this magical bowl
6:45 am
Col: (climbing in bed) Mama, come see my new convention!
Me: Hmmmnzz.
Col: No, no. My con….traption.
Rose: (whispering): Remember about the shoes?
Col: No, my in…vention!
Rose: Your fancy ones? Remember you said I could wear them in the morning?
7:05 am
Rose is clomping ecstatically around in my “fancy shoes,” the ones that possibly accentuate my weird feet because so much of them is showing. Col is zooming his 6-wheeled lego speedster across the tile floor. I am making out with my coffee and resetting my noise-tolerance to, on a scale of 1-10: eleven, and wondering how I got so lucky to live with the funniest people in the world.
Col’s lego contraption/invention crashes against a wall and tiny colored pieces bumper-car across the room. “Take a picture of that,” Col says, “and put it on your blog.”
I’ve been writing this blog 3 years this September.
Remember this blog header photo from fall 2010? We ate that chicken in Col’s arms last month. Yikes!
Recently, I was searching for something in my blog archives (had I already called fermenting the unschooling of the kitchen world? Why yes, yes I did, right here). And there I was in my usual spot in the library completely caught up in my own archives for an hour, an hour of precious work time, laughing over our quirky lives, immensely grateful I wrote our stories, and wondering how Rosie went, in 3 years, from muppety chipmunk to long legged doe-girl.
Rose, 2012. Sigh.
I love this little blog space, how it’s this magical bowl, catching all the stories that I think will be indelible in my mind, but then get bumped over to make room for the next, mundane to-do list (clip chickens’ wings and promote upcoming Edible Weeds class; okay, not so mundane). It’s reassuring to have a place to put these stories. Like this one:
Rose, outside watching the chickens, informs me that Dandelion pushed Penelope out of the way.
“Oh. What did Penelope do?”
“Nothing. She’s like Col. Because he never hits me back.” Rose says.
Later, I try to tell Col this story and he says, a little burdened from his own good-naturedness, “Rosie already told me about saying that.”
“Oh okay. What did you think about her noticing you never hit her back?”
“Well, I guess that’s what’s good about me,” he says, returning to his shark drawing.
“Yup Col. It is.” His sister concurs. (And kudos to Rose for recognizing how things are and being magnanimous enough to promote and publicize Col’s pacifism).
Col, 2008. Double sigh.
Col with praying mantis friend, 2012
2012, note: tube socks tied around knees to protect Col’s legs from our friend’s dog who likes to jump up and greet kids.
There’s nothing like inviting people to shine their tiny public spotlight on your life, how it encourages noticing the details of your own, unique life. Everything becomes illuminated, including how Rose keeps checking her broken cell phone “to see if Nana called.” Or how, in reading Voyage of the Dawn Treader to the kids, I’ve been the one childishly snickering when I read the words “poop deck,” while the kids are like, “okaaaay mom, can you keep reading?”
There’s something about sharing the details of my days that unburdens me from them. So that even the skunk that lives under our chicken coop, and the raccoon that poops in my greenhouse every night are partly villainous but also simply part of the larger story of growing food and a family at 6512 feet.
What’s happening here? Caption needed. Photo by Katie Burford.
And then there’s the deliciousness of you guys. Your e-mails and comments and gifts and recipes and friendships. Thank you for reading 6512 and growing. Some of you have been here since Day 1; some of you generously share this blog with your communities; some of you sponsor this blog and put cash in my pocket; some of you gently correct my grammar; some of you are quiet and anonymous, yet steady followers (though it’d be lovely to hear from you today. Wink wink).
Thank you for being here.
xo
Rachel
I am always here, peering into your teaching world; you not only teach your children, but me as well. I love hearing about Durango life and the microcosm of your garden world as I sit at your feet learning. And I so wish I could have a taste of the vegetal delights created in your kitchen. Keep feeding me, though the fare would be words only.
The picture of the 4 of you in front of the store reminds me of the Fancy Nancy book where Nancy has everyone dress up and they go out to Little Kings for pizza. So fabulous and fancy! :) I love your blog and have shared with many!
