hump day nuggets: little bits of the season in photos and words about the last week
It’s been a week since I’ve posted and it’s been a great week.

We arrived in Red Lodge at 1:30am last Thursday morning and returned home at 9pm on Monday. Between 1:30 and 9 we had a wild and grand adventure.

Hoards of our friends and family in one place at one time,

late summer skies that could make one burst from the beauty,

exploration,

laughter,

staying up too late and doing it again the next night.

And the next. Long walks cure exhaustion though.

We came home to piles of eggs and squash.

Our bags remain packed and rest exactly where they were dropped in an exhausted pile.

No time to unpack when the garden calls. I have big plans every morning to clean, do laundry, whathaveyou but the garden sirens are impossibly tempting.

So much can happen in just a few days. Plants are like people that way.

Plus the endless discovery in the garden takes a lot of time.

We ate piles of beans straight off the bushes. And we blanched and froze three pounds for the upcoming cold months.

I don’t think we will have any beets and carrots preserved. Every time I pull a pile, the roots are consumed within a few days.

My family loves my beet carrot soup. I adore it even more this year because it is a meal that we can all eat together, as noticed by Margot last night. We are all eating beets!? ALL TOGETHER?! Oh my goodness.

And no time to unpack when my studio calls after my family is asleep.

^ A few of my new skirt designs. Both will be available in my etsy shop later this week. ^
I am trying to catch up and get ahead of sewing orders because one week from today, I have a friend coming to visit. One of my dearest friends, but we have this unusual relationship. Kelle and I have never actually met. We’ve read each other’s blogs, emailed, phoned, texted, skyped for more than three years and we get to lock eyeballs, hold each other’s kids and each other. Oh. I can’t wait to share my home and Montana with Kelle and her daughters.
The sunflowers will be even taller when they arrive.

