The Farm Chicks

Moving Away and Following Dreams

When we built our dream home, our beloved farmhouse, I never imagined I'd be saying the words that we're moving away, but it's true. We are.
Sometimes unexpected dreams develop and it's time to start a new life chapter. That's where we are and we're pretty excited about it. About a year ago, Colin and I started having an interest in moving into town. We explored some options but couldn't ever find something that was the right fit for us ~ it felt like we were trying to force ourselves and our lives into something that just wasn't meant to be. So, we decided a move into town wasn't for us. After all, we LOVE our home.

Then one day, I stumbled upon some property that seemed so right. In town, covered in trees (including the remnants of an orchard), quiet, and a view to fall in love with. And I did. And then Colin did too. And just like that, our next chapter was set in motion. Our youngest son is graduating from high school in two months and soon it will be just Colin and me. Our next home will be designed to create a special new space for Colin and me in this new chapter of our lives as well as our children's college visits, their future family visits, and a happy place to entertain our friends.

We've been working with our amazing builder, Craig Powell, and are in the first stages of designing our new home with an architect. Our next step will be listing our home for sale (coming so soon, EEK!). And amid all of this, I'm in the final planning stages of The 2018 Farm Chicks Fair, which will be here the first weekend in June. It's definitely an exciting time.

I'm looking forward to sharing the process of building our new home, and this new journey, here on the blog. Stay tuned!

Happily Ever After

We celebrated Colin's mom and dad's 50th wedding anniversary a couple of weeks ago. All they wanted was for their entire family to be there to celebrate with them. So, all of Colin's siblings, their spouses, fiancees, and children descended on Spokane for a special family only gathering.

It's quite a feat for everyone to have traveled from all corners of the U.S. and even a few from Europe. None of us wanted to miss this special day.

We're so blessed to have their marriage as our example.

A few days ago, Colin and I celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary and during dinner, our boys asked us what our tips were for having a happy marriage. A lot of things came to mind, and we were happy to share our thoughts with the boys. I'm so thankful they're interested in these sort of things.

• The first thing we remembered was the homily Father Mike delivered on our wedding day and a point that he made to not make a mental list of the things your spouse does that bother you. Instead, make a mental list of the things you love about them. Focus on the good!
• Support each other's interests and work to find or develop some in common.
• Take care of yourself and your health so you can make the most out of life and your time together and remain attracted to one another.

Of course, there were the standard love one another pieces of advice and so on. But are all of these tips the magical answers to living happily ever after? Yes and no. They've worked for us. But really, the bottom line is that when Colin and I made the decision to be married and have a family, we chose to give it our all - just like Colin's mom and dad. Through the ups and downs in life, our family and our commitment to each other are the most important things of all.

Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love. ~Mother Teresa

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Images: KC England

Cake: Sweet Frostings Blissful Bakeshop

Linens and chairs: Event Rents

Floral Table Runner: Tutorial can be found here.

Gradma and Grandpa Placecards handmade by Granddaughter Shea Josephine

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Between posts on my website, and all year long, I'm preparing for The Farm Chicks Vintage & Handmade Fair. You can read alI about it here. I also document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.

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How to Make a Floral Table Runner Centerpiece

We celebrated my mother and father-in-law's 50th wedding anniversary this week. Colin is one of six siblings and there are sixteen grandchildren. I think mostly because we're such a big family and to keep it as intimate as possible, my parents-in-law decided to keep the celebration to just the 32 of us. The six siblings all took part in putting the party together and asked me to be responsible for the centerpieces for the table. Because it was such a momentous occasion, I wanted to do more than just a few centerpieces on the long table. I wanted it to be enormous - to really make a statement, reflecting this big day.

To give the runner an extra special touch and to save money on the cost, I foraged for Rosehips, Snowberries, and Wild Grass from the roadside, and Sage and Hydrangea from my yard. I limited purchased add-ins to a variety of Eucalyptus from the store along with sixty white roses. (The Hydrangea blossoms are not seen in the picture below, because they were protected in a large kitchen garbage bag full of cold water. The flower petals on hydrangeas absorb water so it's a nice way to keep the Hydrangea extra hydrated before placing).

The forecast for the day was 90 degrees Fahrenheit. I knew there was no way anything other than the Eucalyptus would withstand the heat and the greenery and flowers would definitely wither without a water source. After some trial runs, I settled on using floral foam as the base.

Because the floral foam is wet, I put down a base of Saran Wrap to keep the tablecloth from absorbing all of the water from the foam. I stretched it out to the length I needed and then pushed the sides in until it was just wide enough to hold the foam.

Floral foam is super simple to use and is great for keeping flowers hydrated AND for creating a heavy stabile base for your creation. Another way I kept the cost down was to cut each of the blocks in half horizontally, getting twice the coverage for the same cost. There are several varieties of floral foam on the market, with most of the options at the store for artificial flowers. You DON'T want any of those varieties. You want the WET FOAM variety for use with fresh flowers. To use, you'll need a bucket of water or a deep sink or basin to drop your foam blocks into. There needs to be enough room for the block to be able to be completely covered once it has absorbed all the water it is going to absorb. (So, if you're using a block that is 9 inches tall, you'll want there to be at least 10 inches of water). Keep in mind, if you're using a lot of blocks like I did for the runner, you'll need A LOT of water because each block absorbs quite a bit. I used a 10 gallon bucket filled nearly to the top and had to refill it once. Simply place the foam block on top of the water. It will quickly absorb the water, and sink just below the surface. Remove the block, allow a tiny bit of excess water to drain, and then place on the table as is or cut in half with a large kitchen knife as I did, and place.

As you can see in the picture above, I pushed in the Saran Wrap to just wide enough to protect the foam and make it so it couldn't be seen. You'll notice I left one of the blocks its original size to mark the true center of the runner. That way I could create a center focal point and also have a clear visual as I'm building it out beginning with the center point foliage angling straight up, everything to the left of center leaning left, and everything right of center leaning right. Although the arrangement is a bit wild or earthy in nature, to keep the overall look well thought out, there needs to be order. The center, left, right system does that.

The greens should go on in layers, starting with what you have the most of. You'll want to have enough of your main greenery to be able to create a good solid first layer. Remember, you're angling the greens to the right if you're working to the right of center and angling to the left if you're working to the left of center. I started my first layer with unripened rosehips. They were the perfect base because the neutral unripened color was perfect for my vision of simple, elegant tones and because the berries add so much visual interest. You'll also want to pay close attention to be conservative with how far out the greenery extends, making sure there is plenty of room for a dinner plate and glassware. 

After that, it was simply a process of layering in each subsequent type of greenery: the Snowberries, followed by the Sage, then Hydrangea, Eucalyptus, the Roses, and finally the Wild Grass, which was my way of adding in a bit of gold representing the 50th "Golden Anniversary".

Notes & Tips:

Think about using several different types of greenery involving different textures such as berries, leaves, flowers, etc.

Sage is a big favorite of mine because of its velvety leaves and clusters that are so great for filling in spaces. It also smells super great!

Hydrangea is great for coverage but can be fragile. Read my comments at the top of this post about how I treat the hydrangea before placing. The extra Hydrangea leaves are great to save for use later when you've run out of greenery and need something more to fill in any last minute gaps. Simply use the little stem at the tip of each leaf to poke into the foam.

When you start each layer, begin at the center and move to the right of center to place a sprig, then move to the left of center and place a sprig until you reach the end of both sides. THEN walk around to the other side of the table, to the center, and begin again. Do this with every layer so you will have consistently placed coverage and consistency in the look of the arrangement.

In total, I spent $38 dollars on the Roses and 3 Clusters of eucalyptus from Trader Joes. The foam was $25 dollars, with the overall cost totaling $63 dollars. (You can find it here). Not bad for such a massive arrangement

I spent five hours building the runner and several hours foraging before that, so there is definitely a time commitment.

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Between posts on my website, and all year long, I'm preparing for The Farm Chicks Vintage & Handmade Fair. You can read alI about it here. I also document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.

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Crossroads

I took a walk around Lost Lake while Colin was mountain biking. It was a good time for me to have some quiet time and think about life within our family right now. We're at such a crossroads - the kids are all growing up - Lucas will be moving far away for college, and Micah to pursue his career. Cody is grown and has put down roots on the western side of the state, and Bongo is soon to be our only child left at home, in his last year of high school.

