Wicked Rural Homestead
Live Simply
Tag: Maine
Everything is different now
Ever since Sara died, my mom and I have been overusing the phrase “it’s all working out so well!” This incantation is said with varying degrees of sarcasm and sincerity. Finding something in Sara’s belongings that we thought was lost, but that she had ‘appropriated’ – “it’s all working out so well.”
“Into the woods I go, to lose my mind and find my soul”- JM
Reflecting at the lake always gives pause to my bounty of existential distress. In order to be still and alone, I walked away from the cacophony of the lakegoers, along a path that is barely there, praying for perspective.
Well, That Stinks!
Three days ago, I decided I would get some writing done! I was going to pen (type) beautiful pros about motherhood, growth, life and other profound stuff. Things did not go as planned. I thought I could accomplish this feat because Ry is home… Continue Reading “Well, That Stinks!”
Spring Break, Homestead Edition
This week proved once again (and still) how awesome the boys are. I am officially 8 3/4 months pregnant and in this state it could be a real drain to have two rambunctious kids running round for ten days, but true to form the… Continue Reading “Spring Break, Homestead Edition”
Spring is Upon Us!
I see the ground! Before I moved to New England, this would have seemed like a very odd statement indeed, but now it is an event to be celebrated. Most of the snow in the yard had gone liquid and returned to the land… Continue Reading “Spring is Upon Us!”
Lessons From The Lupin Lady
My mom was a school teacher before my sister and I were born. When we were a little older she started a pre-school at our house called Kid’s Garden. (Sara got to attend the first year but I did not. I’m totally over it…obviously… Continue Reading “Lessons From The Lupin Lady”
January Surf in Maine
This last round of storms was followed by strong wind resulting in some AMAZING drifts!
TBT- Self Indulgent Ramblings And Abstract Metaphors
I wrote this on the plane ride of the first visit back home, almost seven years ago. I found it recently and was please that my younger self had left such a good reminder of what to focus on as I pass farther along… Continue Reading “TBT- Self Indulgent Ramblings And Abstract Metaphors”
Town and Country
There area a great many beautiful places in the world and I feel very blessed to have lived in two of them. I will always be partial to my home landscape, rough mountains covered in ancient ents that dive into the sea. Winter brings… Continue Reading “Town and Country”
Photo Challenge 2016- Mystery
There is nothing hidden about the changing of the seasons in New England. The constant transition happens all around. Everything out in the open, there to see if you take the time to look. The fields that line my commute are daily reminders that the land’s… Continue Reading “Photo Challenge 2016- Mystery”
Photo Challenge 2016- Autumn
Autumn in New England is a grand thing. The cold nights drive the bugs back to the depths of the hienus hell bogs from whence they came. That in itself, would be reason to celebrate but as an added bonus (or just nature’s apology for… Continue Reading “Photo Challenge 2016- Autumn”
Photo Challenge 2016- Summer
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… Continue Reading “Photo Challenge 2016- Summer”
Getting All Our Ducks in a Row
I mean literally. My figurative ducks are all over the place! However, I have found that actual ducks are easy to get in a row. Step 1: Put down a line of food… that pretty much does the trick. Fun fact: it works for chickens too. It is… Continue Reading “Getting All Our Ducks in a Row”
Photo Challenge 2016- Water
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… Continue Reading “Photo Challenge 2016- Water”
Best Present EVER!
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… Continue Reading “Best Present EVER!”
The Best Laid Plans
… of ducks and women often go awry. This spring, we decided NOT to add anything to the menagerie. Then our ducks went ahead and veto that decision. Of course, it is my fault for letting them sit on the eggs but if you have ever encountered… Continue Reading “The Best Laid Plans”
A Father’s Day Flower For My Daddy
I have managed to maintain my cherub like demeanor pretty well these past couple weeks. I felt accomplished to be so at peace with beginning the LONG process of placing my dad’s ashes. His birthday was last Monday and until today I was holding up REALLY well. Two days… Continue Reading “A Father’s Day Flower For My Daddy”
Photo Challenge 2016- Layer
Spring forests in New England are amazing to behold. Bright green leaves are born of twig tips and explode to blot out the sun from the forest floor. The ground darkens and it seems like all in one week, you can no longer see the… Continue Reading “Photo Challenge 2016- Layer”
Ent Tears
On top of the mountain behind our house; is an amazing view of Great East Lake. We have spent a lot of time hiking to this lookout over the past few years. It has been a part of our routine, it was even the first… Continue Reading “Ent Tears”
Photo Challenge 2016- Work
The photo prompt for this week is ‘work.’ Oddly enough, I find myself with time off from work. It has been amazing. Of course, I made a bunch of lofty promises to myself about how productive I was going to be with my vacation. There… Continue Reading “Photo Challenge 2016- Work”
Photo Challenge 2016- Reflection
Back to last fall with my photo, Reflection. I had gotten in kind of a reflection rut. I just couldn’t stop looking down to see the sky. It lasted through the winter. There are worse problems to have I guess. Like not knowing how… Continue Reading “Photo Challenge 2016- Reflection”
Photo Challenge 2016- Path
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… Continue Reading “Photo Challenge 2016- Path”
Photo Challenge 2016- Secret
There have been others in this challenge who have already addressed the fact that if you show something to someone- it is no longer secret. Thus, I will not explain my entree. It is a secret!
Death and Snowflakes
The snow falling lightly on my window reveled itself to me one day. All the little flakes waited patiently to melt. Momentarily displaying their breathtaking detail, individual beauty and uniqueness. I was there to see it. But had there been no audience-the show would… Continue Reading “Death and Snowflakes”
Photo Challenge 2016- Spring
This challenge has once again given me a chuckle and serious pause for thought at the same time. Yesterday we got almost six inches and snow…On the second day of spring. Yah, New England weather. This resulted in my pictures for the prompt being chuck-full… Continue Reading “Photo Challenge 2016- Spring”
Eastward Ho Part III. Our Little Mine.
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… Continue Reading “Eastward Ho Part III. Our Little Mine.”
Perfect little Imperfections and Unintentionally Complete Projects
Like so many of the things we see everyday I have rediscovered two of the items in my living room. They have been hanging on my walls for almost half my life- and there are long periods of time when I cease to… Continue Reading “Perfect little Imperfections and Unintentionally Complete Projects”
Photo Challenge- Extra
Extra. Currently, the word evokes strong- conflicting emotions. There is a constant battle inside my head over how I perceive my reality and judge my efforts. It seems like there is never enough. Not time, money, energy or anything for that matter. Any effort that’s exerted,… Continue Reading “Photo Challenge- Extra”
Transitions
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… Continue Reading “Transitions”
Snow Person Challenge…
This last storm gave us the perfect type of snow to build snow people but we may have gotten a little carried away. It stands about ten feet tall! Now its your turn!
Survival Sundays
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… Continue Reading “Survival Sundays”
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”
Fort McClary
Kittery, Maine. We wandered, caressing the ruins. Touching stone hewn before our grandparents were born.
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.”
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”
“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”
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.”
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.
“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””
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 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”
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…”
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”
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!””
Suspended Spring
Snow turns to rain but winter is unwilling to let its prisoners go, the bitting cold guilds the land. A new day shines forth. Morning sun hugs new-grown shoots and buds in silver light.
IT’S MELTING!
Today, I reveled in the sound of snow melt running off our roof through the open window. Three weeks ago I declared winter to be over and this afternoon I believed it. I even saw ground on the side of the road. GROUND! Ground that had… Continue Reading “IT’S MELTING!”
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