A Sandhill Crane and a Gravel Pit

It’s been weeks since I saw it. I was biking in my neighborhood. It was raining a bit. I was pulling my two daughters in our brand new Burley bike trailer. My husband and I had been researching for weeks. I had settled on a Thule, we have the Thule child bike seat after all…IContinue reading “A Sandhill Crane and a Gravel Pit”

Growing Food

The time is upon us! The excitement is apparent! From Sandhill Cranes walking down the dirt road only twenty feet ahead, to visits to the creek to toss in sticks and watch them drift down stream. From watching pairs of squirrels hop from branch to branch, to calling the dog back as she chases rabbitsContinue reading “Growing Food”

The Visit

Ever since the movie Sixth Sense came out, I make it a point to watch every film directed by M. Night Shyamalan. When Signs came out, it was confirmed that M. Night was my new favorite director. But then came Unbreakable, The Village, and Lady in the Water, all of which were disappointing. He triedContinue reading “The Visit”

Saving Private Ryan

Saving Private Ryan is an epic movie that depicts the horrors of World War II in a way that no other film has done. If you have not watched it, you need to. But this blog post is not about the movie, it’s about our family trip to Montana, reuniting with Savanna’s mother, and theContinue reading “Saving Private Ryan”

Mama MIA

Does this title read Mama MIA (Missing in Action) or Mama Mia (my mother)? It’s truly hard to say and all dependent on who you ask. The last year of my life can be summed up by mostly one word…Mama. Before having children Bob and I wondered, how can we get more time? More timeContinue reading “Mama MIA”

New Site, New Shop

Dearest Friends and Family, We have stepped outside of our comfort zones and entered the world of Online Stores. We, Secret Garden Alaska, have officially become an online marketplace. We have been brainstorming for the past year where to sell our beaded jewelry, books, handicrafts, dried foodstuffs, and fresh produce and eggs and all roadsContinue reading “New Site, New Shop”

Adventure (and a bigger house)

Last night we ate dinner with a sweet lady who said, “We are ‘tiny house people.’ Our place is only 1,600 square feet, with a full basement. It can be tight.”I had no reply. Our home is 700 square feet, and we didn’t use the upstairs for the first two years of Prim’s life inContinue reading “Adventure (and a bigger house)”

Mama’s Earrings

Our trip to Mexico in January was much needed on so many levels. We soaked in the ocean, baked in the sun, and ate tacos and street-food like Gods and Goddesses. We deepened our friendship with Primrose’s Nana and Bampa, fell deeper in love, and made time to relax and be together. Of course, weContinue reading “Mama’s Earrings”

Time to Pre-Order Warflower

The time has come to pre-order Warflower through either Amazon or Barnes and Noble. (Links provided below) It will be released on June 1st, and I really hope that I don’t die from anxiety in the meantime. I once played guitar and sang songs live on our local radio station, KBBI, and I was prettyContinue reading “Time to Pre-Order Warflower”

Warflower is Done

Fifteen years ago I scribbled the first draft of Warflower from a cabin in the Costa Rican jungle, and I have been slowly tinkering away on it ever since. It was initially written as a way to save my life, to keep me from destroying myself after I was discharged from the Army with aContinue reading “Warflower is Done”