As long as I can remember, I wanted to be a mom. It was a feeling that pulled and pulled at me. I imagined that it would be so simple, that we would love our children with all our hearts and that would be enough. I honestly never thought about the challenges that would come up, like they do for all families. I had never really been around babies ever before becoming a mom and it was all learning as I went. At one point when the youngest three were all toddlers and in diapers, I remember just trying to make it day to day, feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. Looking back, I wish I would have known to soak in those moments and hold on to it like nothing else because the time is fleeting and there's no going back.

Faced with our impending empty nest, there's a frequent flip flop of emotions inside of me, running between such hope and happiness for what's to come for our children AND THEN the ache of our children leaving and life being completely different, for all of us. And as they embark on their new chapters, Colin and I will be embarking on ours. Sometimes I think okay, where do I go from here?

What new interests will I explore? Will I consider a long held dream to pursue education in a field I've long dreamed of? What will become our new norm?

I understand my aches will come and go for a while as we all navigate these life changing times for our family, and the joy will too. I'm so thankful that the boys are finding their way. We've all worked so hard for it.

There is a voice inside of you

That whispers all day long,

"I feel that this is right for me,

I know that this is wrong."

No teacher, preacher, parent, friend

Or wise man can decide

What's right for you - just listen to

The voice that speaks inside.

~Shel Silverstein

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Between posts on my website, and all year long, I'm preparing for The Farm Chicks Vintage & Handmade Fair. You can read alI about it here. I also document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.

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A Weekend Drive

We took a drive to Walla Walla. The sun was shining and the sky so blue I wanted to bottle it up.

We took the long way, just because we could. Everyone should have the luxury of time once in a while.

The open road is like a dream to me...

 

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Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there, Username: thefarmchicks

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Living With Autism & Aspergers Syndrome

Our son's diagnosis with Autism, specifically Asperger's Syndrome, was a big piece to a very unexpected puzzle our lives had become. I've not written about it since last December because honestly, I'm fiercely protective of our son's privacy. How can I balance protecting his privacy with sharing information I think can be helpful to others? This is my attempt. Asperger's Syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder considered by many to be the mildest and highest functioning. Because of this, many children go undetected for quite some time or undiagnosed. Once social interaction and life demands increase, symptoms begin to show much more and specific characteristics can vary. For example, some children have difficulty making eye contact when speaking, lack social and conversational skills, and fixate on specific subjects. (Of those three examples, only the last applies to our son). Studies suggest boys are four times more likely than girls to have Asperger's Syndrome. When our boy was about seven, I wondered if he may have Asperger's Syndrome. My curiosity was brought on by his disdain for being touched or hugged, which I found to be unusual considering we didn't experience this with our three other boys. After searching around about "the signs" there were things that didn't match, like the fact that he was very social and had lots of friends, so I dismissed my hunch entirely. Had I spent more time really investigating autism, his life and our lives would have been much easier. I can't stress enough how important having a diagnosis and understanding what's affecting your child is. Yes, it's very helpful for the family, but even more so for the child. For our son, his struggles really became an internal affliction - feeling different, seeing the world in a different way, and processing life differently than others. He slowly became deeply depressed, yet he nor any of us understood why. We visited doctor after doctor who couldn't see beyond the fact that he was depressed. We needed to get beyond that. Yes, he was depressed, but why?! One year after his diagnosis we now understand that many children with Asperger's suffer from depression, brought on by their differences from the mainstream world. For our boy, getting the diagnosis changed everything for him. He was able to understand that yes, he sees the world differently, but he's not crazy, and that's what he'd been thinking all along. I'm different, so I'm crazy. I'm crazy = there's no hope for me. A few of the outward signs in our son: As a child, he was very sensitive to loud noise. Doesn't like to be touched. Fixation on a specific subject: When he first began to walk he began fixating on basketball. He'd climb out of his crib at night and shoot baskets into his little Fisher Price hoop. Over and over and over and over.... saying "Shoot a hoop". "Shoot a hoop". "Shoot a hoop". Put him in his crib, he'd climb back out. Repeat Repeat Repeat. Night after night. When he began to read, the fixation turned to baseball. He'd read the baseball encyclopedia of stats and memorize each player's stats, from the beginning of baseball to current day. He'd listen to old recordings of the World Series, talk incessantly about anything baseball, and collected baseball memorabilia. On the playground, he'd create baseball teams and became manager of players, complete with contracts that he'd write at home and have his friends sign. Highly intelligent and very well read. It's normal for him to check out 20 biographies at a time at the library and read each one. (Of course, each book pertaining to his favorite subject). I want to tell you that life after the diagnosis has been easy but it hasn't. The reality is that learning to live with and manage this is hard work and we take it seriously. Sometimes for half a second, Colin and I wish that we could just take the easy path and not sweat grades, rules, and parenting quite so much. It'd be easier in the short term, that's for sure. But that's not what we signed up for when we made the choice to have these boys of ours. We're obligated to the boys and this world to create fine men, show them the way, and be loving in the process. And I'm not telling you this so that you'll praise us for our parenting. I'm telling you this because it leads me to the last part of what I want to say today about families living with autism. Although this isn't our experience, there are many families with children whose Aspergian meltdowns occur in public. At the store, school, the pool, parties, and family gatherings. I'm not saying any or all occurances you see of what the world would describe as "poorly behaved children" are related to autism. I just ask that when you see this happening, that you show kindness, refrain from judgement and hold these families in your heart. They're doing the best they can, whatever their story may be.

The Coast

After leaving Marin, we headed up the California coast with no plan whatsoever. We zigged and zagged along Highway 1 (aka the Pacific Coast Highway), enjoying the gorgeous ocean view as we went along and stopping at little bakeries and cafes along the way. Somewhere near Leggett, California, Highway 1 ends and Highway 101 begins. I loved seeing the mouth of the Klamath River, which is the river I spent many a summer day as a kid, tubing, swimming, and enjoying everything about summer.

The coast was so mesmerizing that we decided to keep on that route all the way back to Washington State. At some point along the way, Highway 101 breaks away from the coast and we were soon ensconced in the Redwoods, which was such a treat. Driving along this highway, you can't help but see life in a different way - like there's more than the rush and crush that can take over our lives sometimes.

All in all, the boys and I logged more than 2,000 miles on this trip and grew closer in the process. Taking the slow way home was a good choice.

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Some favorites along the way:

We veered off Highway 1 from time to time to see the California countryside, just off the coast. It was worth it.

Mendocino, California and Manzanita, Oregon were my very favorite towns along the way.

The countryside outside of Tillamook, Oregon is storybook beautiful.

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Marin

We spent some time in Marin with my sister and family, which is where she settled after moving away from home and finishing college. Marin County is a special place to me as we spent a good deal of time here when we were younger. Shortly after my sister returned to Marin, she met a girl her same age and they began talking about this and that. At some point in the conversation, they realized who each other was - a best friend from Kindergarten. (My sister attended school in Marin for a period of time while our family took a break from the road and lived out of the Gypsy Wagon here). They're friends to this day. We started the day at Two Birds for breakfast:

The boys were treated to a bit of George Lucas while we we visited the area. Recently, George Lucas had a park built, (Imagination Park), which is a pretty little park in the middle of  San Anselmo (one of many towns located within Marin County), complete with a tribute to Indiana Jones and Yoda. Later, we headed out to Naboo, (aka the forest near my sister's home), which is a planet in the Star Wars universe. The Ewok fight scene was shot here.

My niece, Kylie, named after our brother, Ky.

Later, we stopped by Toby's Barn in Point Reyes, and meandered about town. I love that my sister's yoga's classes are in a barn. This place always makes me happy - a modern day feed and farm store.

It was a beautiful day in Marin!

Now we're making our way home to Spokane. Where will we stop along the way? Stay tuned!

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Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there as: thefarmchicks

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Saying Good-Bye

I went home one last time to say good-bye to my childhood home, where we settled after leaving Croy Gulch. My parents have moved into town because they're getting older and can no longer live their primitive lifestyle. My sister and I can't believe it finally happened. We never thought we'd see the day when they'd leave this place, let alone give up the life they've always known.

