A story about sticks
Chris and I have different opinions on sticks. Our house sits on a few acres in the country. Our trees were planted decades ago by my grandfather, as he turned the farmland he bought in 1970 into a home for his family of seven. We moved here in 2017, a few years after my grandfather died, a few … [Read More...]
Losing the light…
Labor Day weekend means the end of summer and, for a short six weeks, my husband and I can say we’re only a year apart in the age department. Until I turn 40 next month and become the cougar I’ve always dreamt of being. Just kidding. My dreams mostly involve books, good food, and very few … [Read More...]
Let’s Eat…
It's the middle of August and the gardens are overflowing. Finally, after months of watering, weeding, pruning, and whispering sweet nothings into their little plant ears, we have buckets of produce coming from the gardens. But what do we do with all of it? I love a cheeseburger and a salad as … [Read More...]
Just good dirt and some seeds.…
When we moved to my grandparents' land—land they had filled with overflowing gardens—I said I wasn't interested in gardening. It wasn't my thing. By our second summer here, I accidentally had two raised beds. The people renting a house from us moved one weekend without telling us, breaking the … [Read More...]
11 books to read this summer…
Even though my kids go back to school in less than a month, I feel like summer is just getting started. The days are still hot and sticky, the idea of cooler weather and fall leaves seems impossible. So here are eleven books you should read this endless summer. You have plenty of time. People … [Read More...]
The first to stop jumping…
I serenaded my family on the way in. Somehow we ended up listening to the Dirty Dancing soundtrack as we rolled through Ohio, and I performed “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” and “Hungry Eyes” to my horrified captive audience. What I didn’t realize was we were heading toward the movie … [Read More...]
I’m not sure there’s any other way…
She said: I find myself falling apart and angry as my husband is confronting childhood trauma and addiction issues—it's been so much stress on me and I'm barely hanging on. I know it feels like all your time and resources are being directed at his stuff, but, if you can, please find a therapist. … [Read More...]
Shawnee National Forest…
It felt late to set out on our first camping trip of the season at the end of May, but we've been spending all our time and money on a construction project at home, spring softball and track schedules, and getting the gardens planted.We were doing things we loved, but it was time to leave those … [Read More...]
We’re still falling for the same tricks…
Did I ever tell you about the time I accidentally got retweeted by InfoWars and featured on conspiracy theory websites? Well, do I have a story for you. We lived in Beech Grove, Indiana, for ten years. Beech Grove is a small, incorporated city inside Indianapolis, just south of downtown. The … [Read More...]
others are in on the secret now…
Across from our house is a cemetery. My desk faces the window and sometimes, while I'm working, I watch grave diggers prepare the ground for a burial. I see families slowly work their way up the long drive. I observe people gather under a blue tent to say goodbye to someone they love. Today I … [Read More...]
in the mountains of North Carolina…
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: we don’t take for granted that during a pandemic we’ve able to still travel and explore with our camper. COVID-19 changed the way we travel: no wandering around a gas station to stretch our legs or buy junk food, restroom breaks in the camper, no eating … [Read More...]
