Camping with my In-Laws

Last week was Axel’s Outdoor Ed field trip and I was dreading the prospect of having to once again pitch our tent onto a soggy manure field. I was also feeling a desperate need to bond with Axel, whose melt chocolate sweet eyes have turned so angry lately because I am not fun anymore and always working. I...

The Sorrel River Ranch in Moab

(Me, Patty and Seana) Here in the mountains April brings a mixed bag of muddy trails and major snowstorms that dump many of us into a slump and that is when visions of red rock arches, fins and pinnacles infiltrate our minds and our bodies yearn for the adrenaline rush of mountain biking in Moab. The...

Escaping With My Children To The Desert

My mother answered my phone call and listened intently as I told her that I was going through another low with my writing. I read to her the first line in Leo Tolstoy’s book, Anna Karenina, “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way”. I whined to her that I was...

Hold On To Your Camper A Flash Flood Is Coming

As Brevitt and I emerged from the Canyonlands backpacking trip I had to mentally prepare myself for the next phase of the trip. I had rallied Wade and three other families to come meet us in Moab for more camping, thus appointing myself as the official scout for the perfect camp site. I have always longed...

The Canyonlands: Hiking with My Nine Year Old

Brevitt at the start of our trek into the Canyonlands. Desert rocks soaking up the rain Last week I loaded up Vini-Man with a tent, backpacks and a first aid kit the size of Paris Hilton’s hand bag and took off for the Canyonlands in Utah for Brevitt’s outdoor ed trip. Unfortunately, I needed to take...

Going On Outdoor Ed Trips With Your Children

“I’m bleeding mommy”, yelled Brevitt  as I typed away at my computer. “I’ll be there in a second”, I yelled not quite ready to handle yet another injury. I shot up running when Axel came in a few seconds later and accused me of caring more about my computer than I did about Brevitt who was...