Off Grid Alaskan Farm and Family
13 Homestead Happenings
My innocent daughter, Primrose, killed a duckling today. The poor kid. It brings her so much joy and excitement to hold them, to feed and water them, to sneak into the house to touch them and pet them, to be near them. But today, we made mistakes as parents by letting her stay inside theContinue reading “Dead Duckling”
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”
It is easy to be swept away by wind gusts of work and necessity. To forget about the joys of life, the fun times we had as children, the useless entertainment that keeps us alive and sane. We often justify our obsession with work with statements of fear; “They are only getting half of theContinue reading “Making Fun a Priority”
The other day I decided I was going to start telling people that my parents died in a plane crash while delivering medical supplies in the Congo. My father was a pilot and my mother a doctor and they had created a non-profit organization back in the 70s that was their life’s work. They livedContinue reading “Rewrite the Past”
In airborne school we cut the grass with scissors. I didn’t realize how important the lesson on patience, tolerance, and acceptance would be on my life, especially in parenthood. Not to mention how grateful it made me for lawn mowers. I didn’t appreciate them quite like I should have. What do you not appreciate quiteContinue reading “Cutting Grass on a Sunny Day”
“Who is going to market today?” asked the professor of my Practice of Sustainable Agriculture Course in College.Everybody’s hands shot up.Market is where the farmer is validated, seen, thanked; market on campus is where students flirt and pretty girls see handsome farm guys. Our teacher divvied up harvest tasks.“You’re bunching radishes, you’re doing beets, youContinue reading “Healing Powers of Plants”
Yesterday I had a rough day. My counselor asked me what I was angry about and I said, “I’m angry about my fucking parents dying; I’m angry about going to war; I’m angry about still not being a paid writer; I’m angry about not being a paid farmer; I’m angry about feeling insufficient.” And whoContinue reading “Not All Days Are As Good As Pie”
Every Wednesday Savanna, Primrose and I go to our good friends’, Barry and Donna White’s home for supper. We cherish this weekly routine as one of the only social events we do at all, especially during Covid Timez. Last week, I mentioned to Donna that my favorite pie is easily Pecan, and what the heckContinue reading “Pecan Pie”
Holiday time can be so difficult for so many people, and when I look back at some of my own holidays I see opened presents with nothing but heartache, loneliness and overconsumption. Two Christmases spent in Iraq as a soldier; feeling forgotten by everybody despite their letters and packages. New Years spent alone in Olympia,Continue reading “Angels in the Snowflakes”