Shelley Carroll
Bio
Ms. Carroll is a 40-something year-old veteran public servant and mother of three adult children. She and her partner Hal live in Amherst NS with a sweet, anxiety-ridden rescue dog. Shelley loves running, red wine, and laughter.
She/Her
Stories (65/0)
Cecil & Bea Host Christmas Dinner
It was late-morning Christmas Day. Cecil was out in the garage organizing the recyclables from the boxes and gift wrap. Bea was in the kitchen checking on the turkey, boiling the vegetables, and sorting through her thoughts. As she did so, she was grateful that Cecil was in the garage. She needed her space as she multitasked and, God love him, Heaven forbid that Cecil should try to give her a hand. Oh the madness… and the mess! No, it was best that they each had their own corners to which to retreat, their own chores to which to attend.
By Shelley Carrollabout a year ago in Fiction
Cecil & Bea Put Up The Tree
It was the week before Christmas and all was well at the little house on Gravel Street in Pond’s Cove. Bea was working away in the kitchen, putting the sprinkles on the latest batch of shortbread cookies and Cecil was out at Bartlett’s Discount Xmas Tree Lot picking up this year’s masterpiece-in-the-making.
By Shelley Carrollabout a year ago in Fiction
The Ballad of Cecil & Bea
“Jeezus, Mary and Joseph! Cecil, so help me, if I trip over your GD shoes one more GD time! ‘Lantic ocean, I could have broken my GD ankle!”, hollered Bea, the long-suffering wife of her blessed Cecil. She had been in the midst of entering their humble abode from the porch door with an arm load of Christmas presents… most of which had now joined Cecil’s boots on the floor before her.
By Shelley Carrollabout a year ago in Fiction
Mom Guilt
I am going to a baby shower this weekend. Sure, my own baby-making days are behind me, but it is always fun to be invited to celebrate someone else’s indoctrination into the fold. I always tell expectant mothers, “It’s the toughest job you’ll ever love”. I believe that deep down in my bones, in my ovaries in fact. Being a mom is WORK.
By Shelley Carrollabout a year ago in Families
If I’m Up and Gone
Fiona curled up in her comfy chair by the bedroom window, her legs covered by her favourite afghan. She clutched her pen in her right hand and her notebook in her left. A cup of peppermint tea steeped on the end table beside her. She already regretted that she had not poured herself a glass of red wine instead.
By Shelley Carrollabout a year ago in Fiction
A Thank-You Letter to the 2021 Toronto Blue Jays
I don’t know if there are any baseball fans among my readership. I’m not a big ball fan, myself. Granted, I certainly used to be once upon a time. As a recent collaboration with my friend Len will attest, the Montreal Expos were my childhood dream team.
By Shelley Carrollabout a year ago in Humans
All Hail Apollo the Grand Dog
Let me be clear: I did not want another dog, per se. Well, to be perfectly honest, I was actually receptive to the idea, just not without some reservations. My husband, however, was not on board… and for good reason: we already have a dog, Nikki. She is cute as a button, but geriatric: older, quiet, deaf, often incontinent and well, she is just happy simply to be. Moreover, she is easy – part of the furniture, namely the living room couch. We have our little routine with her and as such, our household enjoys a comfortable rhythm.
By Shelley Carrollabout a year ago in Petlife
And Your Bird Can Sing...
I sat there on the leather couch in the orthodontist's office waiting room, looking at my phone. It was 10:48. I was quietly seething. My appointment has been scheduled for 10:25 and I was not only frustrated at having to wait, but also hungry because foolishly, I had not eaten before leaving the house. Therefore, I was crooked, impatient, and slightly ravenous. All I could think about, besides being selfish and snotty, was the small litany of tasks that I had planned to complete that day. This setback was only serving to put me even further behind my own self-imposed itinerary.
By Shelley Carroll2 years ago in Humans
I Want to Have a Beer With Scott Brison
I’m officially non-partisan. Let’s make that clear right off the hop. I’m a federal public servant up here in the area north of the 49th Parallel, and specifically out here on the East Coast of Canada, so I don’t play favourites or actively promote or endorse any particular candidate.
By Shelley Carroll2 years ago in Humans
Barely Scratching the Surface
It was late August. The fabled Nova Scotia summer humidity was finally passing and the evenings were becoming cooler. The days were growing shorter although the sun still shone brightly between occasional periods of rain. The weather was still respectably t-shirt and shorts appropriate.
By Shelley Carroll2 years ago in Humans
Spectacles, Tentacles, Water & Whine
Last month, I turned 48. My very thoughtful partner Hal bestowed upon me as a gift a paddle board. We have a cottage along a river-bend in beautiful, scenic Tidnish NS. It’s a lovely and quaint little spot where everyone knows everyone - and if they don’t know you, they soon will. The community is bursting with a sense of sharing and camaraderie. And because this is cottage country, we know a lot of folks from “town” who also choose to spend their summers out here.
By Shelley Carroll2 years ago in Humans