The picture of the 4 of you in front of the store reminds me of the Fancy Nancy book where Nancy has everyone dress up and they go out to Little Kings for pizza. So fabulous and fancy! :) I love your blog and have shared with many!
Happy blog birthday! What a wonderful happy bowl it is! And, I too, can get sucked in to reading my own archives for an hour. Glad to know I’m not alone (and that is what these blogs are all about in the end, right, shouting out “I am here, I am here, I am here!” and hearing an answer).
Happy blog birthday! What a wonderful happy bowl it is! And, I too, can get sucked in to reading my own archives for an hour. Glad to know I’m not alone (and that is what these blogs are all about in the end, right, shouting out “I am here, I am here, I am here!” and hearing an answer).
Hi Rachel! I started reading when Nici (dig this chick) mentioned you on her blog and I’ve been hooked ever since! Thanks for sharing your life with all of us. Love, Jaymi
Hi Rachel! I started reading when Nici (dig this chick) mentioned you on her blog and I’ve been hooked ever since! Thanks for sharing your life with all of us. Love, Jaymi
You enrich my life and inspire me, and I thought you should know! Many, many thanks. Jennifer
You enrich my life and inspire me, and I thought you should know! Many, many thanks. Jennifer
I heart you.
Agree!
I heart you.
Agree!
Hello from the Oregon Coast. I am a “quiet and anonymous” follower. Love the intelligence, humor, and humility of your family, garden, and blog. Thank you!
Hello from the Oregon Coast. I am a “quiet and anonymous” follower. Love the intelligence, humor, and humility of your family, garden, and blog. Thank you!
I love your blog. I know i don’t comment enough, but I love coming here for inspiration. Your family is adorable. You do so much, maintain such a cheerful spirit. Keep at it, will come back to the magic bowl to be nourished ;D
I love your blog. I know i don’t comment enough, but I love coming here for inspiration. Your family is adorable. You do so much, maintain such a cheerful spirit. Keep at it, will come back to the magic bowl to be nourished ;D
The picture of Col in his ‘conquer the world’ get up, tube socks, helmet and 1 lensed glasses, with Rose trying to strike an appropriate pose while standing next to her oddly dressed sibling, is my favorite. That is childhood. That is parenthood. Taking the time to notice the treasure in those moments and take a picture. Allowing your kids the freedom to be silly, and courageous and wonderful. I love this blog. Seriously, every time I see that there’s a new post in my blog reader, I settle in, coffee in hand, and devour your posts. I am such a fan of your family, your lifestyle and your writing. If you ever quit this space, I might just have to quit the internet. ;)
The picture of Col in his ‘conquer the world’ get up, tube socks, helmet and 1 lensed glasses, with Rose trying to strike an appropriate pose while standing next to her oddly dressed sibling, is my favorite. That is childhood. That is parenthood. Taking the time to notice the treasure in those moments and take a picture. Allowing your kids the freedom to be silly, and courageous and wonderful. I love this blog. Seriously, every time I see that there’s a new post in my blog reader, I settle in, coffee in hand, and devour your posts. I am such a fan of your family, your lifestyle and your writing. If you ever quit this space, I might just have to quit the internet. ;)
I used to comment on your blog more frequently till wordpress got all weird, but I’m still a faithful reader!
And I totally agree – you do have the funniest kids on the planet.
I used to comment on your blog more frequently till wordpress got all weird, but I’m still a faithful reader!
And I totally agree – you do have the funniest kids on the planet.
Is that Bro in the picture of Rose back in 2007? I thought that old boy passed away well before 2007. I often wonder how long his bones will last buried near the house addition. Skeletal remains always makes for a good homeschool science experiment – just make sure he’s shown the respect he deserves. Greatest cat ever!
-David
Unfortunately, Bro and the kids never intersected. That’s Bee! (AKA Little Bee, or Bee-head) But I’ll always remember how after Greg Oldson moved in and lived with us for about a week, he was like, “Oh. And I have this cat.”