The Gypsy Wagon, slowly being surrounded by the elements.

My mom can't help but water the garden that she loved and cared for all these years.

My dad's beloved boom truck that raised many a log.He won't let the boom truck go, it means too much to him.

I had mixed emotions about going back and it's hard to explain, really. This remote home was a piece of me, mostly a friend, but sort of an enemy. Honestly, it was a really hard place to live and an incredibly lonely place, for me. Inside of me, I was terribly terribly lonely and feeling cut off from the world that I wanted to be a part of, so the land became my friend. I'd hunt for arrowheads, make little villages for imaginary gnomes and fairies out of bark and twigs, and create little play places of my own, where I'd sit and dream of my future life for hours on end. The land was good to me, but I was terrified of never getting away, being stuck in this place that for me was very confining. No phone, no electricity, no running water, no contact with the outside world.

My little playhouse, complete with a door, built against an old log. Inside was a little shelf where I'd place my tiny tin dishes and old prescription bottles, pretending it was the kitchen.

The snag that I'd climb in, sit inside of and dream.

Rock House. I used to take my transistor radio up here and live in my house for the day.

I wondered if, when going back this last time, that I'd be overcome with emotion. But I was okay. I understand my parents choice to have lived the life they did and am thankful for the person I've become because of it.

My dad and me.

My parents live in town now and in a place that in the past they'd never have considered for half a second. It's incredibly amusing to hear them gasp every time they flip a switch to turn on a light or marvel at air conditioning and running water. And every time before they go to the store, they describe that it will take them 10 minutes, there and back, instead of 40 minutes each way. Every time.

Things are still "far-out!", "groovy", "copasetic", and "a real trip". Some things will never change. And that's okay.

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Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there as: thefarmchicks

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As Far as the Eye Can See

Colin and I went for a hike up Palm Canyon. It's a beauty to behold. Groves of palms and a stream, shockingly appear out of the desert.

Then just as suddenly as they appear, they're gone again, giving way to magnificent rock formations that are a beauty all their own.

 
 
 

As we make our way up and out of the canyon, the desert unfolds as far as the eye can see.

A warm breeze blows through and we stop to catch our breath and take it all in. There's a happiness that comes with seeing new things with the one I love.

We retrace our steps, several miles worth, until the canyon appears once again. The view that was at our backs as we climbed is now revealed as we descend.

And back to the canyon are we.

 
 
 

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. ~Mark Twain

 

The Mountains

We went away to the mountains. How lucky are the cousins who can putter around and be pals?

Sunny days covered in snow. We soak in what mother nature sends our way.

A walk in the woods, where winter is slowly giving way to spring.

And then like magic, a winter playland appears. She seems to say, Come play on my ice! So we do.

A hockey game...

A twirl, a swirl.

And then we're off to explore. Wild strawberries are found.

A forest playground.

This Week

We've been plugging along in freezy Spokane. Finals week ends today. Hooray!

This morning I told the boys, three times, that the walkway was icy. Next thing I knew, one of them was flat on his back. Sometimes I wonder if my words are heard like the adults in Charlie Brown. Just saying.

Cody set out on his his band's first tour. His smile makes me cheery.

Last night my friends and I celebrated a dear friend's birthday. It was a sweet and happy night. Friends are like sunshine, aren't they?

And Colin's birthday is just a few days away. We're looking forward to a fun weekend celebrating, with the boys.

Next week, I'm getting ready for Valentine's Day. I think I'm going to sprinkle the house with hearts. We'll see...

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Autism and Hope

Autism and Hope

The last several years at this time in December I've thought about our year and what it brought. Each filled with challenges and triumphs and lessons of life that I've been very thankful for. In time.

In October, one of our children was diagnosed with Autism. And actually, once we reached the diagnosis, it was an incredible sense of relief - a name, a focus, an answer, a beginning.

But getting there was a gut-wrenching journey that plummeted us all into a very depressing and heartbreaking place. What can a family do when your loved one is suffering and you don't know why?

Looking back, I've had to work through the regrets. I wished I had understood the signs. I wished that when I looked into autism that I had dug deeper, rather than being thrown off by what I'd initially read. I wished that we had known so we could have done things differently. So our child wouldn't have had to suffer so much. And each time we thought we knew what we were dealing with, we wouldn't have been set back even farther than before. Two steps forward, five steps back.

The greatest gift in all of this, of course, is the diagnosis. Knowing what we're dealing with and getting help. And there have been more lessons learned than I'd have chosen, if given a choice. But I wasn't, and that's the way it is.

Some things I've been reminded of and some wisdom I've gained along the way:

• The importance of a good marriage really presents itself is when you're faced with hardship. I'm eternally grateful for Colin.
• You never really know someone's story. Be kind. Be kind. Be kind. Even something as simple as a smile. There were days when I was so broken that simple kindness made me weep.
• Trust your gut. You know your child better than anyone else.
• Find doctors who are genuinely interested in helping your child. They really do exist.
• Learn to let go of regrets. Regret is like poison.
• Don't waste time on negativity. Move on.
• Be open to true friendship. Friends are a gift.
• Nothing is ever as good or as bad as it seems in the moment. ~John F. Kennedy Jr.
• Be strong. It sounds simple, but taking on the role of Parent means you must be the rock, no matter how hard life can be. You owe it to your child, you owe it to the world.

As I look back on this year, it's best described as a year of healing and hope. No, it hasn't been easy, but whose life is, really? There are so many people facing challenges of their own and that's something that's easily lost sight of when you're suffering. For you, for me, for anyone who is suffering, I choose hope.

Hope

Hope is the thing with feathers 
That perches in the soul, 
And sings the tune--without the words, 
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard; 
And sore must be the storm 
That could abash the little bird 
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land, 
And on the strangest sea; 
Yet, never, in extremity, 
It asked a crumb of me.

~Emily Dickinson

The Best Day

Colin and I started our day with what I will remember as one of the happiest runs of my life. Us, Morgan, Emily, Spencer, friends, and soon-to-be new in-laws.

Upstate New York.

Up up up we ran into Minnewaska, followed by the guys all plunging into the lake. I'll hold it with me forever.

That day that Morgan and Heidi were married.

 

What a special day this wedding was for us. To be together, celebrating how much we love these two and the fact that we're all becoming one big family.

 

These things run through my mind....

      ....what a gift it is to find the one you love

and to love their family too...

To feel the flutter in your heart when you think of forever..  . .      ....     .

And that's a wonderful thing.

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Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.

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The Mountains

We headed to the mountains in search of some huckleberries and inspiration. The air is cooler here and the silence different than anywhere else.

The snap of a twig. A gurgling stream. Hidden paths of dreams.

Sunlight dapples. Huckleberries are found.

 

Inspiration abounds.

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Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.

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Summer Fun

I'm the girl who wishes it were summer all year. Everything is just better when the sun is shining.

A few weeks ago, Heather and I got to spend some time together. It was laughy happy.

 

The boys and I took a trip with my nieces, Chloe and Annie. It will always be one of my happiest memories.

And other than that, I'm like a sun camel. I need to save it up for future months. Sigh.

In other news, Souvenir is here! Souvenir is here! What is Souvenir? It's the beautiful, wonderful grass-roots lifestyle magazine created by Heather. It's most definitely her most wonderful edition yet and it's available now. You can purchase it online here.

And just a little note about Souvenir... when you purchase this magazine, you're supporting other women out there like you and me who are just doing what they love. Living happy lives, making beautiful things, creating wonderful food, and making the world a better place to be. With no advertisements either. It takes a lot of hard work to put together such an amazing magazine.

Thank you for supporting Souvenir!

And happy summer to you.

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Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.

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Word From the Country

Hi Friend,

I'm sending word from the country.

Summer is here and it's been so peaceful.

We've been quietly traveling the backroads of this land that we love. Sometimes the sound of silence is the best sound indeed.

I'm thinking of you while I'm about.

Love,

me

P.S. I've answered your business questions here.

My friend's mom is doing lovely things. You can read about it here.

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Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.

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Intuition

I've always believed that a special gift women are born with is their intuition and it's something I've relied on all my life. I will say that I think it's something that drives Colin crazy from time to time. "How do you know that?", he may ask. And sometimes I'll respond that I just trust my intuition. For a very smart, level-headed man with an accounting degree, that just doesn't make sense. And honestly, I know it sounds crazy, but it's what I believe. And after the summer of our incident, Colin believed it too. At least for that one day anyway.

