Finding Flannery Day 1: Springfield, KY

Hello Y’all!

Yep, I’m settling into my temporary environment here in the South, and so far so good!

This morning, after a nice breakfast at Cracker Barrel in Bowling Green, KY, my mama and cousin Blenda and I left Blenda’s house, along with her lovely crepe myrtle hibiscus bush, and headed for Springfield, where Day 1 of summer and our pilgrimage in search of Flannery O’Connor would begin.

 I could tell from the road we weren’t in North Dakota anymore.

When we rolled into Springfield, Cinnamon House, our bed and breakfast, came suddenly into view. Our first Catholic writer comrade, Beth, was out on the porch swing.

It was the perfect Southern welcome. She’d been in the kitchen, preparing a meal for us pilgrims from the Midwest; Christina and Karen from Wisconsin, and I, from the Dakotas.

I said hello to Beth and goodbye to Mom and Blenda. As they pulled away and headed back to Bowling Green, I checked out our temporary digs.

Cinnamon House was just as charming as I’d imagined.

I chose the first room I came to since it was red, and, well, that’s my favorite color so it called my name.

Lincoln is a big presence around here. His parents apparently married in this town, so you see a lot of him around.

But first, the meal, all of it garden fresh — kale and onions, a delicious meatloaf, homemade bread with basil butter, and roasted veggies. Dessert was a fruit crisp with rhubarb, blueberries and another berry that escapes me now, but…yum! We capped it all off with some hot tea.

Then I sneaked out to get a few more shots before sundown.

I couldn’t keep all this to myself so I ran back to tell the gals what I’d witnessed, and they joined me for another stroll to end the evening.

I tried getting some shots of the fireflies. I love them! We don’t have any in North Dakota, or none that I have seen. They are like little sparklers lighting up the grass. I can’t help but think how much my boys would love to try to capture them in a Mason jar.

We’ve only just begun our little adventure, but so far, it’s been a beautiful blessing. I am thanking God every hour for this chance.

Tomorrow, we will explore the grounds of the monastery where Thomas Merton wrote his famous memoir, “The Seven Storey Mountain,” along with other discoveries.

See y’all again real soon, now, you hear?