the bonuses of having a crazy-busy schedule overflowing with book events is the opportunity to spend quality time with John. (At this point, I’m confident that John is wishing that I hadn’t singled him out in this manner. Had he known, he never would have agreed to this. And that’s exactly why I did not tell him in advance. Sorry, sweetie. Take a deep breath. You’ll be okay.) I don’t suppose that any wet-behind-the-ears author/illustrator has ever had a better salesman, financial adviser, chauffeur, luggage carrier, husband by her side. What a blessing from God. Words cannot express how grateful I am to be on this journey with you. Love you bunches! https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/blog-post-title-two-8a3t7-tgs8h-trk8z-xsctl-jehgn monthly 0.5 2024-06-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/1f3950af-fad3-4e2b-a793-332ac928c154/were+you+there+1.jpeg Blog - Were You There? - Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Oh! . . . Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they crucified my Lord? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/94761909-6a8f-4b3b-93ab-b00d79959ebf/were+you+there+2.jpeg Blog - Were You There? - Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb? Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb? Oh! . . . Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/c7719ec9-6d39-48bb-9e19-d3e5e8ab02d7/were+you+there+3.jpeg Blog - Were You There? - Were you there when He rose up from the grave? Were you there when He rose up from the grave? Oh! . . . Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when He rose up from the grave? https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/blog-post-title-two-8a3t7-tgs8h-trk8z-56a9y-7rz3w monthly 0.5 2024-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/f26d4e25-a535-410d-8d0a-1f932ba67967/sympathy+cards+2.jpg Blog - What can you do with a pile of old sympathy cards? - First, I flip through my card “stash” in search of the perfect color combinations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/aec0f205-8d17-4678-90dc-0d88153602fe/sympathy+cards+3.jpg Blog - What can you do with a pile of old sympathy cards? - No, no. I don’t toss the empty envelopes. They’re recycled, also. Waste not; want not. (Yikes! I sound like my grandparents!) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/01504a71-46a0-4127-a5fb-1107be4e8ae5/sympathy+cards+4.jpg Blog - What can you do with a pile of old sympathy cards? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/58ea193e-b59d-4c01-8a45-62e2d75c234a/night-night+Chuck.jpeg Blog - What can you do with a pile of old sympathy cards? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/blog-post-title-two-8a3t7-tgs8h-trk8z-56a9y-xlcbf-d7klg-bygfy-jegne monthly 0.5 2024-04-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/a79e4561-2690-41e7-8e34-b7a38fc7467d/huck+with+sand+pail.jpeg Blog - Hello, Huck. Hello, Chuck. Hello, Bruce. - Hello, Huck. Meet Huckleberry. Huck, for short. He’s the baby of the bunch. Huck is a Pekin duck. Technically, since he is still a youngster, he’s called a duckling. But have no fear, there’s no ugly duckling in this story. Huck is handsome. When the little fellow is full-grown, his feathers will be snow white. And somewhere along the way, he’ll learn to tuck his legs and webbed feet when he flies. But neither of these will happen during this beach outing. More often than not, Huck is satisfied to bring up the rear and to follow the lead of the larger birds. But every now and again, his desire to be a free spirit surfaces. And I silently scream, “You go, Huck.” My favorite scene with Huck is when he turns a sand pail over and wears it as a beach hat. Silly duck. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/cedf97d5-6283-4a36-9f12-63bdc2118cba/night-night+Huck+and+Chuck.jpeg Blog - Hello, Huck. Hello, Chuck. Hello, Bruce. - Hello, Chuck. His given name is Charles. But he prefers to be called Chuck. His gorgeous green head indicates that he is unmistakably a Mallard duck. Sandwiched between a small duckling and a large goose, Chuck finds himself in the role of the middleman. Being a middle child myself, I relate well to Chuck’s dilemma. He never enjoys the perks of being the boss or the baby. (I feel your pain, Chuck.) I’m fond of the illustrations on the final pages. It’s bedtime for the birds. And in the dim moonlight, I am 100% certain that Chuck takes one final look at Huck to make sure that the duckling is settled in for the night. And then, Chuck closes his eyes and falls asleep. Cape Charles, VA 2023 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/0273b6b5-5e07-43d0-a2e4-42cfab74bcec/Bruce.jpeg Blog - Hello, Huck. Hello, Chuck. Hello, Bruce. - Hello, Bruce. No cutesy nickname for this guy. He’s Bruce - a sleek, stately Canadian goose. Not only is he the largest waterfowl and the loudest honker in the flock, but it is obvious that he is the self-appointed leader and protector of said group. I am most envious