It was the middle of summer and our home that sat nestled into the hillside on Golden Hills Lane was roasting hot. With no air conditioning and cement siding, it just soaked in the sun and radiated heat. When the sun went down, the best solution was to open all the windows and doors and let the cool evening breeze blow off the prairie and through the house. But in addition to being a self-proclaimed intuitive sensei, I'm also a bit of a worrier (another trait we women are born with, right?!) and it freaked me out to have unlocked doors and windows. And because Colin is the wonderful husband that he is, he'd suffer through the heat and locked doors most nights.

On this particular morning, when Colin awoke, the house was unbearably warm. So he went throughout the house opening all of the windows and doors. And then he left.

At 7:00am I lay fast asleep, having a nightmare about two bears in the garden. It was one of those dreams that seems so real that I was awoken with a start. I sat straight up in bed and a sick feeling in my stomach pushed me to go look out onto the garden. I jumped out of bed and could feel the cool breeze on my bare feet.

I made my way through the kitchen and to the sliding doors that lead out onto the deck that overlooked the garden just below. As I peered through the screen, I could make out the figures of two blurry men.

My heart stopped. And then it raced.

My contact lenses weren't in and I couldn't see well. I could see however, that their backs were turned to me and I had to make a split-second, half-asleep decision. Shut and lock the sliders? Run across the room and shut and lock the other sliders? Then all of the open windows too? Were the downstairs sliders leading to the boys rooms open too? I decided that any movement would draw their attention and I knew that I couldn't possibly close everything up before they could get into the house.

So I tiptoe-raced back to the bedroom and into the bathroom to put my contacts in. Hands shaking, feeling as if I'm in slow motion, feeling as if I'm in a dream.

Contacts in and seeing clearly now, I race to grab the phone and quietly race back to the sliders in the kitchen. I can hear Colin's voice in my mind, assuring me that I'm worrying unnecessarily. Surely they won't be there. Maybe it was just a dream.

They're still there.

Two scruffy men in flannel shirts.

They still have their backs to me and they're looking up the hill towards my neighbor's house.

I start to dial 911 and then I hear Colin in my mind again. What if they were meeting our neighbors husband that morning (he was always helping people with their cars) and for some reason they were just accidentally by our garden? So, I decide to call my neighbor instead and see if she's expecting company.

My neighbor answers the phone and I can immediately hear that I've woken her up. "Leilani, is Jeff expecting company this morning!?", I ask, in a loud panicked whisper.

Half-asleep, she answers no.

By this time, the two men are making their way through our field and up the hill towards her house.

"There are two men walking through the field from our house to yours", I tell her.

She groggily tells me that she's going to call her husband and she hangs up.

Heart pounding, hands shaking, I watch and wait for Leilani to call me back. It feels like a hundred years.

As the men reach the edge of her lawn, they immediately drop down on the ground and begin crawling towards her back door.

I race to call her back.

"CALL 911!!! CALL 911!" She screams into the receiver.

I call 911 and begin to explain our situation. And just as the men reach her back door, I can see something has grabbed their attention and they jump up and begin running for the trees and then towards the prairie below.

Before I know it, the hills are swarming with police from every direction. And they catch the men.

Turns out, there was a third, in a car, on the road between our houses. He had a police scanner and when our calls came in and the call was dispatched out, he radioed the two men who had just reached Leilani's back door.

The two bears men were arrested and it turns out they had long rap sheets and many weapons on them that day. The third man got away. But most importantly, we were all okay.

And, even if only for one day, Colin believed in my intuition too.

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Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.

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Our Walk

The sun's been lingering late into the evening, sort of like an old guest we love from time gone by, but just getting to know again. These warm nights bring happiness and hope for the season that's to come.

Tonight we set out past Byron's strawberry fields,

past the old tree needing support in its old life,

past the old fruit stand,

and around the bend where we see our shadows cast by the sun.

And then, the sun sputters out as the trees loom large as we walk on. Past the babbling brook,

past Roenings Orchard drive,

and around the pond with its water so rich and glassine.

The trees are loaded with apple blossoms now. The wild roadside trees pull at my heartstrings - the underdogs - surviving, blossoming, and producing, year after year.

The trees begin to thin as we make our way up the hill,

and back into the sun.

The air feels soft as a feather here, with wafts of fresh sprouting fields. This is the land of the free.

And dreams are safe here.

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Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.

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Mother's Day

Mother's Day on the Bluff was beautiful. I love those days when we're all home, just tinkering around.

I re-potted my gardenia plants. The smell of these beauties creates instant happiness.

Colin cleaned the patio,

helped me get the garden beds ready for planting,

and labeled the plantings with his own special system. We're a team.

One of the boys mowed the lawn and left mohawks everywhere. Sometimes teaching yard work takes special parental patience.

We nibbled on roasted pistachios - it's been our official family snack this month.

I set out the bouquets we picked up from the store earlier in the day. I love their colorful messiness.

A find from the weekend found a new home on the kitchen shelf.

We feasted on enchiladas with fresh tomatoes and avocado

and strawberry shortcakes for dessert.

It was a beautiful, homey sort of day.

The Week In Review

I returned from Arizona full of sun. It was the perfect way to head into Monday.

Monday morning I had another surgery. As I lay in my room waiting, I couldn't help but overhear all of the sad stories of the patients in the rooms around me. It was a good reminder that I have so much to be thankful for. I decided that every day I want to tell a few people (other than my family) how much they mean to me.

My bulbs are all coming up. The first spring in our new home means seeing all of my plantings coming to life. I'm so excited about that.

Colin planted a whole slew of Christmas trees on the back of our property. (If you've read my Christmas Book, you understand this is a big deal for my guy). I can't wait for our future Christmas parties where our friends and family can come and get a tree.

I started reading this book.

We watched Bill Cunningham New York. I was inspired. Creative, lovely people affect me in that way.

I made plans for a super fun event with my friend, Samantha Cabrera. We'll be telling you all about it and inviting you soon.

I'm feeling better each day. Today I'm looking forward to having lunch with Alisa at Mizuna. It's one of my favorite restaurants in Spokane. (You can see my list of favorites here).

What did you do this week and most importantly, what made you happy?

Forever

My family and I just returned from spring break in Arizona. I love it there. We started out with several days at the Arizona Grand Resort where we played in the water park, relaxed by the pool, and went for occasional hikes.

Colin get up extra early every morning to go mountain biking on the trails behind the resort. I love how he likes to squeeze every moment out of the day.

We watched the Mariners get ready for their season on a beautiful warm evening in Peoria.

And then awoke the next day to take in the desert and all its beauty.

 

 

 

 

 

We watched climbers reaching for the sky.

Then we road-tripped North to see something grand.

The Grand Canyon.

Something so majestic it makes you catch your breath. Greater than anything you can imagine. I can still close my eyes and feel the air that swirled around me and gave me the feeling of forever.

You can feel forever there.

Once Upon A Burger

Once upon a time, there was a boy who woke up bright and early. He grabbed a leftover hamburger patty and made himself a burger deluxe. Then he took some lovely potatoes and sliced them up just so. And sizzle went those potatoes until they were fries.

Then he set his amazing creation down and marveled at his work.

And he proclaimed it the tastiest in all the land.

Pruning

I went outside to take in the sun and saw Bongo zipping towards me through our rain-bogged field.

He'd been gathering pruned apple branches from across the way. Perfect for future summer bonfires.

I love to see the pruning. It means spring is almost here.

The strawberry fields that Bongo and Lukie helped to plant last spring will be coming to life soon too.

Even the apple boxes are all stacked and ready to go.

Come on spring, we're ready for you.

February 14th

February 14, 2012 was a pretty good day. Colin just returned from a long back country ski trip. He came back looking like a mountain man - tan and scruffly.

For a Valentine's day date, we grabbed Vietnamese tofu sandwiches for lunch.

 

I wore a cute summer outfit because it was beautifully sunny when I left the house. But then the snow came pounding in like an unwelcome guest. Booooo!

I had to stop at Costco because we really needed groceries. Do we see a theme here? Yes, I'm the girl who dresses for summer, secretly hoping that it will change the weather somehow.