Is that Bro in the picture of Rose back in 2007? I thought that old boy passed away well before 2007. I often wonder how long his bones will last buried near the house addition. Skeletal remains always makes for a good homeschool science experiment – just make sure he’s shown the respect he deserves. Greatest cat ever!
-David
Unfortunately, Bro and the kids never intersected. That’s Bee! (AKA Little Bee, or Bee-head) But I’ll always remember how after Greg Oldson moved in and lived with us for about a week, he was like, “Oh. And I have this cat.”
oh, rach, we’re so so lucky to have you. happy blogversary! love you, yer fam and this blog. as fer the foto caption:
rosie: “mama. i’m going to eat this dog biscuit, but just a tiny nibble, cuz col ate some and i want to eat some, too, ok mama? ok? is that ok?”
rach: “whoa whoa whoa. col ate a dog biscuit?!?”
col: “rooooose! shh!”
dan: “ooookay, kids, let’s just bring it down a notch or two…rach, i’m going to grab us a couple more beers.”
fin.
I hope that is really what happened…. lol for real!
Oh, you know us well dear one. xo
oh, rach, we’re so so lucky to have you. happy blogversary! love you, yer fam and this blog. as fer the foto caption:
rosie: “mama. i’m going to eat this dog biscuit, but just a tiny nibble, cuz col ate some and i want to eat some, too, ok mama? ok? is that ok?”
rach: “whoa whoa whoa. col ate a dog biscuit?!?”
col: “rooooose! shh!”
dan: “ooookay, kids, let’s just bring it down a notch or two…rach, i’m going to grab us a couple more beers.”
fin.
I hope that is really what happened…. lol for real!
Oh, you know us well dear one. xo
Is it something in the September air?
I totally ditched all kinds of deadlines this morning to go out and walk a trail that travels through a marsh, a hardwood forest, and a patch of red-gold prairie in about a single mile.
And then I ditched the goal of getting a quick, healthy, heart-moving walk in and stopped at every bench along the way to write and take photos and notice what was around me. And within one of this morning’s posts to myself, the one titled “ralph bleak memorial bench by the marsh” are these words, written next to an idea for a blog or series of essays I might write, “…inspiration by 6512 and Growing to write in the style of this is what I do and maybe you’ll do it to! with the great joy and occasional vulnerability Rachel shares…”
Returning home, was then totally tickled to see this 3rd anniversary post. It’s that kind of day, I guess. 6512 and Growing is truly a bright spot in the great tides of email flooding my in-box – a sincere thanks for writing and then putting it out into the world so candidly and so well!
Is it something in the September air?
I totally ditched all kinds of deadlines this morning to go out and walk a trail that travels through a marsh, a hardwood forest, and a patch of red-gold prairie in about a single mile.
And then I ditched the goal of getting a quick, healthy, heart-moving walk in and stopped at every bench along the way to write and take photos and notice what was around me. And within one of this morning’s posts to myself, the one titled “ralph bleak memorial bench by the marsh” are these words, written next to an idea for a blog or series of essays I might write, “…inspiration by 6512 and Growing to write in the style of this is what I do and maybe you’ll do it to! with the great joy and occasional vulnerability Rachel shares…”
Returning home, was then totally tickled to see this 3rd anniversary post. It’s that kind of day, I guess. 6512 and Growing is truly a bright spot in the great tides of email flooding my in-box – a sincere thanks for writing and then putting it out into the world so candidly and so well!
Thanks for the lunch-time reading.
Thanks for the lunch-time reading.
“There’s something about sharing the details of my days that unburdens me from them.”
Absolutely, something about both sharing and reading others’ words. And it’s pretty hilarious that you ate the chicken from your original header. I’ll keep reading if you keep writing, deal?
“There’s something about sharing the details of my days that unburdens me from them.”
Absolutely, something about both sharing and reading others’ words. And it’s pretty hilarious that you ate the chicken from your original header. I’ll keep reading if you keep writing, deal?
love, love, love you~
here’s hoping that someday a road trip has us sharing a beer or coffee while the kids run….
xo
s
love, love, love you~
here’s hoping that someday a road trip has us sharing a beer or coffee while the kids run….
xo
s
Great post! I totally dig the anorak your husband is wearing in the “wacky-family.jpg”, can you tell me more about it?
