Anne Caston's Profile

I am alone in a deep ravine, standing before a towering wall of layered stone. Before me is recorded Time – Rock-Time. Geologic time. At my back, the End-of-Time: an ink-black sky where far-off stars flare, then fall through deep space, leaving behind a comet’s-tail of debris – a smear... Continue reading

Posted May 27, 2012 at Deep Dixie

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LESSONS FROM THE CAT

"Art and music will survive without you." – Eliza Doolittle (to Henry Higgins), My Fair Lady A friend asked me today what my inspirations are, as a writer, my literary "influences." I thought hard for a moment, the way I do every time that question comes up. I hesitated because... Continue reading

Posted Dec 26, 2011 at Deep Dixie

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I HAVE A DARKNESS IN ME. ALSO A DEATH. ALSO A PIN-PRICK OF LIGHT.

Fall, 1980: I am called to the docks when my shift is done at 7:00 a.m. The fisherman of Glory have netted a seabird and there it lies, wings spread, on its back - a great white cross - the Royal Southern Albatross, dumped on the deck among the morning's... Continue reading

Posted Oct 16, 2011 at Deep Dixie

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WHAT I WANT TO HEAR, JUST ONCE. . . .

Thanks for bringing me into the world, Mom: you are the night-light in a dark and scary world. Mom, you made mine the happiest childhood ever. Why, I think freckles and a pale complexion are beautiful. Oh, here, let me get that for you. You have changed my life for... Continue reading

Posted Sep 21, 2011 at Deep Dixie

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AN EVENING WITH THE MOUSE

Not the Mickey. The Chuck. As in Chuck E. Cheese, the big gray mouse who sports a bright purple tee-shirt and a baseball cap. Mouse with a game arcade, lots of really bad pizza, and hundreds of running, screaming, tantrum-throwing children – mostly under the age of six. The decibel... Continue reading

Posted Aug 27, 2011 at Deep Dixie

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THE HART

Early October and the leaves were already long-gone to orange and gold, already falling from the old oaks and maples, the air chilly, mornings damp with low-lying fog and mist. I'd soon be needing more than a wool sweater for morning walks. The long field I had to cross to... Continue reading

Posted Aug 14, 2011 at Deep Dixie

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THE PROPER TERMINOLOGY MUST, AT ALL TIMES BE EMPLOYED

My husband does not "fart." He out-gasses. That is his word, as in, "I left the plane quickly because I feared what might be happening to that cat stowed underneath my seat after five hours of my out-gassing." Out-gassing may very well be a polite euphemism, as I believed in... Continue reading

Posted Aug 1, 2011 at Deep Dixie

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The Book of Splendor

On notebooks – my friend Derick always carries one: a hefty black sketchbook full of well-bound blank pages of substantial weight. And another friend, when traveling, likes this kind of notebook too – one, which he says, ". . .will not come apart when sand gets into it." A durable... Continue reading

Posted Jul 22, 2011 at Deep Dixie

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A Mother's Moment: Memorial Day, 2011

Today is parade day in our small town. It's an unusual parade, wholly unlike the big fanfares of the more familiar parades of the country (Macy's, Mardi Gras, St. Patrick's Day) with their floats and giant balloon figures and flying dirigibles and confetti-throwing crowds. Our parade is home-grown and no... Continue reading

Posted May 30, 2011 at Deep Dixie

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Anne Caston is now following kelly hayes

May 9, 2011

PRESENCE: The 2009 BLOGVENTION

I admit it: I follow blogs. Lots of them. Hundreds maybe. Following blogs is almost an addiction for me: that rush as I find a new artist's blog or design blog that I can get lost in for a few happy hours. Even the fashion blogs are appealing to me... Continue reading

Posted Apr 4, 2011 at Deep Dixie

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An Interview with Andrew McFayden-Ketchum

Dear friends, family, and readers, I am taking a two-month hiatus from the blog right now, but thought I would send you this link to an interview Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum did last week with me for poemoftheweek.org Thank you for being so loyal to the reading here and I hope to... Continue reading

