One little family’s endeavor to live in the trees, surrounded by the birds and the bees
When you are a student, the word summer is synonyms with freedom. At least it was for me. My last day of Kindergarten I thought, "Ok, cool. That was fun. Thank god it's over! Back to real life." Then came the next fall's rude awakening; this whole 'school thing' was no glitch. Apparently, it was going to be a serious... Continue Reading →
This summer has been a whirlwind. Work fills my days + the homestead and boys fill the days off. It has been difficult to find time to breath, never mind write anything coherent or take any pictures. With a few dozen employs and a hefty commute, it seems like I am always in-between one thing and another. Consequently, I feel like I am... Continue Reading →
This week is my birthday and yesterday I got the most amazing gift I have ever received. We have a tradition of handmade gifts here on the homestead. Money is always tight and gifts are usually better when thought and effort create them, rather than a factory somewhere out there. I had to work but when I came home all... Continue Reading →
I have spent the last two years processing my own dad's death. Publicly and privately. Fatherhood has been constantly on my mind. His birthday was always around (and even some years ON) Father's Day and so the day has always seemed custom made for him. But for this fathers day I will mark the event with a tribute... Continue Reading →
Growing up the martial arts community it is almost impossible for me to think of "a path" without the concept of the Tao or Dao. Contrary to the notion of a well defined boulevard or road The Way or The Path has always been explained to me as more of an attitude than a plan. It is not... Continue Reading →
This April will mark five (six, oh my god!) years since we packed up the truck and headed the wrong way across the country. After half a decade of winters I can promise you that people headed west for more than the chance to strike it rich. More like the chance to feel their extremities during the year. We... Continue Reading →
The day after our mining adventure in Helena Montana, we headed for the North entrance of Yellowstone. We had planned our route cross country based mostly on national parks, geology and a vow to wander as much as possible. Having set out at the very brink of spring; the West entrance to the park was the only other gate open and it... Continue Reading →
When we drove across the country four years ago- one of the only things we DID plan was to stop in Montana and mine for sapphires. Both of us totally dig (no pun I swear!) rocks and minerals. There are few better ways to spend a day than to go gold panning or mineral mining. While... Continue Reading →
An oldie but a goodie… Almost two years later. The more things change the more that stay the same. When a Phoenix dies, do its remains know they will be reborn? This past few months I have managed to; loose my dad, quit my job, flounder in the beginnings of a new venture, remain almost completely homebound for... Continue Reading →
Honey is somewhere around 15 years old. (Now 16!) This is a ball park estimate since her age at the time my husband adopted her was uncertain. She has been such a blessing in our lives and rather than singing her praises after she is gone (an inevitability I don't like to think about) I wanted... Continue Reading →
The thaw is on! This is not like last year, when I declared winter to be over out of exasperation. Instead, I think the ground might be here to stay. This winter was very different from the last. There is still more time for it to get gnarly but it seems like we have made it through with a... Continue Reading →
My little town has always been the core of who I am. Even now as I sit thousands of miles away-it feels close enough for me to touch. It still stings my heart that I am too far away to do so. Boulder Creek still looks the way that most towns in the West used... Continue Reading →
I think it is safe to say that most male persons have a secret (or as in the case of my cousin, not so secret) crush on Bear Grylls. I mean the guys gets to run around the world, climbing trees, starting fires and drinking/wearing his own pee- all so he can tell you how to survive... Continue Reading →
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 advice to “Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down... Continue Reading →
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. Life is wonderful. Whether you take the time to realize it or not. To... Continue Reading →
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 and there is nothing anyone can do to prepare for it,... Continue Reading →
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 assets as a couple and I am more grateful than ever... Continue Reading →
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 we have done throughout the years. A place to bring people... Continue Reading →
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 account I did so for my dad. My partner and I... Continue Reading →
On our drive home, the boys and I started talking about a character the Little One invented during the week we were snowed in, the Underwear Wizard. Things got out of hand (as all good stories do) and the next thing I knew; we were typing and illustrating a tale called The Amazing Adventure Of The... Continue Reading →
This should give you some clue about the amount of snow we have. The husky can almost climb the drift to the roof... I think we may be a few weeks out for starting our seeds. There is more snow in the forecast for Wednesday. If anyone wants some of our snow; just pay for the shipping... Continue Reading →
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 what he can get with a snorkel and sling spear-... Continue Reading →
I wanted to check out what the storm systems had done to the coast so I drove down to Cape Neddick near where we used to live in Kennebunk. As I headed out to the lighthouse I was greeted by this cool lobster trap Christmas tree. Now adorned with some pretty creepy Valentine's teddies. It looks... Continue Reading →
Fresh snow is a wonderful opportunity to see what is going on in the woods that surround us. We all love to go walking around the woods; following animal trails and trying to figure out where they were going and what they were doing. I have always loved tracking but I get a real kick... Continue Reading →
Because the beginning of next year starts with the end of this one I thought the end of last year was a good place to start the next. Confused yet? Don't be. The changes this year held for us have been immense. We have done many things and many things have happened to us. It all begun... Continue Reading →
