Mary Hodges (left) and Ashley Waghorne (right) presented a check for $2,500, the proceeds from their kolache sales, to Rusty Hooks of Combat Marine Outdoors.

This convoluted story begins with chicken eggs. Ashley was busy baking kolaches as Mary went to buy fresh eggs. The kitchen was organized: the stand mixer was in place, something was heating on the stove and two inches of foam rested in the bottom of a large measuring cup. By the time the reason for the kolaches was explained (a thank-you for helping with the milk goat) the measuring cup was at the point of overflowing. It never did overflow, but the results of that chance meeting one May morning proved to be serendipitous!

Two separate, simultaneous mental images were formed. When the Combat Marine Outdoors visited Seadrift for their annual fishing trip, Mary began to think of raising money for these rehabilitation activities. “If I could learn to make kolaches, I could sit at a local business…” (This is a brain over 60 at work!)

Ashley’s thought process followed another path. “Nana’s kolaches will sell…I know I can raise so much more than Josh and I can afford to donate to CMO…all I need is to get on Facebook…If I pre-sell, I’ll avoid any wasted product.” (Notice the younger brain in operation?)

After posting on Facebook, orders flowed in. In less than two hours Ashley had to shut down the requests, but customers know there is always another baking day.

Ashely is a baker extraordinaire and the wife of former Marine Corps Sergeant Josh Waghorne.

Mary is a willing novice to kolache-baking and wife of former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Butch Hodges.