Because of all this fun fullness, my mama digs column was late this week. In fact, instead of writing I was dancing at my friends’ wedding like I was auditioning for So You Think You Can Dance. I mean dancing for hours with my arms and hips orbiting around my torso and my hair defying gravity. So now my column is up and I wrote about dancing my ass off with my friends last Sunday night. Click here to read Breathless with Billie Jean. Billie Jean is not my lover. She’s just a girl who claims that I am the one. But the kid is not my son…..
47 Comments
Ever since you posted a link to Kelle’s blog (when Nella was born) – I’ve been reading her blog. She is FABULOUS!! So excited that she gets to have a trip to Montana – I hope she loves Montana as much as I do! I’m glad you finally get to meet her and her family.
Wow, what a garden you have! For such a short summer season, you’ve really grown a lot of veggies!
I still can’t belive this is happening. It’s surreal, and next week is going to be an amazing, beautiful week. I get teary just thinking about it.
Love you and your babies and am counting down the days.
This time next week, I will be arriving. We will be smiling as we walk toward each other…there will be babies strapped to me, but I’ll run anyway. And it will be better than I imagined. xoxo
And, um…those pictures? Seriously…gorgeous.
I can’t believe that is your front yard. Wow! It looks awesome. Anyone else following your lead?
These pictures are gorgeous! And I am so jealous of your garden. I just want to sit down in the middle of it and eat dinner. Magnificent.
ps: who is that teenager standing with the sunflower?
Amazing photos! And amazing garden!
I love this, the garden does look so much more appealing than unpacking would! Enjoy your time with Kelle! Love your blog!
Love it!!!! That WAS a good night. You captured it well.
You should get a print copy of this to the newlyweds.
I remember doing about the same thing with Uncle Joe when my kids were little. I danced so hard that I hyperextended my neck and had to go to physical therapy for six weeks. It was totally worth it. 🙂
Your garden is TO. DIE. FOR.
And I cannot WAIT to read about your adventures with Kelle! Love you both!!
,,,world watch out, MT & MI meet for the first time,,,(smile) have a wonderful time together,,,
,,,garden looks beautiful,,,love the new skirts margot is modeling,,,i recognize the horse-shoe print,,,(smile)
I wish now that I had stayed to dance at the wedding…but it sounds like I would have been out of my age range!! I know Colin had a great time dancing. It was wonderful seeing all of you. Love, love, love, the garden pics..esp with Margo in them. She looks like she is really posing in them. Love you lots…Aunt Deb
worth the wait! what a great early morning read…thanks Nici!
)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love this post. All so true and I feel happy to have been a part of and a witness to the show. What a fun filled weekend. Such a wonderful bunch of friends that will be just that forever. I have to admit I would have loved to see Joey and the split lip scene but I was tucked in next to Margot Bea and her frosting covered face, a lovely place to be.
I love that first picture of you and Margot under the Big Sky. You are so lucky to have such a tribe of friends. And, btw, I love Michael Jackson. Not his wackiness and whitewashed face, but his incredible music and unmatched dancing talent. Billie Jean is such a great song.
About Kelle visiting: how in the world are you both going to blog about it? Here’s an idea: I think you should sit down at the computer together, and take turns writing a line about your meeting; you a line, she a line, you a line, she a line. Then post the identical finished product on both blogs with whatever pictures you each took. So, same text, but different pictures. Just a thought.
You always take such gorgeous photos, but this week they are extraordinary. Beautiful.
Lord God, I am so freakin excited for you. My two favorite bloggers, together at last! You two are going to create some fantastic reads for us! Have a great time!
Oooooh the garden looks MAGNIFICENT! Savor it. And I know you will.
Very excited about the meeting with you and Kelle…. = MOMENTOUS.
You could practically be hosting a Mommy Bloggers conference, with just the two of you!
Oooooh the garden looks MAGNIFICENT! Savor it. And I know you will.
Very excited about the meeting with you and Kelle…. = MOMENTOUS.
You could practically be hosting a Mommy Bloggers conference, with just the two of you!
Oooooh the garden looks MAGNIFICENT! Savor it. And I know you will.
Very excited about the meeting with you and Kelle…. = MOMENTOUS.
You could practically be hosting a Mommy Bloggers conference, with just the two of you!
Oooooh the garden looks MAGNIFICENT! Savor it. And I know you will.
Very excited about the meeting with you and Kelle…. = MOMENTOUS.
You could practically be hosting a Mommy Bloggers conference, with just the two of you!
Oooooh the garden looks MAGNIFICENT! Savor it. And I know you will.
Very excited about the meeting with you and Kelle…. = MOMENTOUS.
You could practically be hosting a Mommy Bloggers conference, with just the two of you!
I’ve been reading you for a year now (cried giant tears during Ruby’s struggles) and you’ve always been the mommy blogger I’ve got the biggest crush on.
I only found Kelle’s blog when my first born was diagnosed with DS at birth in April (somehow missed your post!). Reading her has been a lovely lifeline and reminder to hold on to the dreams of motherhood you inspired me to.
So, to say I’m excited about your get together? Minor understatement.
CAN NOT WAIT to hear about your’s and Kelle’s visit!! So happy you get to meet!
And OMG! What kind of sunflowers(?) are those? They remind me of lions…
Love the first picture of you!
Amen! Being in your thirties is so much better!
That’s the best description of the wedding reception I’ve heard so far!
The photos in this post are amazing Burb! I especially love the one of you holding Margot to the Montana sky….
And you Bug could be the poster child for a seed company….hmmm, ‘Margot Bea’s Bountiful Seeds’ has a nice ring to it! You should be so proud of your garden, it is beautiful…just like you! I Love You A Bushel & A Peck!
