dig this chick

to Red Lodge and back

2012-05-29T11:14:00.000-06:00

We returned last night from our (mostly) annual Memorial Day road trip to Red Lodge, a small town in south central Montana where my husband was born and raised and where we met, awkward middle schoolers. It is the perfect road trip for the Memorial holiday, for that memorized stretch of highway that crosses through the sacred Montana landscape holds an important, pensive place in our hearts.

the fence: zen hen

2012-05-24T00:05:00.002-06:00

We had a big, sunny weekend outside (after many weekends outside) that culminated in Andy exhaling as he fell into the grass, "Holy shit the fence is done." Our fence was a big project that began with months of research and brainstorming and, mostly, standing in our yard staring at the melting snow and then thawing earth while tossing ideas back and forth. We needed a fence for our dog, kids

nuggets: grow

2012-05-21T17:02:00.000-06:00

nuggets: bits of the season in photos and words, about the last week I just asked Margot what we've been up to lately and she shrugged, sighed and said, "Took off on an airplane to California and then came back to Montana and gardened." We've been outside, our family. Coming together to build a fence, plant seeds and starts, move our bodies with sun on bare skin. This time of year is the

fond

2012-05-16T06:00:00.000-06:00

Sometimes, too often I think, I am in a hurry to accomplish or finish. But really REALLY I want to be in the middle of, discovering, noticing, basking, loving, growing, wishing, memorizing. People keep tenderly reminding me that our tiny living experience will be a fond memory one day. As we near the end of our kitchen-bed-living space, I can

my new plot

2012-05-14T10:37:00.001-06:00

We have lots of DIYing happening around here and, come 9pm (the usual time I blog), I am so popped I fall into bed. This means I have a lot to share! And need another few hours in the day. And a massage. I'll begin with the most recent project: my garden plot. Or, rather, MY GARDEN PLOT!!! I woke Mother's Day to my favorite muffins on my favorite plate with my favorite people. And then

I flew.

2012-05-07T08:52:00.000-06:00

Do you remember your first memory? I have so many vivid memories from my early childhood and I wonder what is real and what is hopefully imagined. One of my favorites is when my mom walked out of the kitchen in our Lake Stevens, Washington home while I ate breakfast. I hopped off my chair and flew to the top of the refrigerator where I snagged a cookie from a ceramic jar. I flew. I know it to be

Fences and California

2012-04-30T03:43:00.000-06:00

We are off to California tomorrow, er, today. It's actually Monday as I type right now, having just packed my week's items into my backpack. We couldn't dig any luggage out of the garage but we did find our backpacking backpacks. Me: I've never dealt with so much laundry in all my life. Andy: I've never washed so many dishes in all my life. Margot: I found thirteen more worms! Ruby: Wook!

on kids and food bravery (minty stuffed peppers)

2012-04-25T17:21:00.000-06:00

When Margot first ate food she swallowed everything we did, puréed. I proudly proclaimed I didn't believe in kid food, that people food would do just fine for all members of our family. A year later something shifted and Margot, who once ate peanut curry, tomato pie and fish tacos, would suddenly only eat white food with a hint of color (thankfully, homegirl has always loved beets, carrots, peas

sunny

2012-04-23T11:06:00.001-06:00

Oh this last weekend! I am going to be a busy sewing sister this week so I am popping in for a few quick things before I head back out into the gloriousness of (almost) summer for the day. 1. It’s the experience I’m after, the quality of my days I am interested in. In this week's mama digs I wrote about a shared meal I had a few years ago and how a friend's words nudged me toward

nuggets: our everyday

2012-04-19T00:26:00.000-06:00

nuggets: little bits of the season in photos and words, about the last week Margot asked me to get under the covers and hug her last night. I stood at the foot of my bed, in my kitchen, thinking about all the stuff I wanted to, had planned to do. Thing is, I can't just crawl in there for a bit. These days, once I am horizontal, especially under covers, I am out until the next morning. I either

woodland fort

2012-04-16T13:20:00.000-06:00

On the east side of our property stand 14 towering trees. Anyone know what kind of trees these are? I am thinking Engelmann Spruce? Or are they a kind of fir? I barely noticed this piece of our soon-to-be land, for my attention was squarely focused on the sunny, garden-friendly aspects. It was the third or fourth visit that I imagined how IN LOVE I would have been with those trees and their

to health

2012-04-14T08:37:00.001-06:00

Margot just ran inside and said, "Mom, I love you thirty pound inches. No, I mean thirty EIGHTY pound inches!" And then she peeled back out the door. Since the my last post, Ruby's illness persisted another day and then, just as suddenly as it arrived, it left. Thankfully, the rest of our family didn't get sick (she had the norovirus) and thankfully, Ruby is well. Honestly, I think I have an