Posted Feb 28, 2011 at Deep Dixie

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A FOOT IN TWO WORLDS: Photos of Alaska & Pennsylvania

Posted Feb 8, 2011 at Deep Dixie

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HE SAID/SHE SAID: A Love Story

1. One Winter's Afternoon, After A Snow-Storm, He Prepares to Shovel The Drive and Front Walkway She said, "Isn't it just beautiful out there? Look at the icicles hanging from the limbs and power lines!" He said, "I hate snow. I hate the cold. I hate shoveling." She said, "It... Continue reading

Posted Feb 1, 2011 at Deep Dixie

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A WHITE TRASH STARTER KIT: What You'll Need

1. A trailer, single-wide, set out under pines and live oak, and monthly lot rent 'til the day you die; 2. Your grandmother's lace curtains at the kitchen window and, on the sill, those three monkeys always on your back: see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil; 3.... Continue reading

Posted Jan 17, 2011 at Deep Dixie

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Grace, It's a real maze down there in that deep dixie brain. . .and not everything that bursts into light is butterflies, as you well know. (Sometimes it's a man with a knife in his teeth. . . .) Still, I'm happy to have you on board the crazy-train! xo Anne

Commented Jan 5, 2011 on THINGS I DISCOVERED THIS YEAR at Deep Dixie

Vivian, Thanks for reading and posting a note back. Let me know how it goes in your adult writers' group with the list. Happy New Year, Anne

Commented Jan 5, 2011 on THINGS I DISCOVERED THIS YEAR at Deep Dixie

Emily, are you still abroad - or have you returned? Thanks for reading this one!

Commented Jan 4, 2011 on THINGS I DISCOVERED THIS YEAR at Deep Dixie

Mary, that is why the devil sings in my inkwell. He likes powerful things. Just kidding. I just use him there as an excuse for why I write such bleak things. But stay tuned for the "White Trash Starter Kit." It's going to be a doozy!

Commented Jan 4, 2011 on THINGS I DISCOVERED THIS YEAR at Deep Dixie

Didn't you go to Grace's today? How did you get to this post so FAST????

Commented Jan 4, 2011 on THINGS I DISCOVERED THIS YEAR at Deep Dixie

THINGS I DISCOVERED THIS YEAR

Instead of making the list of resolutions on New Year's Eve as many of my friends and family are doing tonight – that list of resolutions likely to be broken (given my proclivities) and likely to leave me riddled with guilt and loathing about my ability to stick to even... Continue reading

Posted Jan 4, 2011 at Deep Dixie

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Hello, Lisa! Sorry to be so late checking back in here. Thanks for the kind words. I'm getting better and better day by day. And I'm looking forward to that coffee-klatch in Fairbanks in the spring! xo Anne

Commented Dec 28, 2010 on DAY TWO: THE BREAD OF HEAVEN at Deep Dixie

Laura, Grace, and Vivian, Thanks so much for the kind words and well-wishes. You are too much. (I'm still craving that bread pudding and, as soon as I'm well enough to cook, I'm heading into the kitchen to try to recreate it myself! Yummy. (Viv, when I do, I'll send you a copy of the recipe - or will post it on the blog.) All best, you good women, Annie

Commented Dec 14, 2010 on DAY TWO: THE BREAD OF HEAVEN at Deep Dixie

Ken-san, you are the best - do you hear me - THE BEST. I was laughing with glee all the way home again, despite the snow flurries and the slushy streets. And I am behaving myself and taking it easy, as I promised the docs I would. Time to heal and be well by the holidays so I can enjoy them. Bless you, my friend. xoxoxo Anne

Commented Dec 13, 2010 on WAITING FOR THE SUN at Deep Dixie

Emily, Yes, taking time to watch the sun come up. Such a small thing and it means so much to be there, "present at the miracle." Thanks for the kind words. I'm home now and recuperating by the fire. Happy holidays and travel safely, Anne

Commented Dec 13, 2010 on WAITING FOR THE SUN at Deep Dixie