By Madeline Otten
Correspondent
Where do you live?
“Our home is in the Cunningham Meadows subdivision, and the Broody Hen Studio/Coop is next to our home.”
How long have you lived in Fluvanna County? What brought you here?
“We moved to Fluvanna in 2007 upon the purchase of our home. Fluvanna happened to have the quiet, rural feel we wanted, and was a good location for commuting to work.”
Tell us about your family.
“My husband, Matt, and I have four children, our twins Vera and Declan are 10, Judith is 6, and Peter is 16 months. We are all redheads, so there is a lot of personality and spunk in our home!”
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
“I always wanted to be a veterinarian as a child and teenager.”
What was your very first job?
“My first “job” was not like most; I joined the United States Marine Corps before my senior year of high school and left for boot camp a month after graduating from high school. As a young Marine, after basic training, I went to school to become a Marine Air Ground Task Force planner. MAGTF planners are tasked with major theater war planning, current operational planning, and natural disaster aid.”
What do you do for a living?
“I am currently the owner and baker of Broody Hen Bakery. I offer custom made cakes, cookies, and other party treats for all occasions. I am also the pie baker for Fruit Hill Orchard.”
What do you like to do in your spare time?
“Spare time; what is that? Ha! I enjoy hiking, reading, and sleeping….when I have time.”
What is one food that you could never live without? What is one you can never bring yourself to eat?
“Can’t live without bacon, all the bacon, and I guess I should say cake. Now I just need to find a way to bring the two together into a delicious concoction! I’m not terribly picky, I can’t eat really strange items like brains (yuck), oh, and Cream of Wheat (though I was forced to eat it as a kid, double yuck).”
If there was a zombie apocalypse, who are three people you would want on your team?
“Oooo, definitely Daryl from Walking Dead. Will Smith, as he was in I Am Legend. Then I’d go historical nonfiction with Chesty Puller, with his wisdom, we’d clear the path ahead, no doubt.”
What are your three favorite movies?
“I love movies from the ‘80s, Goonies is a favorite for sure. I also really like M Night Shyamalan, to name one, The Village is pretty amazing. And Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill series is a favorite.
Which is better – a novel or a movie?
“Novel – always more details and tends to whisk you away to whatever world it beholds more so than a movie. Harry Potter is a perfect example of this.”
What fictional character do you wish you could meet and why?
“I can’t say I’d have a strong desire to meet a fictional character. But if I had to choose, maybe Albus Dumbledore. His character is so wise, and gentle.”
What is the best piece of advice you have received?
“One that I read from a favorite poet/writer, Dorothy Parker: “Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone.” It reminds me of how my mom or one of my grandmothers would teach us to be kind.”
What pivotal decision helped to shape your life?
“Definitely, my decision to join the Marine Corps. The things I learned, the life experience, and all that goes with being a part of a special brother/sisterhood for life.”
Tell us about a way you have changed over the years.
“I think age changes you. You care less about what other people find valuable or important, and more about living the life that makes you happy.”
What has surprised you about your life?
“What would life be without surprises? Everything; every turn, every lesson, every outcome of decisions I have made, every person who has crossed my path. May life continue to surprise me.”
What’s one thing you still hope to accomplish?
“Finding the perfect balance in life. But struggling down the daily tightrope has certainly made things interesting.”
Tell us about your proudest moment.
“Receiving my first Eagle, Globe, and Anchor (EGA) and the title of Marine. After completing The Crucible, being dirty, exhausted, and not to mention hungry, it’s the best and the worst I think I’ve ever felt. It’s right up there with giving birth to my sweet babies!”
Where is your favorite place to travel to and why?
“Scotland, and Iceland – I can feel my ancestors calling to me in those two places! I have quite a few friends in Scotland, and the stopover in Iceland on the way home is a new favorite.”
When you are having a bad day, what do you do to make yourself feel better?
“Music, that usually helps.”
What is one thing the COVID-19 pandemic has taught you?
“Take nothing for granted. The ability to readily buy toilet paper for example, ha! But seriously, also not taking time for granted, we all lost a lot of time with loved ones that you can’t get back.”
What quote or saying do you connect with most? Why do you like it?
“Now I know the things I know, and I do the things I do; and if you do not like me so, to hell, my love, with you!” -Dorothy Parker I’m over the age of 35, and I can not think of anything more fitting at my age; plus, I am a big fan of Dorothy Parker. She and I would have been good friends, I am certain of it.”