french toast sandwiched

2012-04-09T11:34:00.003-06:00

We didn't have the weekend I had imagined. Ruby has been super sick. Instead of gardening, hunting for eggs and hosting friends for dinner, we've been snuggling, watching movies, taking temps, dabbing essential oils on bellies, taking naps and waiting for the flu to take a hike. I wrote about our weekend and the elemental beauty in nurturing, even at its most unglamorous, in this week's mama

groundbreaking

2012-04-06T17:23:00.000-06:00

With yesterday's warmth and first full day of digging dirt on my mind, I see sprightly snowflakes spinning outside right now. There's an urgency to get out and do stuff when it's sunny this time of year. It's such a gift; we know we can't take it for granted and say oh I'll plant that peach tree tomorrow. For tomorrow could be a windy, puffy coat sorta day. I've been dreaming and planning

group hug

2012-04-03T12:23:00.001-06:00

Yesterday, I spent a good bit of time writing a poetic piece about spring around here. I was pleased with it, it was a good way to wind down my challenging day. And then, my draft went blank, autosaved, computer crashed and that was that. Seems a good metaphor though. For I was writing about spring and the spilled milk clouds, the high steps and bare skin. The neon yellow grass and the tiny

Cup of Gold

2012-03-27T12:15:00.001-06:00

Two girlfriends and I hopped on a last-minute opportunity to stay in a friend of a friend's condo a few hours north, in Whitefish. I am always amazed at how much stuff it takes to hit the road with kids (seven of them!) and I am always heartened by how enthusiastic kids are when faced with anything new. It really is a wonderful gift to witness life with children, when everything is an

Family Participation Board

2012-03-23T07:07:00.003-06:00

My kids love jobs. This has been such a fun discovery and consequent tool for me for it always true: When Margot and Ruby have a sense of belonging and importance in whatever it is we have going on, things are smoother and more fun. Giving my kids real, meaningful responsibilities is my silver bullet as a mama, especially as a work from home mama. Measuring and stirring. Yes, it is messier. I

summer prelude

2012-03-19T14:28:00.001-06:00

After a few days of warmth, sun and leaping bulbs, the weather reminded us that it isn't even spring yet. The last few days have been cold and rainy-snowy. I am so a four-season girl but every year, around this time, I crave bare feet, dirt under my fingernails, fresh food, river dips, photos without puffy coats. In other words, every March I am a little over it. Puffy Coat Photo #679, St

Coconut Sweet Potato Stew

2012-03-14T14:55:00.002-06:00

I haven't posted recipes in a while. Partly because I haven't been experimenting much with recipes and partly because food isn't very photogenic in our kitchen. We housesat at our friends' place last weekend and, holy smokes, I was on fire in that kitchen. Every meal was one I invented and one my family unanimously declared a new favorite. Cooking for my family is so fun. One meal in

spring nuggets: in like a lamb

2012-03-12T07:17:00.000-06:00

Funny how I thought a smaller living space would free up time to do stuff like write, sew, organize, plan. Seems the opposite is true for it is a NEW space and ideas and projects abound. While we aren't in our home just yet, we can do work on the yard and other small spaces. We've built a chicken coop, a new painting studio for Andy and planned planned planned a garden, a fence, a slide off the

small space living: our kitchen

2012-03-06T14:22:00.002-07:00

I am inspired and motivated by my surroundings. Or not. I really am affected by light, color and surfaces. While I can easily tune out unmade beds and a floor littered with tutus and books, there is a certain way I like things in the areas where I create. I like order and white space. My counters are clear of tsotchkes. I like to work with old stuff, handmade tools. I like bright natural light

hump day nuggets: glamping

2012-02-29T08:34:00.000-07:00

hump day nuggets: little bits of the season in photos and words, about the last week We are two months into our five month small space camp out. Calling it camping is a a little ridiculous seeing that we have electricity, a couch and internet but it feels like camping in that we all move through our tight space like the synchronized jets I remember from the flight show I went to with that boy

gradual ride

2012-02-27T11:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon I sat on our couch to write my mama digs to the soundtrack of four girls (two of them mine) squealing top volume as they careened down the sledding hill. Andy was outside, giving me a bit of space to crank out my column. It was nice to have that space but hard to see that fun out the window. I'd get a few sentences written and then hear Andy say OK! Here you go! And all

groovy curtains

2012-02-22T16:36:00.002-07:00

Yesterday our valley was wiped clean with snow. There was a snow bunny sculpture in the field behind our house. This morning it rained, punching down that smooth, soft layer into a pocky, slick mess. The once-bunny is a phallic lump, melting by the hour. Now the snow flakes blow sideways and then stop mid-flight to steer the other way like a beautifully choreographed dance. surprise snow storm

tramp magic

2012-02-18T15:43:00.001-07:00

The girls and I set out for our daily outside romp, the one where I beam and my kids beam and we take turns exclaiming at the mountains' beauty, the sun's brilliance and how lucky we feel to live here. I just don't ever get over it, the grounding, buzzing beauty of Montana. And our new home is situated so we have the opportunity to spin circles and sing like Maria on the hilltop and have