Spring Break. I barely remember it growing up. It seemed way longer than a week. I remember high school spring break and let me declare this here: my daughters will not be going anywhere during a spring break without me. Spring break in college was merely a week I could work full time. And then here I am now with spring break again as a mama with a daughter in part-time preschool.
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.
The cabin:
The loo:
We hiked and walked all day for two days, returning to the cabin for nourishment, fairy house building, Candyland and snuggling. There were so many moments where I thought about my Montana homesteading ancestors, where I meditated on this — this simple, connected existence — as the essential reason for being. We had so much fun. All day every day. Doing chores, sitting, staring, holding hands, looking up, looking down. At the end of the first day, Ruby wrapped her palms around my one fist and pressed the her forearms to her heart, our hands to her chin. She said I love you SO much mama. It’s certainly something I hear regularly from her but on this occasion, our connected bodies locked into an energy circuit that could light the moon.
Speaking of energy. We’ve stayed at this cabin many times and I’ve avoided the generator. It’s down a steep, dark incline that is really steep and dark. There’s a mountain lion den just below that is now supposedly vacant but the image of that giant cat is tattooed on my brain. Sometimes the cord is finicky. Sometimes the reserve tank siphon doesn’t work. I’ve never paid much attention because that wasn’t my job. I have my camp roles, Andy has his. Him: make fire. Me: Sit by fire. Same with home. Him: pay bills, clean range top, vacuum, build stuff. Me: animal care, food shopping, laundry, arrange stuff.
He taught me all about the generator. Being without power doesn’t freak me out at all but there’s something about that generator that makes me tense. It’s the troubleshooting I think. There is always so much discussion about hoses and lines and switches. So. I’ll cut right to it: we made friends, the generator and me. I troubleshot! And won.
Also, I made fire. AND sat by it.
And, I drove back down that freaky road without help. BAM.
Elemental and harmonious. When thinking of our trip, those are the words that lap against the shore of my soul.
“I stood so still like this because that’s when bug’s like me most. And a real live wild butterfly landed right on me and stayed for so long. I’m serious. It did.”
The simplicity of washing dishes and washing bodies with tiny portions of water.
The luxury of nothing to do.
The beauty of just being together.
I set the autotimer and they ran! So this is the shot, the camera snapped just as I reached them
photo by Ruby
The bliss of watching, listening. For hours.
The coziness and ease of life in one room.
Alice found four deer legs and at least 37 sticks, each better than the last.
Two girlfriends and their kids joined us on the last day and night. Again, I thought about those days not so long ago when commune and coparenting weren’t so much words as they were the way life worked. The kids hopped from rock to rock returning to us every so often with a concern or issue. They were always hungry. We took turns listening and guiding, took turns preparing food.
Since we’ve been home, Margot and Ruby have been more argumentative than usual. I believe our mountaintop retreat was a relief to my kids. It was to me too. There was no stuff to worry about. Even in our home where we work to create schedules and rooms with plenty of space, we still have lots of stuff. I am always enamored with my daughters’ creativity but especially so when we camp, hike, get out.
The landscapes rolls away from our bodies like sun rays, able to reach and warm every creature, every everything without prejudice.
The stuff there is transient and precious because it is fleeting and has no owner. Nothing to possess, everything to share and care for.
It was a wonderful week and now I am back to my computer, my sewing machine, my household chores. But with all the responsibilities, I’m hanging on to that feeling of supreme, open peace. It’s always there for us. Yes.
57 Comments
What a view and what a treat to be able to get away. Things are simpler when viewed quietly from above, yes? I’ve never felt I could breathe so well as I did in Montana. (Except during bad fire seasons, of course.)
This post was like a great big green smoothie. A few thoughts:
1. Ahem….spring break in a big NW city? sounds a-ok to me!
2. that cabin. i want it. I must have something similar one day. must begin plotting now.
3. Margot is starting to look so very grown up! something about the dress maybe? so pretty!
4. love love love the blue moon/valley pic. so beautiful.
thanks for a burst of refreshment….third airport and third delay in 15 hours….still not to Asheville yet!
xoxox
lina
I am a long-time reader but rarely comment (two beautiful girls of my own keeping me busy!). Anyway I just wanted to comment today to say how much I enjoy your blog – the writing, the photos, the way you live your life. I love they way that the whole world is your playground! I also love seeing the beautiful bits of America that are less well known as to a Brit such as myself. If we ever have the money to for that big US holiday, forget Disney, Vegas, LA etc – I’m definitely heading to your neck of the woods! All best wishes to you and your lovely family.
Thanks for taking the time to comment! I too am a rare commenter on the blogs I read. Which is funny because I really enjoy the comments here!