 
The checker told me she was coming to the show. I love it when people tell me that. Especially strangers. Then Heather called me and told me it was 81 degrees in California. I told her to zip it.

I tell you, the older I get, the harder winter's gray gets for me. I think that's another reason exercise is so important. It makes these gray days so much better.

Oh! Look what arrived! A cute little package from Katelyn. She sent me some of her images from the show last year. I love the spirit and joy that comes through in her images. And hey, how did she know that I'm going through a heart phase? I'm a sucker for a cute package!

On my way home, I decided to spring the boys from school a little early. That always earns me big mom points.

For dinner we had a big pot of spaghetti and cupcakes for dessert. More mom points! Yippee!

February 14th, 2012. It was a great day.

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Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.

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Snow Day

We woke up to a snow day today. No school.

I think we'll take a little walk. I love the silence that snow provides. Nature's sound proofing.

And then I want to come home and bake. Make soup. Do laundry. Because it feels like the cozy thing to do.

On our snow day.

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Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.

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Yesterday

It's been busy at World Headquarters. I've been working on some deadlines for The Farm Chicks Show and I had some mailings to get out.

I wonder how many people get to work in pink fuzzy slippers?

World Headquarters is sort of cold. I keep the heat turned down there, since I'm only there for part of the day. When I got back to the house, my nose felt like the polar ice cap. So I used the blow dryer to warm it up. Does that cancel out my energy savings at WHQ?

Then Colin and Cody invited me for a date. Lunch at Gordy's! I made Cody pose with us, because that's what moms do.

We talked about his school and made family plans. I feel choked up when I think about him being so grown up. I wish I could go back and re-live it all.

You know how sometimes when you run into an elderly woman in the grocery store who stops and tells you to enjoy your time with your children because you're going to blink and they'll be grown? And you know how at that moment you're feeling overwhelmed because one of them is trying to get out of the cart, one has grabbed five boxes of granola bars, the other has to go to the bathroom, and the other is complaining that you brought your own grocery bags? And you know how you think, yeah yeah, I'm just trying to make it through this shopping trip!

Well, now I understand her.

All that through my mind, and lunch hasn't even arrived yet.

                   .     .     .

                   .     .     .

                   .     .     .

After lunch, I stopped by the post office to mail all my packages. Frank tells me that he still talks about the day that I sent hundreds of packages from the Mead post office and that it was a record breaker. I tell him I took a picture of the receipt, for old time's sake.

Then I tell him that soon, I'll have a bigger mailing. A record breaker. He asks me to call him first so that he can go on his lunch break.

hahaha, I laugh. And then I tell him that he should really just stop and enjoy this time, because it only happens once a year.

Strangely, I don't think he agrees.

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Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.

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Ten Pounds of Sugar

Getting back to myself after the surgery was much harder than I expected. My doctor told me I'd be exhausted but I didn't fully comprehend what she was talking about. I thought tired as in sleepy. And I was so sleepy, but even worse was the physical exhaustion. Just walking across the house left me breathless. And that was a terrible feeling.

Healing has been a long process, but I'm finally healthy enough to resume my exercise routine, which coincidentally, is how I discovered the tumor in my abdomen in the first place.

The timing to begin again couldn't be better, what with the new year and all, and because I've begun to feel like ten pounds of sugar in a five pound sack.

I'm not going to pretend that I'm one of those super motivated exercise-wise kinds of girls. I'm not. But I value my health and life too much to not take care of myself. (Thank you, Colin, for inspiring me!) So, I'm back at it.

Want to join me?

I'll think of you, if you think of me, okay? :)

My thoughts on being healthy:

I like to get my workout in first thing in the morning, preferably before the boys wake up. And although I'm not a morning person, it sort of works like my caffeine and wakes me up.

I feel better about myself by getting it out of the way first thing.

I try to drink more water, and adding slices of cucumber or orange makes it more appealing to me.

I never drink pop. I think it's horrible, terrible. However, I love fizzy drinks. A great substitute is sparkling water with a splash of fruit juice or a squeeze of lemon, lime, or orange. I call it a "Spritzer".

I believe that by being healthy parents we can inspire our children to be healthy too, without saying a word.

Exercise is like sunshine for the brain. It's true.

-     -     -     -     -     -

..... and with a little exercise, she'll change the world.

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Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.

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The Glow

Our family is settling in for our first Christmas in our new home.

Every day the anticipation almost takes over me. Anticipation for the day.

The day where the light pours into our happy home and its brightness fills me with cheer. I feel like there's so much that I can do. So much in the day.

When evening rolls around, I love the coziness that snuggles in around us inside our home. That feeling you get when the lights glow so sweetly and illuminate the house.

.        .      .           .        .               .     .      .         .

Sometimes I like to slip outside and soak in the glow. A glowing house is one of my favorite things in the world.

Like the farmhouse down the road, with its Christmas tree twinkling merrily through the front window. All is well there, in that twinkly home.

. .   .     .    .       .    .       .       .   .       .     .     .     .

When bedtime rolls around, I don't want to go. And I think about that good 'ol Johnny Cash song:

I was totin' my pack along the dusty Winnemucca road,
When along came a semi with a high an' canvas-covered load.
"If you're goin' to Winnemucca, Mack, with me you can ride."
And so I climbed into the cab and then I settled down inside.
He asked me if I'd seen a road with so much dust and sand.
And I said, "Listen, I've traveled every road in this here land!"

It reminds me of where I've been, and just like the song, I've been everywhere, man. I've been everywhere.

.     .      .                     .           .            .          .        .

And now, I'm home.

      .            .             .      .      .                   .     .     .

 

Hang the mistletoe by the fire’s glow, put the angel on the tree.
Light a candle in the window, just for me.

 

 

Images by John Granen.

Coming home for Christmas lyrics by Jim Brickman.

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Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.

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Thoughts From The Sofa

Yesterday Lukie did his best to cheer me up. He made me laugh so hard it wasn't pretty. Laughing after surgery hurts. A lot. And then I couldn't stop. I told him my stomach felt like a bowl full of jelly. "LUCKY!" he replied. "YOU'RE LIKE SANTA!"

Then Colin brought home a beautiful homemade dinner from our friends, Burke and Muriel. It was wonderful.

I didn't have the energy to change my nail color to pretty.

When I was in the hospital I was struck by how much my room and the whole area felt like a prison. I don't think that's good. They called my area Tower 10. I think that's a terrible horrible name.

I got a call from a major network television show while I was in the Tower. They had no idea I was incarcerated hospitalized. I tried hard to sound super happy. My fingers are crossed that they'll invite me to appear on their show.

Retail therapy is great. I like the new CB2 catalog.

I can count 47 orphaned pumpkins in the field from my perch on the sofa. I used to teach the boys that no man gets left behind with their G.I. Joes. Now I feel like a hypocrite.

Now that I have an interest in boxers, I might stop buying them on clearance. Today's pattern is beer mugs and pretzels. Boooo.

Painting by the amazing Holly Farrell.

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Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.

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Good News Bad News

Well, good news, bad news. Good news: I'm home, getting lots of rest and I'm going to be okay. Bad news: My wardrobe consists of boxers and Colin's t-shirts and I feel like a man woman.

I knew going in that I had a 95% chance of my surgery going one way - which would mean an easier recovery and me being back to normal quickly. Unfortunately, I was on the 5% side.

Anyway....

The day before surgery I went in for a manicure and pedicure because I wanted to at least have pretty nails. Unfortunately, I chose a bad fingernail color that looked like I was possibly from the morgue.

Was it black? Silver? Blue? Brown? I will tell you it looked better in the bottle.

So all night before surgery I wondered if it was a bad omen that I had dead looking nails. I kept brushing it out of my mind.

Laying on the gurney, I started feeling like I was going to cry. Would I wake up? Then one of the sweet nurses grabbed my hand and looking at my nails said, "oh! you're all ready for Halloween!" mmmm hmmm I replied. Or death! I thought to myself.

And so it went. My nails were the topic of conversation. It's the last thing I remember on the operating table and one of the first things I remember when I awoke.

Oh well.

Today I have one thing on my to-do list. Remove ugly polish. Replace with pretty.

And my next big goal? Lose the man wardrobe.

Can't wait.