After Margot Bea’s Bountiful Seeds are planted, grown & harvested then comes your product Ruby~ ‘Ruby Jane’s Organic Veggies’, which you would be the poster child for, the motto being… “Veggies to be eaten ALL TOGETHER”! You are a beauty and You Are My Sunshine!
xoxo,
Mom/Gram
So that Montana sky….totally jealous! I read your blog and Kelle’s everytime there is a new post. I actually found you through hers. I can’t wait to read the posts from when you guys meet! Oh and Ivy is still loving her Georgia shirt, good thing it’s “ready for rough housing” because she gives it hell.
I meant to post the link to the sunflowers…I went back and added it in. They are Goldy Double Sunflowers from High Mowing Organic Seeds. I love them and High Mowing!
http://www.highmowingseeds.com/organic-seeds-goldy-double-sunflower.html
Oh and I love all the enthusiasm about Kelle and I meeting! Good stuff!
Love, love, love your garden. This is the first year that I’ve ever grown anything, and it was great fun! Looking forward to expanding my beds! You are an inspiration.
I, too, am excited about the Kelle / Nici meeting next week! I found your blog through hers and can’t wait for new posts from both…when I find myself in a slump for some new activity to do with my daughter – 2 1/2, I think to myself What Would Kelle Do (WWKD) or What Would Nici Do (WWND)? You’re both inspiring Mom’s… Thank you for helping the less imaginative ones. haha
Just found this and boy did I perk up reading that Kelle is coming to visit your beautiful Montana garden. Can’t wait to see both of your pics.
Your garden is so lovely and I live in a co-op so therefore have none and have garden envy everytime I check in here.
I love the pic of Margot peeking out from behind plants with a pumpkin in the foreground. so cute.
Two of my favorite bloggers in the same place?!? It’s a good thing you are meeting in big sky country… how else could one place contain all of the love & beauty & creativity that the pair of you inspire?
Can not wait to hear of your meeting & adventures.
Love this post & your gorgeous photos. I have major garden envy! My two pots of tomatoes did end up producing fairly well, but that was about it this year. Such is the land of concrete-living.
Cheers,
Kate
p.s. My boys are loving their Alaska shirts you made… my youngest picked it out himself to wear on his first day of preschool.
Amazing, the connections birthed out of the internet!
Have a glorious week and your photos *are* especially stunning today.
Nici, this pictures are amazing! Love love love your garden… it must be the cooler temps and rain (?), everything in my yard looks pretty fried. But we have tomatoes, so I guess it all works out okay. 🙂
And, we had a pretty fantastic week here as well! We found out this new little munchkin will be a girl!!!! I can’t believe I will be a mama to girls! This is crazy to me because I had a brother, and it just seemed that this too would be my path. Anyhow, I would love to chat with you more about it. I am feeling a bit anxious about two girls. xo
P.S. A visit with Kelle, wow! The moment you both meet will be pretty momentous I am sure. So much anticipation…Can’t wait to read about it.
OMG….your garden!!! Chick, you rule the dark rich dirt – I mean check out that front curbside garden. The sunflowers are amazing! I am a huge gardener (perennial though), And can I say that you’re inspiring me to rip flowerbeds to pieces all for the sake of growing more veggies; yeah…that says a lot. Looks like the sirens gave you much more than one stinking tomato, so enjoy getting lost in the green moments (nice brown fingers & nails my dear – it’s the best manicure, right?)
And to see that you and Kelle are going to finally meet. Expressing my excitement may not cut it; I’m sure it will be a “pinch me” moment for both of you. Savor, enjoy, and please, close the shop for a few days (seeing that you two will be talking all night long!)
I am constantly reminded that it’s the tribe of women in our lives – physical and cyber ones now too – that provide strength and inspiration and joy. I am thrilled that you two have found and created such a bond.
Peace out,
Jennifer from Annapolis
P.S. I have 2 huge bunches of beets – do you have that soup recipe handy?
Jennifer, Click on that link in the post…it goes to the beet carrot soup recipe! You’ll love it. Like summer in a bowl.
Thanks Nici. Normally I would notice that link, but a headache was getting the best of me last night..overlooked the details.
I cannot WAIT to try it out this recipe over the weekend. And BTW, I predict that Kelle will gain a good 5 pounds after days of dirty martini’s and your damn good cooking!
Enjoy your weekend.
-Jennifer from Annapolis
GOOD LORD – that first shot is shockingly and absurdly gorgeous! It took my breath away. Your photography is just getting so damn good, girl. WOW.
Also, thanks for reposting this beet and carrot soup link. I finally know what I’m going to do with all these beets. PHEW. Relief.
And I loved clicking through and seeing my pickles sitting with Alice. How is it that one can love a dog that one has never met? I’m a freak. And a dog stalker.
What a wonderful vacation….can’t beat breathless with Billie Jean! I had my husband read your column and we both loved the last paragraph! You nailed it….”Nobody trying to impress anyone else or get lucky with anyone other than their spouse. No insecurity in dancing, only feeling so wonderfully alive.”
Your garden is amazing…can’t wait to see pics of your girls with their two new girlfriends, Lainey and Nella! Here is what I wrote on Kelle’s blog…Sh**, Sh**, Sh**!! (Sorry, know this is a family friendly blog!) Holy Sh**! You are going to Montana!! Woot Woot!! I couldn’t be more excited that you and Nici are going to meet! I love both of your blogs and know you will have a wonderful time together!! Two amazing writers, photographers, mommas, and women,(and more!!) Man, this IS gonna to be good!!
Jill B (Overland Park, KS)
But the real question is, do you love pickled beets? Please say yes.
Kelley, Wow, a crush?! I am flattered. And, isn’t that something…the older I get the more I realize we happen upon people with a purpose. When we pay attention, the connections are amazing! Also, I clicked through your link to the photo of you and your daughter. Adorable. Congrats.
Gorgeous! You had me at the nasturtiums. 🙂