Wicked Rural Homestead
Live Simply
Category: Current conditions
Petroglyphs and Pyramids and Aliens?! Oh My!
Last winter we got really into Antiques Roadshow. We have been doing better this winter at not driving ourselves crazy with marathons of random Netflix shows, until now. After four hours of the show Ancient Aliens; I lost it and started yelling at the idiot box. Forgetting Mark Twain’s sage… Continue Reading “Petroglyphs and Pyramids and Aliens?! Oh My!”
TBT: My Surrender to a Lack of Expectations
“The more things change…” This journey is far from over and the things I have learned are immeasurable and priceless. Every once in a while I am privileged to have some positive reinforcement that my thoughts and I are on the right path. Surrender… Continue Reading “TBT: My Surrender to a Lack of Expectations”
TBW: Wisdom From The Lakota.
My sister and I were raised by a pack of rabid surfers and hippies. When we were very young our Godfather, Todd discovered the world of Ishi-The Last Yahi. Todd was already one of the most accomplished outdoorsman you will every meet. For instance; look… Continue Reading “TBW: Wisdom From The Lakota.”
Fort McClary
Kittery, Maine. We wandered, caressing the ruins. Touching stone hewn before our grandparents were born.
Random Acts Of Kindness And Chinese Food
More than a decade ago, I was walking to my car in downtown Santa Cruz. Coming toward me from across the parking garage was a man, he was crying. His hair was matted to his head and his cloths hung off him awkwardly. He… Continue Reading “Random Acts Of Kindness And Chinese Food”
TBT-Ode to my sister or an elaborate excuse to tell a funny puke story. You decide.
The Little One One of my earliest memory from childhood is of playing on the floor by an old wooden lamp stand we had in the living room. My parents came into the room and towered over me, backlit by the bank of windows… Continue Reading “TBT-Ode to my sister or an elaborate excuse to tell a funny puke story. You decide.”
My Hands
Have never known a manicure or file. And they are bitten rather than clipped. They have been painted less times than there are fingers to paint. In many places they are more scar than skin. The fingers on the right appear to have been… Continue Reading “My Hands”
On The Road Again
Since my dad passed two years ago a great many things have changed. Most of these differences have nothing to do with my dad or his death. In some ways that makes his absence that much more surreal. In the uncharted country of time yet to come,… Continue Reading “On The Road Again”
How Can I Tell?
Am I beautiful? How can I tell? I could look for the answer in the mirror to see what I need to cover up. I could give myself a number either off a scale or tag. I could look at the beautiful people that… Continue Reading “How Can I Tell?”
The Choice I Never Had to Make
I wrote this post some time ago now, and I did more than hesitate to post it. In fact, I almost didn’t at all. This is because my reproductive health is no one’s business! After a time I was compelled to speak out on behalf of… Continue Reading “The Choice I Never Had to Make”
Woolly Stalkers Precede Woolly Stockings.
For a few days last week, the changing trees made us feel like we were living in a lemon. Most of the maples on our property don’t go crimson. Instead they yellow and then rust. It makes the lighting at dawn and sunset pretty epic. This… Continue Reading “Woolly Stalkers Precede Woolly Stockings.”
Halloween in Boulder Creek – 2015
My home town does Halloween right!!! Wish I could have been there.
Autumn Eggs
For anyone that has never experienced fall foliage in New England, do it. The view is one of a kind and the only time during the year I don’t miss my forest back home. Everyday, around every corner is a new combination of color and… Continue Reading “Autumn Eggs”
Standing isn’t as simple as you might think
A good reminder to myself to be still, breath then move.
Our Forest Pharmacy
Today, I grabbed my basket and headed up the hill in search of some medicinal plants. The trees are turning and I felt it time to do some gathering before the leaves and inevitably, snow cover the forest floor for the coming months. The woods surrounding the… Continue Reading “Our Forest Pharmacy”
“Lost” Is a State Of Mind, Not Location.
Due to a last-minute change in plans, I found myself the proud owner of a day off, to myself. I decided to take advantage of my proximity to the White Mountains and drive north. Back home, I spent days on end meandering the back roads… Continue Reading ““Lost” Is a State Of Mind, Not Location.”
A Day Of Rest
Fall is here! Mornings on the homestead now necessitate a hat and sweatshirt. The first tree in the yard has turned. Most fall days are spent preparing for the coming cold but since Sunday is a day of rest; I will. It is good to reflect… Continue Reading “A Day Of Rest”
Still Sick.
It is pretty sad that I can just repost this from a year ago *sigh,* not much has changed. June 9th, 2014- Why? The question everyone wants answered in the wake of yet another random shooting but is it the right one? Normally I stay… Continue Reading “Still Sick.”
Lessons From The Rain Today
I walk through the woods, joyous noise is all around. A symphony in the trees, here is found.
Because It Is Still True
On our third wedding anniversary I was looking over some older writing and found a poem that still says it perfectly. Happy anniversary to us 🙂
A Question For My Dead Father…
Over the past two years, I have come to fully appreciate why people call it “the grieving process.” After the initial shock and adjustment, a long and winding road unfurled into the future. I have started to adapt to my new fatherless state. Now: I remember that I can’t call him-… Continue Reading “A Question For My Dead Father…”
Year Of The Sheep
It is a trip to think that the year of the Sheep/Ram/Goat is more than halfway over! Chinese New Year is celebrated on the second new moon after the winter solstice. The winter solstice always falls on December 21st. This year the next new moon is… Continue Reading “Year Of The Sheep”
The Prettiest Fungi Of All.