Love,

me

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Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.

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Good-bye... for a bit

Hi friend,

By the time you read this I'll be in the hospital asleep in a surgery that has been a long time coming. Something that has left me not myself for quite some time.

When I wake up, I'll imagine my room is at The Four Seasons. And it will be close enough because I won't have to make meals for a while.  :) But mostly, I'll be happy.

Happy because I'm so thankful for good healthcare. For being loved. For living.

And I'm so excited to heal and get my life back and my energy too.

I'm not sure how long I'll be away from here and out of touch with you. But I do promise to be back.

In the meantime, here are some things I've had on my mind:

All the leaves are turning here. They're so beautiful.

My recipes have been a bit hard to find, so I've categorized them to make it easier for you. (You can see the new categories on the right-hand sidebar of my blog). And I'll offer an easier way for you to print them in the future.

God bless the farmers of the world. Their struggles make my heart bleed.

I love documentaries. Lately I've been watching several all about food. Here are some recent favorites: Pressure Cooker , Food, Inc. , El Bulli .

A big happy hello to Donna Bradley in Texas who sent me the sweetest card for fall. *Thank you!*

My friend, Heather, is in Paris right now. *sigh* You can follow along on her amazing journey via her blog.

If you're looking for a delicious pumpkin dessert, this is so yummy.

Much Love,

me

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Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.

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M.I.A.

Hi friends. I've been M.I.A. (missing in action). Really, just missing from here, but seeing lots of action (of the homefront kind).

The boys are all back in school. Cody is a sophomore in college, Micah in 8th grade, Lucas in 7th, and Bongo in 6th. Let me tell you, boys are easy to get ready for school. No worries about clothes or hair or anything like that. I'm so glad.

And now that I've got more free time, I've been tending the garden, started a full house scrubdown, and am catching up on about a two foot tall ironing pile. (Seriously!)

Whatever veggies we've been unable to eat up, I've been chopping and freezing for soup throughout the winter. Did you know that if you freeze your veggies just after picking that you save all the nutrients that can be lost from sitting around too long?

Today I'm making peach pie filling for the freezer, as I've got lots of fruit that need to be processed. The orchards here are bursting.

And we managed to pick enough huckleberries to last throughout the winter. Our freezer smells like them, and every time I pour myself a glass of icewater, I can taste the berries in the ice. Now that's a treat!

I'll be back to a normal schedule on Monday, and hope you'll join me here, once again.

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Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.

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Field of Dreams

Tonight the sky rivals my blushing beets, so I go for a walk through the fields. * p o o f *  p u f f f f , the soil swirls around my feet with every step I take.

The last light of the day casts a glow on the pumpkins, creating a sky-like field of celestial orange orbs, too magical to be real.

But it is.

Real.

And it feels like a dream. 

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Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.

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Savoring

This week we're savoring the last week of summer.

Where every moment is a snapshot in my mind.

It's here.

It's gone.

Just like that.

Peach Shortcake for breakfast.

Why not?

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Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.

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The Recurring Nightmare

Before I begin this story, let me tell you about my recurring nightmare, where I'm a chef, who is stuck in the kitchen, and no matter what I do, I can't get the food cooked and out to the guests. No matter what I do, no food can make it out.

Okay, now back to present day.

The boys had been planning an end of summer party at our house with lots of friends. Ten boys. They all called their friends and gave them the details, what to bring, when to arrive, etc.

Saturday at 5, friends begin arriving and I start chatting with one of the moms, as she drops off her boy. As we're visiting, I see another friend's mom arrive, carrying a bag. As she nears, I see it's a bag of wine. Well isn't that nice?, I think to myself. Such a kind gesture. And then, from around the corner, appears her mother-in-law, her husband, and her two older children. Fun! I think. I finally get to meet the mother-in-law I've heard so much about, who must be visiting from Mexico. How sweet of them to pay us a visit!

As the mom I was chatting with leaves, I head into the kitchen where I see my unexpected guests all gathered around the kitchen island, and Colin tearing open bags of chips and laying them on the counter. Nice! I think. They're going to stay and visit for a bit and we'll all nibble on some of the chips planned for the boys party.

Now please let me pause for a second to say I really really really don't like to serve chips out of a bag. It's just a little hang-up I have. I think they should be served in a bowl, because plopping chips down on a counter seems animal-like. Sort of like a feeding frenzy is going to ensue.

So, I glide into the pantry and grab some big bowls and casually transfer the chips. And everyone begins to feed. Sort of like they're really hungry.

hmmm, I think. I hope there's enough chips for adults and kids. Oh, it'll be fine, I tell myself.

Oh! I forgot to mention that at this exact moment in time, no other food exists in our house other than hot dogs, hot dog buns, chips, and soda. Because we're headed to the lake the next day. Just enough food for the boys at the party. I had planned on Colin and I just munching on some corn and other veggies from the garden that night.

So, as my unexpected guests munch in the kitchen, I go back to preparing a huge batch of cookies I had begun earlier. I prepare two panfuls and weaving through my guests, plant them in the oven, and set the timer for 8 minutes.

Bongo and his friends join us in the kitchen and announce that they're STARVING. So, I ask Colin to get the hot dogs going on the grill.

Unexpected guests continue to munch on chips.

Micah and friends sit down in the dining room and begin to munch on the other bowl of chips. They're really hungry now too. Then it dawns on me, why don't I make the boys some corn-on-the-cob to go with their hot dogs?

I head out to the garden and begin to pick corn. One of the guests joins me and helps me shuck corn. Her daughter comes out and tells me the oven timer has beeped, that Colin had taken the cookies out, but that he looked confused and wasn't sure if they were done. So, we head back to the kitchen to save the day.

The cookies look terrible. Flat and gooey. No problem, I think. I'll just add some flour. So, I mix in some more flour, make two more panfuls of cookies amid the chaos and put them in the oven. I forget to set the timer, and begin cooking the corn. I also notice Colin still hasn't started cooking the hot dogs and remind him that he really really needs to get them going.

Eventually, I remember the cookies, fly over to the oven to check, and they're still not done. Phew! So, I go to add 2 minutes on the oven timer. The timer runs for 2 seconds and beeps. I set the timer for 2 minutes again, it runs for 2 seconds and beeps again. The mom-in-law tries to come to my aid.

I need to pause here once again to tell you what's running through my mind at this time: I've heard for years about what an amazing cook this woman is. That they always yearn for the day that she arrives and cooks every meal while she's visiting. And when she's visiting, the sun shines brighter, stars twinkle more magnificently than any other time of the year- just over their house - etc. etc. etc. And above all that, she's an incredibly smart woman. An architect, a builder, and very self sufficient. A strong woman. And I'm wondering if she knows I'm a cookbook author and if she's wondering to herself what business I have being a cookbook author? I have starving kids, not much food, and my kitchen is chaotic - yes chaotic. Because. There. Are. 17. Humans. In. There. Right. Now.

And then, just as she's coming to my aid, and all of these thoughts are blaring through my mind like angry sirens, I'm awash with a horrible realization....

THEY ARE ALL HERE FOR DINNER.

We try to figure out the timer, and she instructs me to make it 2.0. I do, and it runs for 2 seconds again. So, she instructs me to make it 2.00. I do, and the timer appears to be cooperating. She asks me if I want her to help with the cookies. Sure, I say, still feeling sort of like I'm living in an episode of the Twilight Zone and knowing, yes KNOWING, that she thinks I'm inept.

I go back to tend to the corn on the stove. Then I hear her say the timer isn't working - that it'd actually been set for 2 hours.

Of course.

She says she'll just watch the cookies.

Still wanting to believe I don't suddenly have 17 mouths to feed, I casually take Micah out to the living room where I ask him if there's any way he possibly invited this family for dinner? Yes! he says. It's a family barbecue!

Oh heavens to Betsy, it's my recurring nightmare. But worse. I have no food to even TRY to get out of the kitchen.

I head out to the barbecue, where Colin - who is just as happy as a little clam because he loves a full house - is in his own little world, blissfully barbecuing. I lean forward and whisper: Oh my gosh! Micah invited everyone for dinner and we have no food! He continues to barbecue, and says nothing. I lean a little closer and whisper a little louder: OH MY GOSH! MICAH INVITED EVERYONE FOR DINNER AND WE HAVE NO FOOD! To which he replies: "I'm not going to say anything. They might hear me". And he continues on. No panic in the world for this guy. I make a mental note to kill him later.