of Bruce. What must it be like to be the big bird on the proverbial block - to honk an order and everyone flaps into formation? In the sunset scene, I can almost hear this confident commander announce, “It’s time to go. Soon, it will be dark. I know the way back to our pond. Follow me. Honk! Honk!” https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/blog-post-title-two-8a3t7-tgs8h-trk8z-56a9y-xlcbf-d7klg-bygfy monthly 0.5 2024-02-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/20fa96ea-8f98-4ce7-8d4a-14a138f92396/Front+Cover+-+HCB.jpg Blog - It’s alive! It’s alive! - On the back cover of the book, it says… “What happens when two ducks and a goose decide to spend a day at the beach? Lots! Huck, Chuck, & Bruce: At the Shore invites readers to race to the water’s edge and join a flock of feathered friends as they build sand forts, ride waves, and gobble ice cream. Yum! Follow Huck, Chuck, and Bruce from sunrise to sunset on their lyrical adventure, and take time to cherish the charming paper collage illustrations and playful rhymes in this cozy bedtime story.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/3adb121a-b199-4e60-9d5f-e0c491e10cd7/adirondak.jpg Blog - It’s alive! It’s alive! - Simple Beginnings The creation of Huck, Chuck, & Bruce: At the Shore begins with a routine morning walk in Cape Charles, Va. In complete silence and with no discernable effort, two mallard ducks and one Canadian goose swim in a nearby pond. Absentmindedly, I say to my husband, “Look, John. Duck—Duck—Goose.” We return to the beach cottage, and I gather the necessary supplies. A pencil. A spiral-bound notebook. An Adirondack chair on the front porch. A bottle of water. That’s all I need. In a matter of minutes, Huck, Chuck, and Bruce are hatched. And the dream of a picture book takes flight. Duck. Duck. Goose. Morning, Huck. Morning, Chuck. Morning, Bruce. Cape Charles, VA 2023 https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/what-in-all-the-world-is-ephemera monthly 0.5 2024-01-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/cdc1da6f-7be6-491d-9ec0-1047ff0d13d5/ephemera+3.jpeg Blog - What in all the world is “ephemera?” - The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “ephemera” as: 1. something of no lasting significance, 2. paper items that were originally meant to be discarded after use. Nan’s dictionary (if it existed) would define “ephemera” using only one word—trash! Yes, ephemera is destined to become trash…unless it is rescued from certain death and destruction by a collage artist. But with a little creativity, this repurposed “junk” can become a treasure—a thing of beauty. These are a few of my favorite things to recycle for collage art: greeting card envelopes, empty toilet paper rolls, paper bags, the interior of business envelopes, used doilies, disposable candy/nut cups, paper tray liners from restaurants, ticket stubs, clothing tags, take-out menus, yesterday’s newspaper… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/638b1977-eb3d-435d-a41a-45d2d896ebbf/Girl+Boy+back.jpeg Blog - What in all the world is “ephemera?” - Although it’s not a pretty sight, the backs of these figures give a good “behind the scenes” look at my artwork. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/d9431cda-d6ef-41ea-81fe-58a490c8906a/Girl+Boy+front+cropped.jpeg Blog - What in all the world is “ephemera?” - Flip the boy and girl over and— Ah!—now, that’s a much more attractive view. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/522d1fcb-fd15-4a77-8df0-af61c168210f/Girl+Boy+with+books.jpeg Blog - What in all the world is “ephemera?” - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/9d9b3b7d-b6c2-4e56-a769-d273d56786f0/CC+LOVE+SIGN+.jpg Blog - What in all the world is “ephemera?” - What’s the most difficult thing to cut out? Without a doubt, it’s the miniscule pieces. Creating Huck the Duck (see upper left-hand corner) for this illustration was tough. I cut off Huck’s head once and snipped his scrawny little legs in half numerous times. But it was his beak and webbed feet that gave me the most trouble. Poor, poor Huck. https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/blog-post-title-two-8a3t7-tgs8h-trk8z-56a9y-xlcbf-d7klg monthly 0.5 2024-01-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/13278066-e5d3-4d26-84dd-4320c594898e/Cape+Charles+librarians.jpg Blog - RAH! RAH! Sis, Boom, Bah. - Maureen Tamares, Betsy Doherty, Sharon Silvey (L to R) Library staff at Cape Charles Memorial Library Cape Charles, Va. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/e41233b4-30a0-436f-8a08-ffd2d29e6d41/Cape+Charles+Library+sign.jpg Blog - RAH! RAH! Sis, Boom, Bah. - The Cape Charles Memorial Library staff— always smiling, always helpful, always friendly. And I am grateful. GO, TEAM, GO! Cape Charles, VA 2023 https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/blog-post-title-two-8a3t7-tgs8h-trk8z-xsctl-3ejd8-wnw4l monthly 0.5 2024-01-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/2f3f4c40-486a-4d91-9f49-a2a11710cb79/reflection+joy.jpg Blog - Top takeaways from 2023 - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/2dfba12b-53ca-4a53-8660-5f0f57d1e4bf/angel+with+heart.jpg Blog - Top takeaways from 2023 - Better to write what you love and then seek a home for it than to try to come up with a clever idea to get published. “The Heart of an Angel” Photo credit: Nan Carlton, 2023 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/d11885fe-9d38-452c-86a1-5d1d06d6aa5f/oyster+shell+nativity+ornament.jpg Blog - Top takeaways from 2023 - We are not called to be successful; we are called to be faithful. - Michelle Cox https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/blog-post-title-two-8a3t7-tgs8h-trk8z-56a9y monthly 0.5 2023-12-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/116942f2-3f07-4eaf-bf85-44e70479a7cf/Daddy+and+Nancy+lawnmower.jpeg.jpeg Blog - Happy Birthday, Daddy. - Make it stand out “Daddy and His Little Shadow” Photo credit: Gwen T. Carlton (c. 1964) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/5a0b6ab4-91e8-4fe6-939d-4adffb51976d/Daddy+baseball.jpg Blog - Happy Birthday, Daddy. ”Keith just beat out a hit - Moody Air Force Base, GA”' (Inscription on back of photo) Photo credit: Unknown photographer (c. 1950s) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/03493f61-1dbb-467d-89b8-b09ae65ef170/Nancy+bat+and+ball.jpeg Blog - Happy Birthday, Daddy. - Make it stand out Nancy Carlton: “Like father. Like daughter.” Photo credit: Gwen T. Carlton (c. 1963) https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/blog-post-title-two-8a3t7-tgs8h-trk8z-xsctl-3ejd8 monthly 0.5 2023-12-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/d0b1435d-3836-4419-8849-b4bf802209a8/Hibriten+Mountain+in+snow.jpeg Blog - “My” Mountain - Homeplace of Clyde and Ruth Taylor, m y great-uncle and great-aunt, Hibriten Mountain in background Photo credit: Belle Taylor Carlton, my paternal grandmother (c. 1950s) Homeplace of Clyde and Ruth Taylor, my great-uncle and great-aunt, Hibriten Mountain in background Photo credit: Belle Taylor Carlton, my paternal grandmother (c. 1950s) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/6c2feccc-97e3-4d86-aff2-1074104c6bb3/Star+on+Hibriten+Eddie+Little.jpg Blog - “My” Mountain - Make it stand out Christmas star atop Hibriten Mountain Photo credit: Eddie Little (2021) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/7ac83dbf-1fdb-48b7-bc09-1f5447aee854/Star+on+Hibriten+1.jpeg Blog - “My” Mountain - Make it stand out Cedar Rock Mountain, Hen Mountain, and Hibriten Mountain (L to R) Cut-paper collage: Nan Carlton (2023) https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/blog-post-title-two-8a3t7-tgs8h-trk8z-xsctl monthly 0.5 2023-11-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/b8906b1a-7dd1-41dd-bb50-6b3022bcf862/sunset+ducks.jpeg Blog - Our Hymn of Grateful Praise - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/adf4bdda-1b4f-4f84-b33e-5392f0d2903f/coneflowers.jpg Blog - Our Hymn of Grateful Praise - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/101923fa-4b7e-441c-ac97-d9dc0f06ddc1/John%2C+Nan%2C+Cate.jpg Blog - Our Hymn of Grateful Praise - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/blog-post-title-two-8a3t7-tgs8h-trk8z monthly 0.5 2023-12-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/1a36284f-2019-419c-a84f-595d94dfeaa5/mom+HHS.jpeg Blog - Happy Birthday, Momma. - Make it stand out Gwendolyn T. Carlton Photo credit: Louise Adderholdt Source: Hibriten High School Yearbook, 1975 https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/blog-post-title-two-8a3t7-tgs8h monthly 0.5 2023-11-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/0728afd9-3a08-4f5e-b882-852374c9daae/Will+and+daisies.jpeg Blog - My Other Brother - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/blog-post-title-two-8a3t7-9xhaa monthly 0.5 2023-10-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/289a076c-24e3-4873-8aa6-ee9694002b4b/baby+jesus+and+star+3.jpeg Blog - “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence.” - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/blog-post-title-two-8a3t7 monthly 0.5 2023-10-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/6b7dd8e1-3b42-4f56-926f-fa0b4ad1ae18/the+winding+stair+book+shop+dublin.jpg Blog - A great bookstore in Dublin, Ireland - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.nancarlton.com/blog/blog-post-title-one-cd34x monthly 0.5 2024-10-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/660d5e29-70aa-4b14-9fa1-3e7f0e6b271c/reading+book.jpg Blog - The Journey Begins - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.nancarlton.com/home daily 1.0 2026-02-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/3f345841-c37e-4730-8dd0-6225ab461215/Nan+Carlton_blue.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64b82cea11c0e21f4f40c44a/c2bf95c9-2453-40db-bd59-3bbf67f7ddee/Nan+signing+book.jpg 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