Author Archives: Becky Dingle

About Becky Dingle

I was born a Tarheel but ended up a Sandlapper. My grandparents were cotton farmers in Laurens, South Carolina and it was in my grandmother’s house that my love of storytelling began beside an old Franklin stove. When I graduated from Laurens High School, I attended Erskine College (Due West of what?) and would later get my Masters Degree in Education/Social Studies from Charleston Southern. I am presently an adjunct professor/clinical supervisor at CSU and have also taught at the College of Charleston. For 28 years I taught Social Studies through storytelling. My philosophy matched Rudyard Kipling’s quote: “If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” Today I still spread this message through workshops and presentations throughout the state. The secret of success in teaching social studies is always in the story. I want to keep learning and being surprised by life…it is the greatest teacher. Like Kermit said, “When you’re green you grow, when you’re ripe you rot.”

The Symbols of the Christmas Tree-Past and Present

Posted on December 5, 2019 by Becky Dingle

Dear Reader: What a happy surprise I had yesterday! I was piddling around trying to decide where to start with the Christmas decorations…and I had a text from Luke. He had picked me up a Christmas tree and was on … Continue reading →

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Discovering the “Hidden” Obvious

Posted on December 4, 2019 by Becky Dingle

Dear Reader: Yesterday I kept discovering items that I thought lost…but now found… and even items I never knew were lost. For example…while starting to pull out Christmas decorations…I came across a pretty little red box. “Oh this will be … Continue reading →

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When Conversations Turn Into Charades

Posted on December 3, 2019 by Becky Dingle

Dear Reader: I read somewhere recently that the first thing to go (in our memory) in conversations is proper nouns. Oh…how true! Lately I feel like I play a game of charades in normal conversation trying to detour around the … Continue reading →

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The Night Fall Fell…

Posted on December 2, 2019 by Becky Dingle

Dear Reader: Saturday I teased Kaitlyn and asked her if I could get her photo under the Bradford Pear tree because just a small handful of leaves had fallen, at that point, and I wanted a picture of her with … Continue reading →

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At Christmas….Do We Peep or Peek?

Posted on December 1, 2019 by Becky Dingle

Dear Reader: I absolutely love this whimsical painting of Santa Claus paying homage to the Baby Jesus. The question is: Is Santa peeking at Him or peeping at the Christ Baby? Do we try to peep at our presents or … Continue reading →

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Following the Christmas Lights

Posted on November 30, 2019 by Becky Dingle

Dear Reader: Today is the last day of November. The month has flown so fast…it has become a blur. When Walsh and Mollie and the children stopped by Wednesday evening…they brought me this live miniature fir tree as an early … Continue reading →

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Thanksgiving is Over…and the Waiting Begins

Posted on November 29, 2019 by Becky Dingle

Dear Reader: After a bustling Pre-holiday gathering… Thanksgiving was sedately satisfying. I pieced together some items from a home-cooked ‘ma and pa’ restaurant and added my Thanksgiving string bean casserole… bingo! The two plates were ready. Ben and I had … Continue reading →

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“A Lick and a Promise” at Thanksgiving

Posted on November 28, 2019 by Becky Dingle

 HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE! Dear Reader: The pumpkin lucks up with longevity in fall since it can be displayed for autumn in general, Halloween, and Thanksgiving…but after today (lots of pumpkin pies, lattes, breads disappear from the stores)…Mr. Pumpkin (decor) is … Continue reading →

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A Tisket, A Tasket…Final Fall Leaves Fell In My Basket

Posted on November 27, 2019 by Becky Dingle

Dear Reader: When I checked on my plants and trees yesterday morning for the second time…there was stunning beauty and sadness intermingled. At 8:30 a.m. the title photo is how the basket hanging off Eva Cate’s Japanese Maple looked. A … Continue reading →

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Why So Late?

Posted on November 26, 2019 by Becky Dingle

Dear Reader: Yesterday we touched on the subject of why Thanksgiving is so late without a good explanation  so I did my homework ….Why is it so late? We have to go all the way back to 1939 when Franklin … Continue reading →

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