Dave,
That is a jacket Dan sewed from an elk hide he tanned traditionally (brain-tanned). He’s also made vests, moccasins, gaitors, and everyone in the family has an elk blanket on their bed.
xo Rachel
Wow! Dan is a remarkable man. Now I must search your website for information on the elk hide.
Great post! I totally dig the anorak your husband is wearing in the “wacky-family.jpg”, can you tell me more about it?
Dave,
That is a jacket Dan sewed from an elk hide he tanned traditionally (brain-tanned). He’s also made vests, moccasins, gaitors, and everyone in the family has an elk blanket on their bed.
xo Rachel
Wow! Dan is a remarkable man. Now I must search your website for information on the elk hide.
I can only say “Ska!” I want to go to there!
Love & thanks for sharing everything!
I can only say “Ska!” I want to go to there!
Love & thanks for sharing everything!
Almost to 250,000 hits – congrats & thanks for the stories! It makes us feel not so far away!
Almost to 250,000 hits – congrats & thanks for the stories! It makes us feel not so far away!
Happy blog anniversary! Thanks for sharing peaks into your life. You have provided wonderful gifts to those of us on the other side of the screen!
Happy blog anniversary! Thanks for sharing peaks into your life. You have provided wonderful gifts to those of us on the other side of the screen!
This is my first visit here, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. You have a gift for words. I, too, was rereading some of my old words just this morning and was so glad I had put them down. Because I did. Forget, that is. You think you’ll always hang on to the stories of your kids’ childhoods, but they eventually fly away. You’ll never be sorry for recording it all. Thanks for sharing.
This is my first visit here, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. You have a gift for words. I, too, was rereading some of my old words just this morning and was so glad I had put them down. Because I did. Forget, that is. You think you’ll always hang on to the stories of your kids’ childhoods, but they eventually fly away. You’ll never be sorry for recording it all. Thanks for sharing.
Very sweet and sentimental post. Thanks for this look backward.
Very sweet and sentimental post. Thanks for this look backward.
Wow I loved this. Wanted a picture of the shoes Rose was clomping around in and the lego magnificence. Love your writing. Love your family. Thanks for sharing. xo
Embarrassingly, the shoes are not that fancy. I mean, I *did* wear them to my wedding, but if I wore them to the grocery store, no one would bat an eye. Love you too.
Wow I loved this. Wanted a picture of the shoes Rose was clomping around in and the lego magnificence. Love your writing. Love your family. Thanks for sharing. xo
Embarrassingly, the shoes are not that fancy. I mean, I *did* wear them to my wedding, but if I wore them to the grocery store, no one would bat an eye. Love you too.
love to you and that beautiful family of yours! you are the only blog that i subscribe to! i cannot help but think that your rose and my zoe would be fast friends. fancy clothes, dress up shoes, and covered in dirt. ha ha.thank you so much for sharing your days with the world. we appreciate it!
love to you and that beautiful family of yours! you are the only blog that i subscribe to! i cannot help but think that your rose and my zoe would be fast friends. fancy clothes, dress up shoes, and covered in dirt. ha ha.thank you so much for sharing your days with the world. we appreciate it!
happy blogaversary! ha, speaking of stories, you would like the story of the random guy who took up residence at “big daddy’s” house next door (remember that we live in the hood), asked me for some hot water, and a spoon, and a bowl, for his ramen and eventually was cuffed by the BPD and taken who knows where . . .(avi: mama, how come that guys is always in his jammies?) there’s so many good stories to tell and I am glad to read yours!! and one day i hope to take a writing workshop from you! or go to a book tour event, because let’s face it, your book deal is inevitable!!
omg. You live next door to “Big Daddy” and his random, jammie-wearing, ramen-eating friends? Oh Melissa! That is too much.
happy blogaversary! ha, speaking of stories, you would like the story of the random guy who took up residence at “big daddy’s” house next door (remember that we live in the hood), asked me for some hot water, and a spoon, and a bowl, for his ramen and eventually was cuffed by the BPD and taken who knows where . . .(avi: mama, how come that guys is always in his jammies?) there’s so many good stories to tell and I am glad to read yours!! and one day i hope to take a writing workshop from you! or go to a book tour event, because let’s face it, your book deal is inevitable!!
omg. You live next door to “Big Daddy” and his random, jammie-wearing, ramen-eating friends? Oh Melissa! That is too much.