I am astounded by the constant change of the forest here, in Maine. There is a time for everything and everything has its time. We have an incredible amount of fungi in the woods that surround us. Most start fruit in the middle of summer and continue… Continue Reading “The Prettiest Fungi Of All.”
Memorial Pillows
This summer has been one of the most tumultuous seasons in recent years and that’s saying something! I thought it right to spend some time on simple things. Like our couch. No, wait. I know how that sounds and it’s not like that.
TBT #2
I wrote this almost 10 years ago now. Sitting on my mountain top back home, looking over Big Basin to the Pacific. Alone. Watching hummingbirds fight like jets, smelling manzanita, reveling in the blooming Indian Paint Brush. It was a good day.
TBT
The Swell Again and again I tread the same water passing it over my body and going nowhere, suspended between what is and what is to be. Then change comes as a wave out of the abyss consuming everything. Shifting your entire bodily universe… Continue Reading “TBT”
“Once In A Blue Moon”
It feels apt that July began with a full moon and will end with one too. The first moon can be called a ‘Blessing Moon’ (an old term for July’s full moon) the one on the 31st of July, will be the second full moon this month and thus-… Continue Reading ““Once In A Blue Moon””
Ghost Plant: A Cure to Ease Emotional Pain
We have scores of this in our woods and I was happy to finally find a article on it’s uses. Thank you! Ghost Plant: A Cure to Ease Emotional Pain.
Meanwhile- Back At The Ranch
This spring was interesting to say the least. We leaned a lot about ourselves, each other, and people in general. – and (most importantly) managed to come out on the other side just as happy as before. Adaptability always has been one of our greatest… Continue Reading “Meanwhile- Back At The Ranch”
The Rose That Bloomed Under a Stone
While tending the garden I discovered a stone had trapped a rose below. Forced to the earth, there was nowhere for it to go.
The Dream & The Wait Part 2
Well, most of you are already aware of the result from the Dream & The Wait. The long and the short is; we have more waiting to do. We both learned a ton of valuable lessons. Trust is a hard thing to come by. It… Continue Reading “The Dream & The Wait Part 2”
A Short Homestead Update
Time is short these days. Mother’s Day brunch at The EmRy House went well, in-spite of walking into a kitchen with a convection oven that decided not to heat up (even though the day before there was NO PROBLEM whatsoever) during the 4 hours when I… Continue Reading “A Short Homestead Update”
The Back Burner
It is probably pretty obvious at this point that this blog has been pushed to the back burner. Opening a restaurant turns out to be quite time consuming. I have found myself with a few seconds and so I will give a quick synopsis of the… Continue Reading “The Back Burner”
Busy Days and Drunken Lambs.
Update: We have been going nonstop since I wrote The Dream & The Wait. As expected, we now live at work and home is for all the animals & livestock we have. The funny thing is at this point I don’t even care. Life is a… Continue Reading “Busy Days and Drunken Lambs.”
I Spoke Too Soon…
Some days are not as fun as others and some downright F*cking suck. This Tuesday was one of the latter. We were so excited about our new family members but the excitement was short lived. Tuesday morning, I went out to tend the lambs and my… Continue Reading “I Spoke Too Soon…”
Our new Lawnmowers
This past week has been beyond exciting for a number of reasons. The new restaurant was a completely unexpected surprise, one we never saw coming. Something we had dreamed about. This week marked the homecoming of another dream; two more members of the family. These were… Continue Reading “Our new Lawnmowers”
The Dream & The Wait
We will start with the dream, because that came first (5 years ago and a lifetime before that.) During that time of trial that followed, Em and I put it out to the universe- we want our own place. An opportunity to showcase all… Continue Reading “The Dream & The Wait”
I Can’t Say They Didn’t Warn Me.
One might think that someone who cooks for a living would be a kitchen gadget nut but I am not. In my humble opinion there are only a few things you NEED in a kitchen. Most of them are sharp knifes 🙂 While shopping… Continue Reading “I Can’t Say They Didn’t Warn Me.”
Death and Facebook
Unlike Myspace; I think it is safe to say that Facebook isn’t going anywhere. The advent of this previously unprecedented way to stay in touch has made a huge impact on many parts of our society, for better or worse. When I started my… Continue Reading “Death and Facebook”
Spring A-Bread, Flour Back. Easter Bread.
After enjoying the new super moon/eclipse/equinox/Ostara day last Friday AND our tasty little chicken I thought it was time for some less gruesome kitchen activities. I love bread. I think Dr. Atkins might be the devil incarnate but I have to admit when I follow… Continue Reading “Spring A-Bread, Flour Back. Easter Bread.”
BAD DOG!!! “No Soup For YOU!”
Well, I went and jinxed it. After a few posts about how well behaved Isis has been and posting a survival skills article that included “knowing how to dress and butcher an animal.” I have to admit; I was kind of asking for it. Like… Continue Reading “BAD DOG!!! “No Soup For YOU!””