Meet me in Moscow! (Idaho, that is)

It’s a hometown book signing! I will be signing copies of my new book, Glamping with MaryJane, at Verde, a gardening/home decor store located in the Palouse Mall, this Saturday from 1-2 p.m. Don’t miss out, as there will be chocolate and goodies galore! There will also be live music by Garrett Clevenger. The Palouse Mall is located at 1850 W. Pullman Road.

If you can’t make it this weekend, I will also be at a signing next Wednesday, 7:30 – 8:30 pm, at BookPeople, located at 521 South Main Street, Moscow, Idaho. Get yer’ Glamping books signed in time for Christmas.

Why was the chicken on T.V.?

I was channel surfing (rare) looking for some quality programming the other day when I glimpsed a lady holding a chicken (even rarer!). My curiosity was piqued, so I lingered for a second or two to discover that there is a show called Redneck Island … (funnier still) and this lady, Catherine, brought her chicken, Pearl, with her.

My pet chicken, Ginger, and I cooed as we …

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Ladies Night Out

Oh yes, it’s ladies night
And the feeling’s right
Oh yes, it’s ladies night

… at Moscow Building Supply. Yes!

Picture this, ladies …

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“Farm It Maybe?”

Another funny ‘farmin’ spoof. This one is a mimic of Carly Rae Jepsen’s hit, “Call me Maybe?” This kid is super cute!

Remembering Helen

Helen Butters, 1920–2006

“When our eyes see our hands doing the work of our hearts, the circle of creation is completed inside us, the doors of our souls fly open, and love steps forth to heal everything in sight.”
— Michael Bridge

To gather my thoughts for composing what I would say at my mother’s memorial, I needed to create a space where I could work from my heart. Unbelievably blessed at birth—Helen Butters for a mother—I learned by her example how to find that place long before I was old enough to know what she was teaching me.

Before yoga and meditation and …

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Remembering Allen

Allen J. Butters, 1918-2003

With permission from Judy, Scott, Kent and Rex, my sister and brothers, I was honored to represent them at my father’s funeral and sketch the life of Allen Butters, our dear, sweet, playful, amazing father. I’d like to enlarge my father’s circle of friends and share his life map with you — my readers.

Thirty-four years ago, when I was pregnant with my daughter Megan and living on a remote ranch in Idaho, Dad and Mom came up to help out. During the first two days of their five-day stay, Dad got busy and oiled my sewing machine, my bike, really anything that had moving metal parts, mended garden hoses, dug potatoes AND carved his name in several discreet places for me to discover later on. Mom sewed baby clothes, mopped floors, did some canning, and helped me make cheese and butter with the milk from my cow. Underneath all my busyness, I was troubled and uncertain.

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Little House Thanksgiving

If I say

Laura Ingalls Wilder

and your heart skips a beat,

we’re on the same page.

Now, I have a question for you:

Do you remember Laura mentioning Thanksgiving in any of the Little House books?

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Wolf attack!

If I had a hammer …

or …

an axe?

Yikes!

I just heard a news brief from the far reaches of Russia that rivals any fairytale those Grimm guys ever concocted …

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Hair of the Dog

My big, bad, keeps-wolves-away, soft-hearted Tulip. I now have four skeins of spun yarn from her fur and Saphira’s, a Siberian Husky. I’m thinking perhaps a vest or a hat? No, silly, not for Tulip, but for me.

photo-of-the-day