This is the only blog I follow AND its the only one I’ve ever followed! I’m not one to tweet or blog but your writing style and story telling ability engaged me from the start. I have completely enjoyed the experience of seeing your home, garden, animals and family. I hope you’ll keep doing this for a long, long time…
This is the only blog I follow AND its the only one I’ve ever followed! I’m not one to tweet or blog but your writing style and story telling ability engaged me from the start. I have completely enjoyed the experience of seeing your home, garden, animals and family. I hope you’ll keep doing this for a long, long time…
You exude the joyful chaos that is family. Love it. Pure bliss.
You exude the joyful chaos that is family. Love it. Pure bliss.
This is not my first grateful comment here and it always goes more or less along the same lines, but I’ll say it again : thank you for gathering – and sharing – your stories in this magical bowl of yours!
This is not my first grateful comment here and it always goes more or less along the same lines, but I’ll say it again : thank you for gathering – and sharing – your stories in this magical bowl of yours!
Poop deck? Totally hilarious. I would laugh, too.
And yes, I do remember that header from fall 2010. I love that photo. Happy three years!
Poop deck? Totally hilarious. I would laugh, too.
And yes, I do remember that header from fall 2010. I love that photo. Happy three years!
Thank YOU for being here!
Thank YOU for being here!
I love, LOVE that 2012 picture of Col & Rose.
Thank you for being here.
I love, LOVE that 2012 picture of Col & Rose.
Thank you for being here.
i’m envious. so happy for you & your clan…happy that you will always have this blog. such a gift. xxoo
i’m envious. so happy for you & your clan…happy that you will always have this blog. such a gift. xxoo
I love you
I love you
Quietly sending my love always!
-Rachel and her many boys :)
Quietly sending my love always!
-Rachel and her many boys :)
not my first comment, though i’m often quietly laughing from my side of the screen as i always get a kick out of your exploits. happy weekend to you all!
not my first comment, though i’m often quietly laughing from my side of the screen as i always get a kick out of your exploits. happy weekend to you all!
A quick hello! I’ve been noticing the date these last couple days and reminiscing too. Today marks our two-year farming anniversary and soon the same for our blog. It seems time flies yet on the other hand it seems as if we’ve been at it forever. Congrats on all of your work and dedication to this blog, and thanks for sharing :)
A quick hello! I’ve been noticing the date these last couple days and reminiscing too. Today marks our two-year farming anniversary and soon the same for our blog. It seems time flies yet on the other hand it seems as if we’ve been at it forever. Congrats on all of your work and dedication to this blog, and thanks for sharing :)
i’m here, following along as always, but due to the one-handed typing thing, not commenting as much. my lap is always full of wriggling six month old baby boy. and it is so. good. i am grateful that you write your stories and share them with the world. i feel like i have a friend in durango. ;)
i’m here, following along as always, but due to the one-handed typing thing, not commenting as much. my lap is always full of wriggling six month old baby boy. and it is so. good. i am grateful that you write your stories and share them with the world. i feel like i have a friend in durango. ;)
i’m so happy i discovered your blog. thinking it was through ivey’s? maybe? not that it matters, i’m here following along and enjoying the ride. thanks for everything you put into this space!
i’m so happy i discovered your blog. thinking it was through ivey’s? maybe? not that it matters, i’m here following along and enjoying the ride. thanks for everything you put into this space!
Hi Rachel,
I’m still here, since the beginning. I’ll keep reading every single post for as long as you continue to send them. Your writing is wonderful. Thank you for sharing so much of your amazing life and family.
