http://www.digthischick.net montana writer and maker raising kids, vegetables and the roof Thu, 16 May 2013 13:50:49 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 http://www.digthischick.net/2013/05/part-1-nola-love.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=part-1-nola-love http://www.digthischick.net/2013/05/part-1-nola-love.html#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 14:01:14 +0000 dig http://www.digthischick.net/?p=3389 To Margot and Ruby, everything was blissfully foreign and lawless. No car seats on public transportation, people walking in the streets, music on every corner, necklaces swinging from trees, stores stuffed with feathered masks. Margot had her first ever soda pop -- a Sprite -- that I am pretty sure she swallowed without breathing. We walked all day every day under sapphire sky, over crusty pavement. Usually one or both kids rode on shoulders or backs, our foursome danced Continue reading →]]> http://www.digthischick.net/2013/05/part-1-nola-love.html/feed 17 http://www.digthischick.net/2013/05/awe-nuts.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=awe-nuts http://www.digthischick.net/2013/05/awe-nuts.html#comments Sun, 05 May 2013 12:20:09 +0000 dig http://www.digthischick.net/?p=3381 feels it as if it were so. It helps move kids through what they want and into what's really there. I said You really want that muffin. You love blueberry muffins so much. You would eat the shit out of that muffin and all the muffins in Minnesota right now, right? Except of course I didn't say shit but my message was that enthused and invested. It worked so well. She softened and cried about leaving our animals for two weeks. We hugged and played tag. Margot then chose the most expensive milk we've every bought, as named by Andy. It was a tiny carton of organic 2% and it was $4. Ruby then desperately wanted milk just as the last call for boarding to New Orleans bleated overhead. We didn't have as much time to give Ruby's frustration but I know it came from a similar place. I spun her into the backpack and we all shuffled toward our plane. Single file like this: Andy with 17 bags slung over every surface of his body, me with a sad kid on my back and a pyramid of water bottles, art supplies and baby dolls on my front, Margot with her milk. Margot didn't drink her milk. Andy carried it on the plane and sweetly asked her once every two minutes or so if she wanted a sip, his eyes wildly determined to make good on that $4. Ruby didn't want the milk either. The plane rolled forward, Andy stuck the milk in his seat pocket. He was tense. Honey I said, getting ready to declare LET THE MILK GO. IT'S HOLDING YOU BACK. But after I said honey he turned and his knee smashed into the milk which geysered straight up and all over his legs. I haven't laughed like that in a long time. I had tears and aching abs. He laughed too. And the kids. It was perfect. The girls have been lulled to sleep Continue reading →]]> http://www.digthischick.net/2013/05/awe-nuts.html/feed 34 http://www.digthischick.net/2013/05/3377.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=3377 http://www.digthischick.net/2013/05/3377.html#comments Thu, 02 May 2013 18:20:32 +0000 dig http://www.digthischick.net/?p=3377 Click to read! 2. I am honored to have an essay on Kelle Hampton's blog! It's about my history with an eating disorder and my love of running. To those who have already read and responded, THANK YOU. Thank you for reading and thank you for taking the time to share a few words. I am so appreciative of your solidarity and support. Click to read. Continue reading →]]> http://www.digthischick.net/2013/05/3377.html/feed 0 http://www.digthischick.net/2013/04/the-love-coop-and-flock-take-two-or-so.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-love-coop-and-flock-take-two-or-so http://www.digthischick.net/2013/04/the-love-coop-and-flock-take-two-or-so.html#comments Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:56:25 +0000 dig http://www.digthischick.net/?p=3196 Margot named Rosetta, Ruby named Sparkle, Andy named Tiffany and I named Cayenne. They are four weeks old now. We've lost six hens since our move. Some to predation, some to illness. It sucks to admit we are down to two chickens: Cup and Cooper. Our system was pretty dang stout and still not enough. We didn't want to get more chickens until we could create a more secure environment. Mostly, we weren't (I wasn't) on top of closing the run at dusk. Several hens were killed in a 30 minute window after the sun went down when I was nearby! Sucks. Margot is very bonded with Rosetta. This chick is happiest in Margot's hands or on Margot's shoulder. So, we imagined the eager thumbs of a raccoon, the body-flattening capabilities of a coyote, the heft of a bear. Ultimately we built a fence and then moved the shebang into our fenced-in yard, under our deck, up against the six foot corrugated metal fence. Because we've had several instances where a very small animal dug under the run, the entire run is wrapped in thick wire fencing (previously we didn't wrap the bottom). Because we still, on occasion, let the girls run about our yard, I set a daily alarm on my phone to remind me to drop everything and shut those chickens in their house. When the alarm sounds, I literally GO that moment. And! Here's our coop. It's a beauty, as is my husband's natural way of doing things. Continue reading →]]> http://www.digthischick.net/2013/04/the-love-coop-and-flock-take-two-or-so.html/feed 32 http://www.digthischick.net/2013/04/popina.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=popina http://www.digthischick.net/2013/04/popina.html#comments Sat, 27 Apr 2013 21:45:12 +0000 dig http://www.digthischick.net/?p=3344 good and we will do more of it. Our time together began with cupcakes and lunch with our dear, inspiring friend Holly. Our next stop was to visit Popina, a swimwear boutique that has been a dig sponsor for the last several years. I'd only visited online and was eager to see the storefront and pick out my new favorite bathing suit. Continue reading →]]> http://www.digthischick.net/2013/04/popina.html/feed 285 http://www.digthischick.net/2013/04/road-trip-oregon-coast.