Longear sunfish are beautiful fish. Their bellies are emblazoned with fiery orange, a color that bobs and weaves through their flanks, dancing alongside iridescent dashes of cerulean and greenish gold. Turquoise rivers meander through their faces, gill plates and fins. No two fish offer the same combination of colors and patterns. Each is stunningly handsome. Longears are not big — a seven-incher is a good one. Aggressive feeders and breeders, they are often found in shallow

Over the past several years, I’ve become an avid gardener. Like any worthwhile pursuit, gardening relies on instinct, research, experience and a fair bit of luck. And a lot of time (or thyme, if you’re into herbs or homonyms). But, if you put in that time, if you apply lessons learned and if you use really good soil, you’ll produce some vegetables or grow some pretty flowers. Unless it rains a lot. Or not at all. Or if it gets too hot. Or if there’s an unexpected freeze. Or i

Another watercolor journal entry, and another unsung fish to spotlight. This is a green sunfish. If you like to fish, you’ve caught one. In the US, they’re seemingly everywhere — from trophy trout streams to silted farm ponds to mighty reservoirs to meandering creeks. The story goes that if you left a bucket of water outside for a couple of weeks, there would be a green sunfish swimming in it. These are immensely resourceful and adaptable fish, but not without issues. For one

A while back, I bought a spiraled-bound, "watercolor journal" for which to document trips to the river (with some small paintings, a few notes ... that kind of thing). It seemed like a good idea at the time, but as can happen, other priorities distracted me a bit and the journal sat untouched on a shelf in my studio's closet for the better part of two years. Getting out on the water tends to drive my creative impulses, and the recent trip to the Smokies inspired a lot of pain

On Saturday and Sunday, Nov 20 and 21, I'll participate in the Stones River Craft Association's Art Studio Tour in Rutherford County,...

A few weeks ago, a chance encounter with a good friend led to a great opportunity at a wonderful organization. Alive hospice in is a...

The Square in downtown Murfreesboro, Tennessee, is a historic, scenic and classically Southern place. It's a mix of quaint small...

It's raining -- a lot -- these days in middle Tennessee. Most of our fall and all of our winter has been downright wet, as we've been...

A couple of weeks ago, I had the good fortune to be among nearly 70 artists participating in the 14th annual Art Event at Lipscomb...

“You know this is a private community!” “Yes, ma’am, I do.” “Do you have permission to fish this lake?” “Yes, ma’am, I do.” “Who gave it...

The storm roared outside. Wind gusts flapped the side walls and rattled the roof rafters. Our tent was being pelted by nickel-sized hail...

A pale and milky-green rivulet of ice water flowed past the minarets of the single-lane bridge, and downstream through the corridor of...

They touched chests. One was shirtless; the other in a tank top. Their noses briefly brushed, their eyes locked, and they stood,...