This abrupt shift has rustled me more so than the others—so consuming and momentous this displacement intertwined with a sense of duty has left me groggy. This lofty pursuit to find the nest that will end all moves has left … Continue reading
Plucky and spirited nearly all the time, baby bear has kept me from going off the deep end. “What’s this?” she asks frequently as her tiny digit points to whatever she is inquiring about. Her nonchalance to our situation and … Continue reading
Oops we did it again. Another move with more to purge and some things to store until we settle our feet in this new part of the country. The air so dense of moisture it suffocates us. We trudge through … Continue reading
We are always coming and going. Usually swiftly, humdrum-like with a few whispering goodbyes to neighbors, coworkers and friends made along the way.But on a couple of occasions we tendered our adios purposefully loud. (Read: A few needed to be … Continue reading
“Are you a smart cookie?” I hear middle bear ask baby bear. I turned to witness her nodding head implying “Why yes, I am!” She certainly is a sharp one and knows how to beat the heat. While most of … Continue reading
I think of our nest as a living organism essential for our enjoyment and growth. Keeping it fresh with little touches like these chairs…finally I was brave enough to stage furniture on the balcony since baby bear is developing a … Continue reading
Forgive us Father for we have killed the soon-to-be-vanished halibut that use to swim so abundantly in our waters. Our once happy ecosystems have whirled into a chaotic frenzy and we took out four of them in half a day’s … Continue reading
It was the humble thing to do.Adding a minimal protein to a morning porridge with some sautéed greens or over a few spears of asparagus sprinkled with cheese that melted instantly under the blanket the fried egg provided.It frequently adorned … Continue reading
Even approaching the end of the blooming season these fields swept us off our feet and inspired baby bear to take over the lens. While one of her favorite pastimes is to chase birds in flight, the camera has to … Continue reading
Legends say that hummingbirds float free of time, carrying our hopes for love, joy and celebration. I can say the same about baby bear, her omnipresent smile reminds me that life is rich and beauty is everywhere. When her brothers … Continue reading
Roses are red, violets are blue, we wish winter would rest his weary head so that we may wake to the oh-so-sweet morning dew. This winter-wonderland is where our favorite rosy-cheek friend resides. (Oh, how we love that jolly ‘ole soul.) But a peak of sunshine—even if it were to make us squint would indeed be a step toward our grand ‘ole goal. We had our fun making snow angels and a big, round snowman we affectionately named Rico, slurping swirling marshmallows in steamy hot cocoa, and sticking out our tongues to catch the angelic floating flakes. Please, oh please sunshine come warm our frozen toes for old time’s sake. How we long to swing under your comforting rays and admire your vibrant sunsets on long summer days. Good things might come to us if we wait; we trust in your brilliance to deliver our fate. Until then we’ll enjoy these savory chocolate hearts, however, don’t be a stranger or stray too far away. 
I wrote this for a Valentine’s card five years ago when we were in a not-so-sunny place. May the sun warm up your nest if this Valentine’s finds you in a frigid state. XX and OO, XX and OO to all you winter brave-hearts. 
As you can see from my little one’s expression–he was not a fan of the Adirondack crisp country air he had experienced–more content to be digging in the earth or harvesting oranges–our very first ones ever! Sweet little somethings indeed…you don’t need a lot of space, just a patch here and there and not much water. These citrus treats are from our dwarf tree in a pot and they came through for us just in time for something sweet today. Happy Valentine’s Day!
