Because she still fits in the crook of my arm, tucked right beneath my chin. Because I love watching her rub her blankey on her cheek, blinking her eyes, as she relaxes into me. Because she asks me to. Because it’s the only time she holds still all day. Because I can breathe in the … More Why I Rock My Toddler Before Bed
First, and this is key; you must declare, “I’ve always wanted chickens! Wouldn’t it be fun?” (Even if you just thought of it yesterday.) You imagine restoring the run-down coop in your farm yard and ask your husband, “Can you fix this coop for me?” He is in the middle of seeding the spring crops, … More How to Save $5 on a Dozen Eggs
I shivered, tucking my hands into the pockets of my brand new Carhartt coveralls. Just the year before, I wore dress pants and skirts and walked the halls as a high school counselor. My old life in the city was a world away from my new life on the farm. Now, cows mooed around me, … More In Good Hands
Chouteau County – A central Montana woman allegedly tried to put pants on her less than two-year-old daughter on Monday morning. The suspect was last seen fleeing the scene wearing slippers and a baseball cap. It appeared she had a book in her hand. The suspect is Stacy Bronec, 38, said Sheriff Joe Busybody. “This … More Woman At-Large After Trying to Put Pants on Her Toddler
The wind is terrible here. It howls through the windows, and the tree branches scrape against the house’s roof. It’s dry too—we need rain. We needed it weeks ago. Every time I look out the window, I see dirt blowing across the gravel roads—and it feels like a bit of hope is carried away with … More Woman Declares She’s Never Writing Again; Then Posts on Her Blog
At my desk, in the laundry room. At the kitchen table, surrounded by Legos. In the car, using talk-to-text because I know I’ll forget by the time I get to where I’m going. In the barn, watching a newborn calf navigate the world for the first time. Driving a combine (don’t tell the farmer). This … More Where I’ve Written: An Incomplete List
I didn’t mean to pee at a stranger’s house on my wedding day. But I did. After Rich and I exchanged our vows and walked back down the aisle together, my friend, Cassie, handed me my first drink as a married woman. Then we lined up, and people hugged and congratulated us. Then we took … More Never Pass a Place to Pee
“I was a high school counselor before I got married.” “I have a master’s degree.” Years ago, I sometimes found myself trying to drop these sentences into conversations. I wasn’t necessarily trying to brag. But as a new mom in a new place who no longer worked full-time—I worried what people would think about me. … More A Part of Who I Am
When I married a farmer, I didn’t realize one of my biggest roles would be feeding people. Years ago, Rich occasionally showed up at the house before noon, asking, “Could you make the guys lunch?” Now, I anticipate before he even asks. There are certain seasons when he will need me to make lunch (or … More Farmer’s Wife
Mediocre • / me·di·o·cre/ˌmēdēˈōkər/ adjective: mediocre 1. of only moderate quality; not very good. // Since I became a mom of three, most days, I would describe myself as mediocre. All the other moms in my life appear to have more patience; they do fun things and have kids that follow the rules. Last summer, … More On Baby Teeth, Rejections, and Mediocrity