Just a woman trying to leave this place better than she found it.
Applying Permaculture Ideas to Interpersonal Relationships You all know by now that I’m a permaculturist. What you may not know is that I am particularly interested in how permaculture ethics and principles can be applied to relationships and invisible structures (like society, government, justice, etc.). I touched some more on that in this article The[…]
Beautiful morning! The kids and I left early to pick up some safety supplies – masks, safety glasses, ear defenders… With enormous gratitude for donors to Nick’s fundraiser for helping to pay for all of that and so much more. Louis joined us today and after we were through, he said, “that was much more[…]
First, a Nick update… Yesterday afternoon, Nicholas was assaulted at his facility. One patient restrained his arms while the other patient kicked and punched him. This is the second such assault on Nicholas perpetrated by the same two patients. Nicholas was moved to another room, and the two patients temporarily restricted to their ‘wings’. Nicholas[…]
I do not feel as enthusiastic as Chip Gaines about this. Do. Not. These walls, y’all. A sheet of aluminum, 3/16″ of styrofoam, cardboard sheet, 3″ of insulation, and 1/4″ of plastic paneling. That’s it. That is what is between you and subzero temps in one of these (if you live in the northern climes).[…]
Part of a series of pieces illustrating women alone. You can purchase a print on my shop. Sunday morning and a post on a support group for loved ones of folks with mental illness asking about loneliness and how to overcome it. How do I work with the loneliness when it makes me uncomfortable? I[…]
I recently leveled up my Bulgarian mom cred by adding Boza to my repertoire of of Bulgarian and Turkish recipes. Boza is a fermented drink, popular in the Balkans and Middle East. Typically, it’s made from wheat (bulgur), but can be made from any grain. I bet corn would be really lovely. It’s creamy, sweet,[…]
Follow my blog with Bloglovin Life has been very full over the past year. I’m hoping to be able to write a little more often here. Facebook, where I have been spending the majority of my time, is a distressing place at the moment. Perhaps I can create a little sanctuary here for myself, for[…]
These boys grew up together. Stefko was adopted by a wonderful woman shortly after Nick and Olivia came home. They hadn’t seen each other in person in four years. Nick and Vasko have been in contact online for the past year. It can be hard to have a proper chat by message, especially with time[…]
After visiting at the Children’s Home, the ladies organized an impromptu picnic along the Danube. Dancho, who does maintenance and serves as a male role model for the children, went out on his boat to catch some fish for us while Velichka (not pictured) prepared some Качамак (kachamak), which is polenta served with sirene, a[…]
Four years. It has been four years since a judge in Bulgaria declared that Nicholas and Olivia were ours forever. The Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. Prophetically appropriate. And from that day, 15 September has been a cause for quiet, private contemplation. It has been a source of trauma and grief. It has not[…]