Montana will welcome you when you come! Fair warning: she takes hold. 🙂
Awesome getaway! What a perfect way to reconnect to life’s simpler sides. Love it… I so need to use my “autotimer” more, thanx for the reminder. We also get to visit family in Portland in a few weeks. Can’t wait to meet my niece, nephew and sister-in-law too. Finally! Living far away is hard. Have some happy travels, so cool you get to hang with Kelle and family as well. Take Care
Love the part about your girls never taking a spring break without you. I’m so on board with that I’ll even drive and bring the snacks, kids!
deal
The best kind of “girls gone wild” ever! Your words and photos here elicit peace for me, too – thank you for sharing your adventures so I could spring break vicariously. 🙂
Love this. My husband and I spend 90% of May-October weekends in the CO mountains and our friends/family/coworkers never understand what we “do” out there. “The luxury of nothing to do” sums it nicely – thank you
Triple BAM!!!
Oh, Nici. This is so great.
I love this: “She said I love you SO much mama. It’s certainly something I hear regularly from her but on this occasion, our connected bodies locked into an energy circuit that could light the moon.”
And where Margot stood really still because that’s when bugs like her.
And Alice.
And the toes in the snow.
And the space and just every little thing.
And the jazz fest in N’ollins?!
Yes, indeed.
-Angie
What a beautiful place to be alone with your girls….not too many people can enjoy a Spring Break like that!
xoxo
Beautiful. Refreshing. Motivating . And excited for you for your family trips!
I just caught up with some reading from the last couple weeks. No more mama digs!! 🙁 My husband will be bummed, he looked so forward to my weekly forwarding of your link. We are big fans of the weekly piece, as fellow parents of 3 and 5 year old girls.
It will be missed!
Your spring break looked so peaceful. We spent our week home with double stomach flu!! :
p
I’ll still be around and interacting with mamalode on occasion. And! I plan write more here at dig so the forward-to-husband possibilities are still there! 🙂
Beautiful. And inspirational. Now I’m off to see if I can find a cabin in the woods to spend some time with my daughters.
What a perfect getaway! This is exactly why I love living on the road and camping all the time with my girls. We are in our 9th month of living this life you describe everyday and I feel so connected to them and to nature. Life has slowed down so much for us, we have less stuff and so much more time together. It’s just amazing!
Oh Catherine I love your adventurous, homeschooling spirit! It is magnificent.
This is so beautiful! Your cabin trip at Thanksgiving time inspired our family to reach out to some friends and ask to borrow their cabin for a long weekend. It was so freeing and refreshing! You are always so inspiring to me….I love your sense of wonder, love, compasion, your energy. And how awesome that you get to visit Kelle! Wish I could be friends with you two in real life! Hugs!
Oh I love that! Cabin getaways are tough to beat and, thankfully, people with cabins love to share!
It looks wonderful! It feels so peaceful the way you write about your spring break…
Oh! I could almost imagine myself there with you and all of your own!
What a peaceful place that must be to experience.
Thank you for giving me something to daydream about today 🙂
That was beautiful, thank you for sharing…
Oh I just love it! So beautiful. I love that I can take a break and join with you, be inspired and reengerized by your wonderful post. Thank you.
Wow. You are such a badass. I love this.
We try to make our escape from Oregon to Montana every couple of years (have a kindasorta “family” cabin that we can sometimes use) and I’ve been on the fence about it this year. (New baby, cramped car, obnoxious dog, squabbling boys, $, life, ect.) But those photos just sealed the deal. Flathead Lake, here we come!
Yahoo! Love Flathead. And love that decisive moment of “um, of course we are in!!!” Our upcoming Portland adventure was a lot of back and forth regarding the time in car vs # of days and time away from work , cost etc and then we had a lightbulb moment of DUH. We wouldn’t miss it.
I just like the way you roll. And I’m cracking up about the contrast between your spring break get-away and ours. (stay tuned, haha) BUT>>> I’m also strangely giddy to hear that you’ll be gracing the shores of Florida in early May. Me, too! We should pin down a day and stare off into the shoreline in solemn honor of each other. Wanna?? 🙂
Wait, can we MEET there?! Emailing you now.
Love New Orleans and have never had a bad time there. Wanted to share this post from Mighty Girl that I’ve been working my way through. Food is a bit of a star in NOLA:) Also, I think she leaves off the two best Po’Boy spots so I have to add Domilese’s and Parkway. Kind of off the beaten path but worth the trouble.
Mighty Girl’s Review of NOLA Food:
http://mightygirl.com/2011/04/29/10-things-to-taste-in-new-orleans/
Have fun!
Oh…she DOES mention Parkway! 🙂 Domilese’s is the more run down joint of the two but just as delicious.
Oh girl. *THIS* is what we need. Thank you! Eating is one of my very favorite things when traveling.
I’m a long time reader, but first time commenter. Thank you for sharing your stories with us. I absolutely love your blog. I live in New Orleans, and you will love our city. Make sure to visit the French Market. It’s kind of touristy, but since you seem to love homemade jewlery, clothes, food, etc…, I think you would really enjoy it. Have a great trip!
Ooh thanks! Adding to list for sure.
Sanibel island, very close to Naples. Stunning beaches with beautiful shells to collect. A magical place.