We feed the boys and I know my guests are beginning to wonder when they might possibly be fed. I fling open the freezer to see what I can possibly make. I have one bag of baguette slices and one bag of flatbread.

The kitchen suddenly feels like it's 900 degrees fahrenheit. I ask if anyone else is hot. Nope. Just me.

I send Colin to the garden to pick some snap peas, cherry tomatoes, and anything else he can forage. I tell him to make sure he doesn't bring back peas. I need SNAP PEAS. He tells me he doesn't know the difference. And then guess what? The mom-in-law tells me she'll help him. And they head out to the garden.

I whip up a batch of an olive tapenade of sorts, from cans of food I scavenge from the pantry. I set that out with the baguette slices that have now thawed.

I grab a couple of cans of white beans from the pantry and decide to make a hummus-like bean dip that can be eaten with the flat bread and fresh veggies from the garden.

Colin and mom-in-law return with the fresh veggies, which turn out to be 8 snap peas and 5 cherry tomatoes.

Yep.

Just then, one of Micah's friends walks into the kitchen and asks if we have a vacuum. A child asking for a vacuum is never, I repeat - never - a good thing. Turns out they've broken a medicine ball and there is sand all over the basement carpet.

I leave the sand dilema to Colin and run out to the garden where I tear off a head of brocolli, some summer squash, and fresh parsley for the bean dip.

I return to the kitchen - which now looks like a bomb has gone off in it - and make the bean dip, with the help of my guests. Beans, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, fresh parsley, and salt. Wizz wizz wizzzz in the Cuisinart and it's done.

Then another mom arrives and joins us. Now we number 18.

Colin returns and I remember we have carrots growing in the garden. Colin and mom-in-law head back out to the garden and I decide to tell my guests the truth. Because I have my pride. I really really don't want them thinking I've invited them for dinner and that all I'm going to serve them is olive tapenade and bean dip.

They all laugh - thank heavens - and I feel a sense of relief. Colin and mom-in-law return and I realize that OH NO! Mom-in-law doesn't know because she was in the garden when I confessed that they were unexpected guests and wasn't it so funny that Micah invited them and I didn't know....

So, all night long, I worry that she thinks I'm a horrible hostess.

I serve up what turns out to be a big platter of fresh veggies (sliced raw summer squash, carrot sticks, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, and snap peas) with the flatbread and bean dip, olive tapenade with baguette slices, and a few leftover hot dogs. Oh, and a huge plate of warm cookies.

And it all turns out okay. Really lovely, in fact. Because being in the company of friends is the best place to be. Ready or not.

And at the end of the evening, mom-in-law turns to me and tells me how nice it was that I didn't freak out and just made due with unexpected guests.

And I was just so relieved that someone had told her at some point in the evening, and that she didn't think I was an epic failure of a hostess.

And now I've conquered my recurring nightmare.

The end.

P.S. No names were changed to protect the guilty in the telling of this story. Truth be told, the re-telling of it has been sort of therapeutic for me, and since they're guilty ....Micah.... ....Colin..... it's only fitting that they be named, right?

P.P.S. Colin sort of sounds like a baffoon in this story, doesn't he? He's really not. Second truth to be told here is that we have a pretty traditional marriage, where he brings home the bacon and I fry it up in a pan. The kitchen and garden are what I'm familiar with, not him. And we love it that way. He's the smartest man I've ever met in my life and I love the fact that he enjoys a full house and that he'd be just as happy with water and crackers, if need be. His glass is always full and I love him for that.

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Weekend at Pend Oreille

We spent the weekend at Thatch and Jill's cabin on the Pend Oreille River. Grandpa did the Long Bridge swim and we were there to cheer him on. He's an American hero. A Frogman. No wonder he's such a good swimmer, even after all these years.

Grandpa Pete and Grandma MaryJane raised six children. And I was lucky enough to marry one of them. Turns out this hero is a great grandpa too. Badminton games? He's there to play.

  

Fishing? Yes, he loves to teach the grandkids.

We're all here thanks to grandma and grandpa. They raised children who love each other and want to be together and now the grandkids do too.

We waterskied

Even Annie learned how!

I got to play beauty shop on my nieces.

The cousins fished

and played

and all was good on Pend Oreille.

You know, there's really nothing more special than family.

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The Pend Oreille River, Lake Pond Oreille, and Sandpoint, Idaho are favorites of ours. You can read the story I did for Country Living Magazine about the area here.

Pend Oreille is pronounced Pond-o-ray.

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Cherry Pickers

Cherry season officially began for our family and friends yesterday with the Cherry Pickers Trot, an annual event here on Greenbluff.

Families come from all around to participate in pit spitting contests, visit with friends, and to participate in the four mile run around half of the bluff. Back in the day, Emily won the race and brought home the outhouse trophy. As the years have passed and as we've all had children, it's fun for us to see them out running the course. A whole new generation of Thompsons.

And I love that the cousins are growing up together here, together so often that they're almost like siblings. They're so lucky to have each other.

After the race, friends and families gathered at our house, a short walk from the festivities.

It was the perfect kick-off for the season.

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The Yard and Summer Movies

Our landscaping has begun. I thought I'd share a picture I snapped with my phone looking out from World Headquarters into the yard.

We went with hydroseeding the lawn because it's MUCH less expensive than sod.

We're just looking forward to having a yard again.

And in other news, the boys and cousins have been making movies. And yes, they own a lot of toy guns. If you don't like toy guns, you might not want to watch Super Awesome Man. Just saying.

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On Suffering, Kindness, and Perspective

The year our fourth boy was born threw me for a loop.

The three youngest were all in diapers, one had colic, and I had mastitis. I remember the day I made it in to the Doctor's office for the baby's first checkup and being berated by the receptionist for being a few weeks late. And I distinctly remember the way that made me feel. A bad mom. Irresponsible. Overwhelmed.

I wanted to cry.

Instead, I choked this out: That she didn't know my story. That she had no idea why I couldn't make it in until that day. And requested that the next time she wanted to cast judgement on someone or speak unkind words, that she first remember that she didn't know that person's story and perhaps a few words of kindness could go much further.

And then something happened that shocked me.

She apologized.

Not a shallow apology, but one that I could really feel. I knew she meant it. 

Today I was thinking about the winter of my childhood where I'm pretty sure we nearly starved to death, surviving on not much more than potatoes and powdered milk. The winter where my sister and I invented potato cereal (no... it's not tasty), I was stricken with scabies, dug through dumpsters for food, and I learned to dig deep within myself to survive. To make it through to the next day. And the next.

I became the strongest person I knew.

And it's a good thing for me to remember. Because sometimes, I need perspective, just like that receptionist needed some too.

But don't we all sometimes?

I think everyone suffers at some point in their lives. What can we do to make a difference?

We can be kind, because it's really easy to do.

            Just a smile

   or a wave..

                        a compliment

...or two.

                                      just because.

 

                .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .

I've been gone from here for a bit, but I'm looking forward to returning soon.

Here are some things I'm loving and am thankful for lately...

                             hearts of palm

       fresh mushrooms

           the farmer who works our fields

               my freshly planted garden

                .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .

I'll be back soon.

Love,

me

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Where I am

If you walked around my house today, you'd see about 15 ladders. The exterior is getting painted and raingutters are going on. And the exterior doors are off, which makes for a noisy house.

But the fields are being planted, the sun is out, and I'm making my grocery list. I love making our menu and grocery shopping.

Friday is often pizza night in our house and I'll be doing them up summer style, on the grill.

Grilled pizza is the best. I'll share the how-to tomorrow.

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Good Morning, Sunshine!

It's a beautiful day here at home! The cherry blossoms are bursting, the birds are chirping, and the sun is pouring through the windows. It made me think of a song my mom used to sing to us sometimes, first thing in the morning:

Good morning to you!

Good morning to you!

We're all in our places, with sunshining faces!

Good morning to you!

Good morning to you!

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Finding Inspiration

This weekend, some friends and I ventured out to a Christmas sale.  We had several friends who were selling there and we wanted to make sure and pay them a visit.