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=road-trip-oregon-coast http://www.digthischick.net/2013/04/road-trip-oregon-coast.html#comments Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:26:58 +0000 dig http://www.digthischick.net/?p=3338 We are Road Warriors. Don't let this fool you: Ruby did not resemble this for most of the trip. I had planned to pack last Wednesday but was instead followed my motivation to raise funds and love for Boston. I listed the Geo for Love: Boston shirts that afternoon and woke to orders and amazing notes from all over the country. I am so thrilled to be a part of something bigger with you all and I am trying to balance that excitement with what I can reasonably do. This is hard because I am a YES! person. I decided to list more. They will be shipped in June. I am doing my best to reply to your emails and get you your tees as soon as possible. Thanks for your patience! I love you all. Truly, I do. Oregon was epic. One of those trips where every single moment buzzed with life and gratitude. The view, the company, the weather, the world -- it was all magnificent. We stayed a night and day in Portland and then headed to the coastal town of Pacific City where we stayed three nights. It was all very simple and satisfying. Continue reading →]]> http://www.digthischick.net/2013/04/road-trip-oregon-coast.html/feed 33 http://www.digthischick.net/2013/04/geo-for-love-boston.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=geo-for-love-boston http://www.digthischick.net/2013/04/geo-for-love-boston.html#comments Thu, 18 Apr 2013 02:23:16 +0000 dig http://www.digthischick.net/?p=3317 more. I've been waiting for something to snap into focus, something that dig this chick can give to regularly, meaningfully and tangibly. On my run, it occurred to me. Love it when that happens. Here at dig, we lovingly craft items, for the love of place. Places break. Places like Columbine, Haiti, New Orleans, Indonesia, Manhattan, Iraq, Newtown. These places and their people rely on our love - yours and mine - to rebuild, to mend. We are all in this together. Today, we are beginning our Geo For Love campaign. We will regularly craft a limited edition item featuring a place that needs our love, a place that we love. We will sew a heart on the hurting place, stitching slowly and thoughtfully. We will sell the item as a fundraising tool, donating profits, combined with all of the purchasers letters of support to a cause. We will begin today, with Boston. Continue reading →]]> http://www.digthischick.net/2013/04/geo-for-love-boston.html/feed 26 http://www.digthischick.net/2013/04/sometimes-i-like-to-hold-hands.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sometimes-i-like-to-hold-hands http://www.digthischick.net/2013/04/sometimes-i-like-to-hold-hands.html#comments Mon, 15 Apr 2013 02:43:16 +0000 dig http://www.digthischick.net/?p=3296 I have the same favorite date with both of my daughters: a hike. All that open space creates open conversation. She meanders, I ask a question. She collects rocks, tells stories. Margot and I both wanted to get out, Andy and Ruby wanted to stay in. I asked her what we should do. Ride bikes to the river and check it out! We took off, her tiny frame so much bigger than it was last spring. She needs a new bike. Continue reading →]]> http://www.digthischick.net/2013/04/sometimes-i-like-to-hold-hands.html/feed 25 http://www.digthischick.net/2013/04/the-most-beautiful-education.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-most-beautiful-education http://www.digthischick.net/2013/04/the-most-beautiful-education.html#comments Thu, 11 Apr 2013 18:32:07 +0000 dig http://www.digthischick.net/?p=3249 1700 miles is about as understandable as next month to my three and five year olds. We referenced our globe. Ruby found Montana and then Margot found China, where her classmate is from. And then she found Mexico, where our friends live. I pointed to Arkansas, where Pam is moving, and Margot saw what I saw. She said, "Well that's hardly far at all!" True, compared to China and Mexico. Our dear friend who is family, Pam, moved away. We've seen each other a lot in the last few months, in anticipation of this day. On Sunday I felt panicky like I hadn't seen enough of her, I hadn't finished her going away present. Andy gently reminded me of the four going-away parties, the weekend away, the dinners. It won't ever feel like enough because it doesn't feel comfortable to imagine her more than 1/2 mile away. Continue reading →]]> http://www.digthischick.net/2013/04/the-most-beautiful-education.html/feed 37 http://www.digthischick.net/2013/04/spring-break.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=spring-break http://www.digthischick.net/2013/04/spring-break.html#comments Mon, 08 Apr 2013 17:37:17 +0000 dig http://www.digthischick.net/?p=3199 Our friends talk about plans, many head south to Utah in search of sun and warmth. Some head to the big northwest coastal cities. Others have grand cross-country plans. Us? It always seems to come out of nowhere. Like, the week before I re-remember that there is no school the following week and I scramble to get work done so I can be with my kin for an undistracted week. Going somewhere away wasn't an option for our family as we have a big ol' adventures coming up like a just-decided-upon weekend in Portland with family next week and then two whole weeks in the southeast at the beginning of May. My little brother is getting married on a Florida beach. Just writing that sentence makes me grin with stinging eyes. We fly into New Orleans where we will stay for a few days (we just learned yesterday that we will be there during Jazz Fest?!) and then drive east to Florida for wedding extravaganza in the north followed by travel south to Naples to see my friend Kelle and her family. Please tell me if there is anything we must see or do between New Orleans-Destin-Naples. Anyway, last week. The girls and I stayed at our friends' cabin for three days. Andy followed us down the valley and then up the insanely steep pitch to help us settle. After we hiked all our gear in, ate a late dinner and cleaned up mouse carnage it was late and Andy wound up staying the night. I was grateful to have one less pitch black morning where I had to fire up the generator while imagining mountain lions perched in every tree above me. Also, I was grateful to have him around because I like him. He took off very early and then it was just us. Continue reading →]]> http://www.digthischick.net/2013/04/spring-break.html/feed 57