Ah yes I’ve heard of Sanibel. Beautiful shells? Sold.
Oooooh, you’ll be in my neck of the woods! I’m excited for you– Destin has such pretty beaches (I’m in Tallahassee). In between Destin and Naples you might check out Wakulla Springs (http://www.floridastateparks.org/wakullasprings/) (that link is underwhelming but it’s gorgeous in person!!) and Blue Spring (http://www.floridastateparks.org/bluespring/) or Ginnie Springs (http://www.ginniespringsoutdoors.com/) (private, so you have to pay a fee, but it’s worth it!). Also, Gainesville is a really fun place to stop in for food– check out The Top or Satchel’s, maybe visit their Botanical Gardens. Oh, and the botanical gardens in Sarasota are awesome too– and if you go there you should definitely check out the Ringling Museum of Art. Ooooooh, y’all are gonna have so much fun! Longtime fan and reader here, first time commenter (I think).
This is what I am talking about! Thank you so much. Off to click and pin your links. 🙂 And, really!? You have a restaurant? Well I am not sure that we’ll be in Tallahassee but if we are we will certainly patronize your place!!
Oh, and if you for some reason get to Tallahassee you MUST let me buy your dinner at our restaurant, the Root Cellar (http://miccosukeerootcellar.com/). I will be home putting the baby to bed of course but I’d love to leave you a gift certificate with the hostess 🙂
Hmmm, looks like my other comment didn’t show up, but I wanted to suggest the following places to visit: Wakulla Springs, Blue Spring, Ginnie Springs (okay, really any springs– but you HAVE to visit some springs while you’re in FL!), Gainesville for the Botanical Gardens, Natural History Museum, dinner at The Top or Satchel’s (best pizza and great for kids!), Sarasota for the Ringling Museum and the Botanical Gardens. Y’all will have so much fun!
So beautiful.
You, dig this chick, are my favorite. Beautiful photos and your insights are always kindred. Also, your adventures upcoming sound oh so dreamy! Funfunfun!
I remember my first river canoe trip without my husband. I unloaded the boat, secured gear and got myself and a beginning paddler friend down the river. Then I loaded the boat back and and successfully tied it to the rack – something I’d always left up to him and didn’t quite trust I could do. This was years ago and I still remember the feeling of pride in stepping out of my usual role.
There are so many things I love about your photos and adventures, not the least of which is Margot with bare legs but wearing a puffy jacket, while sitting across from a bare armed Ruby.
Mouse carnage? I woulda been outta there and down that mountain so freaking fast. I am a HUGE wimp about mice. HUGE.
Your spring break looks amaze.
You had me at the luxury of nothing to do.
Looks devine to be unplugged to such a degree, and having nature become the new toys, the new mediums for creativity.
I just love your writing. So simple and beautiful. Always, always makes me smile. Thank you.
Hi Nici!
I am a long time reader and a grad student in Gainesville, Florida. If you have the time you should stop here. There are a lot of hidden gems in and around Gainesville. I would go to Satchels – they have the BEST pizza, and it is one of the funkiest, quirkiest restaurants I’ve ever been to. Your kids would love it! I would also recommend going to Paynes Prarie, specifically the La Chua trail, where you would definitely see some alligators! 45 minutes north of here is Ichetucknee springs, where you can rent inner tubes and float down the spring fed river – one of my favorite summertime activities. Micanopy is 15 minutes south of here and is a sleepy, old, Florida town with a bunch of antique stores. It is one of those places that makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me!
These photos are divine! That was my kind of getaway x
That sounds like an awesomeAWESOME spring break for everyone involved. And especially Alice who steals my heart in every post.
Oh, Jazz Fest is a MUST!! The line up is amazing this year, we’re going several days but I’m most excited to see Fleetwood Mac!! Have a wonderful time!!
I stumbled across your blog from Kelle’s blog (who I have been following for 4+ years!), and I’m so glad that I did! I live in Georgia, but my husband is from Montana and his family still lives there. Seeley Lake to be exact! We try to visit at least 2x’s a year, which is never enough.
Anyhow! If you’re going to be in Destin, you HAVE to go only about 15 minutes down the road to Highway 30A. It is where the movie the Truman Show with Jim Carrey was filmed, and literally makes you feel as if you’ve stepped back in time. It is a beautiful stretch along the Gulf Coast that takes you through little towns such as Seaside and Seagrove beach, and then on down to Rosemary beach. The most beautiful, quaint towns I’ve ever been to.
Enjoy! 🙂
Done! Sounds perfect. Thanks.
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Go to Jazz Fest. It’s loud and crazy, but calm and lazy, too.
And oh my heavens…the food! Be sure you get some bread pudding (I got to share mine with the band Nickel Creek which is still a favorite memory of mine, lol).
So many good bands, all over, in one place. We only got to go a few years, before we wound up in Nebraska, but I’d go, if I happened to be anywhere near New Orleans at that time.
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