Into FallGMonday, September 29th, 2014 Fall is here. The brown coat is in progress. Sunsets on cloudy days set the woods alight with deep reds and golds and muted greens and greys. Our house is looking house-like. Our hot tub is a comfort. Right now, at this moment, all is good. We're ...
Autumn Leaf-Peeping with the NeighborsGSunday, September 28th, 2014 Ever since we started building our house this spring, we haven't really had weekends. In fact, we work twice as hard on the weekends, because Tyler isn't busy with his job then. The concept of taking a break… it just doesn't exist. The House is all...
Home AgainGTuesday, September 23rd, 2014 Well I'm home again, and while I've only been gone a few days, it feels as though a lifetime has passed since last I walked our land. When Tyler and I headed to Illinois, it was summertime, and now it's clear that autumn has begun, just barely, mak...
Fall Family OutingGMonday, September 22nd, 2014 The funeral is over now, and we're in Champaign for a couple days, just being with family. Fall is nearly here, and that means it's time for a trip to Curtis Orchard for cider donuts, kettle corn, slushies, and goat petting. I love ...
Grandma Jeanne, Forever Loved: Part ThreeGSaturday, September 20th, 2014 Grandma, though I was at your funeral as Pastor Jeremy talked about the nine "fruits of the spirit" and how you "nailed all of 'em;" though I was there when your body was buried in the cemetery under a spray of yellow and orange roses; though I wep...
Grandma Jeanne, Forever Loved: Part TwoGFriday, September 19th, 2014 Feeling tired but accomplished, Tyler and I hit the road to Illinois for the funeral, arriving at 5:00AM the morning of the visitation. When we rolled out of the hotel bed around lunchtime, we greeted everyone with hugs, and slipped into the comfor...
Plaster Faster: Finishing the First Coat of Lime Plaster IndoorsGWednesday, September 17th, 2014 For the past few days, Tyler and I have been applying the first coat of plaster inside the house. Each swipe of the trowel is hurried along by a growing sense of urgency. Winter is fast approaching, and I'm anxious about our upcoming trip to Illino...
Grandma Jeanne, Forever Loved: Part OneGFriday, September 12th, 2014 When I touched down in Albany, just a few hours after I said goodbye to my grandmother, I received an email from my mom saying that she had taken a turn for the worse. In the week that followed, she was in hospice care at her apartment. With my par...
This is Carl & AnaïsGWednesday, September 10th, 2014 A few months ago, Tara was contacted by Carl, an avid reader and cyclist. He and his partner Anais would be in our area for the Green Mountain Stage Races, and were wondering if they come visit, and leave their truck at our place while they went on...
Pre-Plaster Trimming in Strawbale CottageGTuesday, September 9th, 2014 Now that the exterior of the house is mostly taken care of for the year, it's time to really focus on the inside so we can get it plastered. That means trimming out the pony wall... And making window seats... ....
It's Getting Better all the TimeGSaturday, September 6th, 2014 With an actual house-looking object up there on our ridge, and a beautiful wood-fired hot tub to compliment it, life is getting better. With each bit of progress we make, our daily existence gets a little bit easier, a little more comfortable, and ...
A Week with GrandmaGFriday, September 5th, 2014 When I first arrived at the hospital after my flight to Illinois, my grandma was pale and disoriented, but delighted to see me. Now, just four days later, she's so rosy-cheeked and healthy that we've been planning her third annual fall trip to Verm...
New Chapters & Random Thoughts from the AirportGMonday, September 1st, 2014 Right now, I'm sitting in the Albany airport, waiting for a flight back to the midwest to see my family. My dear, sweet grandma Jeanne had a heart attack and is in the hospital, and every ounce of my being is ringing with impatient need to be there...