Kathiey's World

I finally made the drive to the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park in Historic Downtown Wilson, North Carolina. I had first heard about this place several years ago and it had been on my list ever since. Tucked into the heart of Wilson, this one-of-a-kind park is home to the whimsical, wind-powered sculptures created by folk artist Vollis Simpson. Simpson never called himself an artist, but the New York Times did. When he passed away in 2013, the Times described him as “a visionary artist of the junkyard who made metal scraps into magnificent things that twirled and jangled and clattered.” His creations were built almost entirely from recycled and salvaged materials, and in 2013 they were named North Carolina’s official folk art. The park itself was born out of a true community effort, shaped by hundreds of Wilson citizens including artists, neighborhood associations, youth groups, and local business leaders. It has since been recognized as the Best Sculpture Park in the USA by USA Today’s ...

Welcome back to our monthly journal prompt series, Telling Your Story Through Journal Prompts. This series exists because your story matters. Once we are gone, there is no one left to tell it, and while the people who love us are busy living their own lives, our memories, opinions, and experiences deserve to be captured somewhere. That is exactly what this series is for. This month's prompt is a fun one. No heavy lifting, no digging into the hard stuff. Just a lighthearted question designed to reveal a little bit about who you are and what you value in the people around you. So grab your journal or open a blank document, and let's get into it. This Month's Prompt If you could go to lunch with any celebrity, who would it be, and why would you choose that person? My Answer I will be honest with you. There are not many celebrities I would care to share a meal with. I do not follow the tabloids. I do not keep up with who is dating whom or which star just posted something contro...

I have always loved pelicans. As a child, my family would make trips down to Florida, and I would spend the whole drive with my face practically pressed against the car window searching for two things: palm trees and pelicans. The moment I spotted either one, I was absolutely thrilled. So imagine my delight when I discovered that you don't have to travel all the way to Florida to see these magnificent birds! Are there pelicans in North Carolina?? Are there pelicans in North Carolina? Yes! And a couple of years ago, I had the most wonderful experience photographing them right on the coast at Harkers Island, NC. The images I captured of these beautiful birds are some of my favorites, and I am so excited to share that I am heading back in just a couple of weeks. I am hoping to come home with even more stunning photos of these amazing creatures. The Two Types of Pelicans You Can Find in North Carolina According to NC Audubon, North Carolina is home to two species of pelicans, and each ...

  Let’s continue on with our series on stress relief and self-care. As I’ve mentioned throughout this series, not every method is going to be the right fit for everyone, and that’s completely okay. The goal is to explore different options and find what works for you. Today I want to talk about yoga. Now, I’ll be upfront with you. I am not a yoga guru. My go-to stress relief when it comes to exercise is cardio. I love Zumba and Body Combat, and those have been fantastic for my stress levels. But I decided to step outside my comfort zone and give yoga a try as a beginner, partly to add another tool to my stress relief routine and partly because, let’s be honest, I could use some flexibility work! So consider this my honest, beginner’s take on yoga as a stress relief method. Before We Get Started: A Word of Caution Before beginning any new exercise routine, including yoga, please check with your doctor first, especially if you have any physical limitations, injuries, or health conditi...

  After nearly 40 years of marriage, my ex left without warning. And in the middle of everything that followed, the grief, the logistics, the complete restructuring of my entire life, I had to figure out something I had never had to think about before. Healthcare. For nearly four decades I had been covered under my ex-husband’s insurance through his job. I never had to think about premiums, deductibles, networks, or enrollment windows. I just handed over a card and that was that. Suddenly that card was gone and I was standing in the middle of a system I did not understand with no roadmap and no one to guide me. I will be honest. I made mistakes. I panicked. I went without care I needed because I was afraid of costs I did not understand. I sat in doctor’s offices nodding along to terminology I had never heard before, like facility fees and Good Faith Estimates, feeling completely lost and completely alone. But here is what I have learned over the years of trial, error, and a whole l...