Ten Things

1.  Robert and I finally saw the third and final installment of The Hobbit.  I like the story of The Hobbit, very much, but what really gets me, while watching Peter Jackson’s cinematic manifestation of the story, is the creative genius behind the little details.  I lose all control of myself while watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Hobbit films — they’re just so thrilling for me.  I scream aloud, cry, waggle my arms, mention every detail I find transfixing to poor Robert where he sits beside me.  You should have heard me whisper shriek in the theater about the war stag, the war pig and the war bighorn sheep two weeks ago.  I mean really, it’s all too much for me.  Now that the final Hobbit film has been thoroughly enjoyed I can’t help but feel that there’s nothing left to cinematically anticipate for the rest of eternity.

2.  If people quit assuming things about each other about 99% of the hate in the world would be dissolved.  The key to not living by assumption is to simply have the courage to ask about the truth of the matter — you aren’t always going to get an answer you like but that’s life!  Don’t assume.  Assumption is a kind of cowardice.  Find out the truth.  Be courageous.  Ask.  The truth is for seekers.  The truth is for people who want to change, learn and grow — independently and corporately within their relationships.

3.  Bone broth?  Heck yes!   I drink a pint of the stuff, hot, every morning before breakfast and generally brew 2-3 batches a week.  I use this recipe, roughly, for beef, chicken, upland game and antelope bone broth.

4.  A favorite account of mine — it’s beautiful, hilarious, annoying, shocking, terrible and wonderful.  Basically, it’s a close-up, raw glimpse at snapshots of humanity.  I look at and read the posts and feel like I’ve been brushing up against a random batch of people and even though we look different and live in different places and have different jobs we’re all loved, hated, healing and hurt in fundamentally similar ways.  For me, it brings to the forefront what it is to be human and I find myself focusing on the idea of commonality, unity, on the shared reality of the human condition.

5.  We LIKE.  So much.  Phryne herself is a downright sassafras, I love her mind, but what I adore more than anything about this program is the costuming — Phryne is always dressed to slay and best of all, she carries a tiny gold pistol in her purse.  Get yourself hooked, and quick.

6.  I know there are a handful of rugged, outdoor loving ladies reading this blog so I feel it’s my duty to inform you of these new slim fit double front dungarees for girls.  These are affordable-long-lasting-not-ugly-pants that fit nicely around curvy lady bums, hips and thighs of which I sadly have none, BUT most of my sporty girlfriends have curves and these pants look gorgeous on them.  Regardless, I’m delighted with my pair and have yet to develop holes in the knees.

7.  You can find me smattered throughout issue 2.  Also, there is a really nice interview write up about my Instagram account that can be read and enjoyed over here (thanks for the wonderful writing, Hilary).  Lastly, an essay of mine is featured here this winter — but flip through the whole magazine if you can.  It’s such a great collection of images and writing!

8.  We’re in the midst of an official website overhaul here and can’t wait to get this space freshened up and spruced up for you.  Work has really shot off in a handful of new directions for me in the past couple of years and we think it’s best this space begins to represent that fact in a more obvious way.  Buckle up!  We’ll be so excited when it comes time for the official unveiling!

9.  The Washington forest district Robert works for as a smokejumper FINALLY did some hiring and Robert was given a permanent position at the North Cascades base in November — he’s been a seasonal employee for about 8 years now, hired in the spring and laid off in the fall.  He hasn’t had permanent status with the federal government since he was a fish biologist for US Fish and Wildlife when we lived in Arizona.  This means a lot of things for us, but most importantly we’ll be delighted to not pay for private health insurance out of pocket as we have been for the past eight years, we’ll be able to pay into a retirement fund again and Robert is guaranteed at least six months of work a year.  I’m proud of him.  He deserves this position (not more than anyone else, but in and of himself) and he continues to be the very best man I know — honest, fair, hardworking and a true friend to all.

This is one of the main reasons we are preparing to put our Idaho farmhouse on the market in the early summer.  Life is calling.  Changes are coming.  Quite slowly, the murk of the coming year is clearing and we are beginning to have a sense of direction which is nice.  People keep asking me where we are going to live and what we plan to live in.  We don’t really know and we don’t really care.  We’ll make it work, like we always do.  We’re like merry flotsam in a patch of choppy, icy sea.

10.  I have been on the road, away from the studio, for nearly two full months.  I have really missed my studio.  I have really missed you.