Hi Rachel,
I’m still here, since the beginning. I’ll keep reading every single post for as long as you continue to send them. Your writing is wonderful. Thank you for sharing so much of your amazing life and family.
photo caption: Col says: next round’s on me! xoxo
Undoubtably! (He surely owes us a round).
photo caption: Col says: next round’s on me! xoxo
Undoubtably! (He surely owes us a round).
I adore this blog because you make me laugh and you keep it real. xo
I adore this blog because you make me laugh and you keep it real. xo
I visit your blog pretty much every day as part of my unwinding ritual (flaking out on the couch after work, dinner, and wrestling the two youngest out of three kids to bed). I appreciate your writing, your sense of humour, your candidness about farming and family life, the awesomeness of your slice of life, and your lack of pretension. All the best to you and your magical family. I hope you continue with this blog for many years to come!
I visit your blog pretty much every day as part of my unwinding ritual (flaking out on the couch after work, dinner, and wrestling the two youngest out of three kids to bed). I appreciate your writing, your sense of humour, your candidness about farming and family life, the awesomeness of your slice of life, and your lack of pretension. All the best to you and your magical family. I hope you continue with this blog for many years to come!
Hi, I’ve been here a few times and enjoy the lightness…. Thanks for that! I wish my blog were more story-oriented, like yours, but i end up just putting photos on for friends and family to see. HOPEFULLY I will remember the funny things my kids say! Photo Caption: “No you can not dip your cookie into my beer!”
Hi, I’ve been here a few times and enjoy the lightness…. Thanks for that! I wish my blog were more story-oriented, like yours, but i end up just putting photos on for friends and family to see. HOPEFULLY I will remember the funny things my kids say! Photo Caption: “No you can not dip your cookie into my beer!”
Hi Rachel, I don’t comment often but really enjoy your writing, photos, recipes and everything else!
Hi Rachel, I don’t comment often but really enjoy your writing, photos, recipes and everything else!
Hello from the Ontario Canada. I too, am a “quiet and anonymous” follower. Your sense of humour and unique storytelling style is wonderful. Thank you for sharing your life and photos and please don’t stop anytime soon!
Hello from the Ontario Canada. I too, am a “quiet and anonymous” follower. Your sense of humour and unique storytelling style is wonderful. Thank you for sharing your life and photos and please don’t stop anytime soon!
I am in conversation with a couple of people about either cooking and gardens and parenting, but by having a blog you are my most consistent and well rounded reference point, really. So you’ve got me eating weeds and fermenting a thing or two and not feeling too bad about needing a nap at 9 a.m. I might have thought of/done these things but not without feeling more alone. Thank you.
I am in conversation with a couple of people about either cooking and gardens and parenting, but by having a blog you are my most consistent and well rounded reference point, really. So you’ve got me eating weeds and fermenting a thing or two and not feeling too bad about needing a nap at 9 a.m. I might have thought of/done these things but not without feeling more alone. Thank you.
Your blog just makes me happy. I am glad you are out there doing what you do.
Your blog just makes me happy. I am glad you are out there doing what you do.
huzzah for 3 years! way to go rachel! i love your take on what a blog space is. yes, it provides such a great container. i like the magical bowl metaphor. i never once thought there was any grammar to correct here, but then the funniest thing, in the very post where col made a convention, rosie conferred, and i think what she did there was confirm/concur. i can’t decide if you did that intentionally, so i don’t see this as correcting anything. it’s perfect exactly how it is, as are you. xoxoxoxoxo
ah shit. that’s a bonafide grammatical error.
huzzah for 3 years! way to go rachel! i love your take on what a blog space is. yes, it provides such a great container. i like the magical bowl metaphor. i never once thought there was any grammar to correct here, but then the funniest thing, in the very post where col made a convention, rosie conferred, and i think what she did there was confirm/concur. i can’t decide if you did that intentionally, so i don’t see this as correcting anything. it’s perfect exactly how it is, as are you. xoxoxoxoxo
ah shit. that’s a bonafide grammatical error.