About me

My story, written as fairy tale:

Once upon a time, there was a good witch named Stephanie.

Stephanie is the eldest of three sisters who lives in a cottage made entirely of stone in Salem, Virginia.

If you look to the east from the walnut tree in her front yard, especially at night, you can see the shining, 88-foot-tall Roanoke Star, the world’s largest freestanding illuminated man-made star, which sits atop Mill Mountain.

If you look south, you will see another short mountain where actress Debbie Reynolds, reigning queen of “Halloweentown,” used to live during her brief marriage to a Roanoke real estate developer, many years ago.

Halloween has always fascinated Stephanie, who chose Oct. 31 for her own wedding date. 

It was a frugal affair, with a “Fly Me to the Moon” Big Band jazz theme, lots of mini pumpkin votives, and ruby-red slippers for the bride.

She loved designing that wedding almost as much as she loves her husband, who helps her decorate their stone cottage with assorted witches every Halloween, and a gingerbread house theme every Christmas.

Three years and 9 months after their Halloween wedding, their daughter arrived. Now their little family, which includes three chihuahuas and a hamster, celebrate the seasons; go on adventures throughout the beautiful Blue Ridge; and try to find magic every day.

First post: Why I’m blogging

My day jobs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-ogilvie-seagle-92a5653/

My journalism portfolio: https://sites.google.com/site/stephanieogilvie/