Colin and I even squeezed in a date night. I LOVE date night.

And then suddenly during date night, I was feeling sentimental about an old childhood favorite of mine, Thrifty's drug store, and asked Colin if he'd take me to Rite-Aide (which is the closest thing we have here).  And so off we went.

When I was a young girl, Thrifty's was THE place in town that I loved to visit and find great things. And at Christmastime, it was the place to go for tiny Whitman's Sampler boxes, colorful barrettes, and Bonne Bell Lip Smacker.

I'd wander those aisles looking at all that fancy store-bought merchandise and my brain would start churning.  Seeing all of those simple items made me think of things that I could create on my own and I'd be inspired.  Inspired for Christmas.

(That's me (seated) at the Christmas play at my teeny tiny Hornbrook School.)

And it's the same for me today. Inspiration comes easiest when I have to struggle to see it. And that's why I LOVE the drugstore.

We left Rite-Aide with several bags full of simplicity and me full of inspiration.

And as we drove home, I remembered something I always thought about growing up...

It's not about what you have. It's what you do with what you have.

...

Merry Christmastime.  Merry Inspiration.

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The Seasons of my Life

I'm back with my computer and it suddenly feels as if I have all my limbs again.

So much has happened in the last week...

We went away to Seattle, to what feels like our home away from home, and played around a bit.  We were waiting for the final signed paperwork on our house sale, but it never came.  So, the fun was a good distraction.  Until our truck was broken into and vandalized.  So we returned home early.

We started packing, despite no final paperwork, as we knew once the papers were signed, we'd have only a few days to move. We found a rental and because of full schedules, had to start moving into the night. I baked the last treat in our happy home, Pumpkin Bars, which will now always remind me of the Happy Home's last treat.

After we were all packed up and moved out, I cleaned up, one last time.  And as I stepped out the front door, an enormous flock of birds appeared out of nowhere and swirled over the house in a way that was symbolic to me.  And yes, I cried.  Again.

And later, Colin played this song for me and told me that it was the song that played on the radio when he pulled away from the house for the last time.

 

And then, I said good-bye to my prairie and all of her winter wheat.

♪♫ Can I handle the seasons of my life? ♪♪

                        ...

♪ Well, I've been afraid of changing
'Cause I've built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Even children get older and I'm getting older too
Oh, I'm getting older too ♫♪

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Goodbye, Happy Home

What a month it's been!  We sold our home and are settling into a temporary house while we wait for our dream home to be completed.  It all happened so quickly that I'm still waiting to catch my breath.  And am still mourning.

I'm so deeply going to miss our neighbors, Kika, Leilani, Dirk & Christina.  When I saw Leilani this morning, I burst into tears.  Our neighbors have been like family and it will be a process for me accepting the fact that they're not right next door any more.

I'm surrounded by boxes and reflecting on some things, because that's what I tend to do when the house is quiet and I have time.  And here is what I know:

I'm thankful.  Incredibly thankful to have sold our home in this really difficult housing market.

GRATEFUL for the best best best realtor we have been so blessed to have representing us.  If you need a realtor, Jack Morse has my highest recommendation.  He knows what he's doing, he's honest and direct and doesn't always tell you what you want to hear.  He tells you what you need to hear and is really great at what he does.  Because of him, we sold our home.

And we're so filled with thankfulness to everyone who helped us with our move.  Cody, Ace, Robert, Uncle Rick, Grandpa Pete, Scott, Lana & Erika, and the boys.  Micah even sacrificed his birthday.  (We'll have a belated extravaganza!)

We're excited for what's to come with our lives and our new home.

And although I was so sad to see our happy home empty, the memories we made there will be with us forever.  And our neighbors are just a phone call away.

Goodbye, happy home.  We love you and will miss you so.

I'll be taking a sanity break for a few days while I unpack and try to get us all settled into our temporary home.

I'll be back soon...

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On Being Happy

I wake up every morning and run through a mental checklist. Colin, kids, responsibilities, the day’s events. And it’s usually pretty great.  I have so much to be thankful for and I’m genuinely happy. But it hasn’t always been that way.

Many years ago while living in Alaska, I was involved in an accident that nearly took my life. It’s something that I’ve never spoken about publicly before but I keep it with me every day. Two women lost their lives and it was horrific. It altered my life, much for the worse, for a very long time. For several weeks after the accident I was unable to make basic decisions, like what to drink or what to wear. I truly thought I was dead and that somehow I was dreaming I was alive.  And for many years after, I was plagued with guilt for having lived, but was afraid of everything. Too scared to fly on an airplane, to cross a bridge, to walk at night. Everything was hard for me.

And it was no way to live.

As a little girl, I learned how I wanted to live. I wanted to be a wife, have beautiful children and have a happy life. I dreamt about it and when times were tough, it got me through. I always knew there was something wonderful waiting for me someday.

And at some point, I remembered those childhood dreams and stopped living out of fear and slowly began to be happy.

Thank goodness.

And I’ve been thinking about my happiness a lot lately. About everything that I love.  It’s true that clouds make me smile, carrots bring me joy, and that nothing is greater than those I love.

The other day, after blogging about carrots, I heard from “anonymous” who told me my happiness made them sick, which made me think about it all.

Happiness. And how it has come to be. And it just made me more thankful than ever before. But I especially wanted to say…

Are you happy? Do you look for the good in every day?

Don’t waste your time on the things that bring you down. Eliminate those things and move on with the good.  Because there’s so much good in the world.

Are you surrounded by those you love? The ones who bring you joy and you would do anything for?

Surround yourself with those wonderful people.

Do good. And good will come.

Happiness will come.

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Fresh Start

This time of year is my fresh start.  When I try to focus on what I've been doing, how I've been doing it, and think about how I can be better.  A better parent, better organizer, and so on.

Phew!  Being a mom is one of the most difficult jobs in the world, and of course, the most rewarding.  And I do stop and think OFTEN about what a blessing my family is.  I feel like this is what I was meant to be and I want to try and be the best I can.  Because I think a happy family is the key to a happy life.

And even though I'm not into New Year's resolutions, this time of year is sort of just that for me.  But sometimes, life can prove challenging.  Like yesterday.

Get Micah off to school.

Take Bongo and Lukie to school.

Meet cabinet maker at the building site.

Meet electrician at the building site.

Meet cabinet maker at my house.

Zip to The Farm Chicks store.

Mad-rush back to pick up Bongo and Lukie.

Take Micah to guitar lessons.

Get house ready for a last-minute house showing.

Attend open house at school.

Prepare dinner.

Go over homework and complete new year forms.

Good night.

eek.

And today it all starts again.

Last night, I told Colin that I think I'm becoming a better parent.  And I think year after year, I start to feel more and more like I know what I'm doing.

At least I'm doing the very best that I can.

And that makes me happy.

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Summer on the Prairie

Bongo and I enjoyed a summer evening on the prairie

         admiring toadstools

                                                         gazing at the sky

                                                                                       and being silly

 

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Catching Up

Hi there, you.  I've been really swamped lately and barely able to keep up.  And how can I, really?  Especially when each of the boys drag home this much dirt in their shoes whenever we return from the new house.

But don't worry.  We've been making several stops a week at Strawberry Hill for some of the freshest and healthful veggies around.

And a little eye candy too.

Our farmhouse is beginning to take shape.  And we all love Craig.  He's doing such a great job.

I'll be back soon.

Love,

me

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Strawberry Fields Forever

 

Bongo woke up determined to go strawberry picking.  He loves fruit and veggies more than the deer who prowl around our property.  He'll eat a head of lettuce before school and is often seen with a full stalk of broccoli in hand, snacking away.  So, there was no swaying him from his strawberry picking mission.

It was a beautiful day and I was so happy to have free reign of our neighbor's field.  Just Bongo and me.  And in typical Bongo fashion, he was picking and munching one minute, then chasing birds and karate chopping the sky the next.

 

And then he'd reappear with a handful of strawberries that he'd dump into our pickings, in full turbo action super speedy Bongo style.

And then he'd be off snapping pictures of this

and that.  Zing!  Zang!  Zoom!

And all the while I was feeling blissfully overwhelmed to be where we are, where our boys can zip and zap wherever they like.

 

Where the fields meet the sky and little boy dreams take flight.

Strawberry fields forever.

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