arol McClain        @carol_mcclain   My roofer-brother-in-law flew four hundred miles to my house to put on a new roof. As a single mom with only my salary as support, his help was critical. He had one day. Of course, that day threatened rain. The wind already picked up and promised to deliver what the weatherman predicted. This couldn’t …[ read more ]

By: Carol McClain        carol_mcclain My friend bought a vacation home on a beautiful lake. For years she’d marvel at her good fortune. Then time passed. It became a small, unremarkable house on a cul-de-sac of million-dollar homes. She lost the wonder. This year, though, she sat on her dock. Fireworks exploded down the cove. The cool …[ read more ]

Carol McClain I love stained glass. Whenever I post a picture, swarms of friends beg for lessons. They never count the cost. How to make stained glass:   Choose the glass. The process begins with a nice, but uninteresting, unrefined product. Take a sharp blade. Cut and break the glass according to the pattern. Be …[ read more ]

Carol McClain While hiking, my friend and I discovered these beautiful blue morpho swallowtails. Rarely do they hold still long enough for me to get beautiful pictures, but these three riveted themselves on their dining. That’s where the beauty ends. Nine times out of ten, what are these lovely butterflies–formerly ugly caterpillars who squish green …[ read more ]

by @carol_mcclain I got chicken(s). Finally, they grew enough to join my larger hens in the big coup. Except– Lulu, one of the chicks, didn’t like being cooped up. Not having grown large, Lulu found a space under the door where she could slip out. How do you catch a chicken? I was about to find out–and …[ read more ]