Monthly Archives: August 2025

The Sunday Pour: The Black Cup

Posted on August 31, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

This evening, just before dinner with my family in Highlands, N.C., we’ll walk down behind my dad’s house and scatter his cremains into the Cullasajuh River. The current will take him downstream, winding through the mountains he loved so much. … Continue reading →

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The Space Between My Thoughts

Posted on August 31, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Sometimes I write because I have something to say. Other times, I write because something inside me needs to breathe — and a pour of good bourbon doesn’t always cut it. I blog because my thoughts need somewhere to land. … Continue reading →

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Quick Thought – Sunday, August 31, 2025: Sensory Overload

Posted on August 31, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Read Isaiah 26 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3 Reflect As a teacher, I see it almost every day. There is such a cultural disconnect between the … Continue reading →

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An Interview with My Mother: Her Voice Still Speaks

Posted on August 30, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

When I asked my mother what she most hoped people remembered about her, she didn’t hesitate: “I wanted everyone I met to feel seen and loved, because each person is somebody’s baby — and God’s gift. I wasn’t perfect at it, but I tried. And if they remember me, I hope they remember Him more. I loved people because He loved me first.” Continue reading →

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Quick Thought – Saturday, August 30, 2025: You Look Mahvelous!

Posted on August 30, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Read Isaiah 1:1-20 … learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. Isaiah 1:17 Reflect It’s probably an understatement to say that America has a preoccupation with outward and physical appearance. … Continue reading →

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Happy and Sad: A Family Farewell in the Mountains

Posted on August 29, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

“How are you feeling right now?” When this post goes live, I’ll be somewhere on the road to North Carolina. It’s a bittersweet trip, the kind where joy and sorrow insist on riding in the same car. On one hand, … Continue reading →

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Quick Thought – Friday, August 29, 2025: Unwrap the Gift

Posted on August 29, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Read Isaiah 1:1-20 … learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. Isaiah 1:17 Reflect Roald Amundsen is one of the greatest adventurers of all time. In 1911 he became the … Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 4: Benchmark’s Five-Bottle Shelf

Posted on August 28, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

If someone asked me where to start with bourbon—and they only wanted to spend about $100—I’d point them straight to Benchmark. Forget the 80-proofer, but grab the other five bottles in the line, and you’ve got yourself a small whiskey … Continue reading →

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More Than Words: How Writing Improves My Life

Posted on August 28, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Every day begins the same way for me: I scan the headlines. The newsman in me—born at my dad’s newspaper, sharpened through student papers, and carried into my classroom—has never stopped chasing the story. But as much as being informed … Continue reading →

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Quick Thought – Thursday, August 28, 2025: Seek Justice

Posted on August 28, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Read Isaiah 1:1-20 … learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. Isaiah 1:17 Reflect If you don’t know who Emmett Till is, you should know. Honestly, I’m amazed I didn’t … Continue reading →

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