Landfill Harmonics: a creative approach to reaching impoverished youth in Paraguay.
03
Apr
2013
Selected as Finalist in Seal Press Publishing Contest
I’m honored to be one of five finalists in the Seal Press Publishing Contract Contest. The contest was co-sponsored by She Writes, an online community of women writers and invited submissions of full book proposals for a chance to win a publishing contract with Seal Press. I submitted a proposal for Night of Vishnu: A [...]Read More
01
Dec
2012
The Danger of a Single Story
In this TED talk, Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Adichie, speaks so eloquently about the kinds of stories I’d like to write and see more of:
08
Feb
2012
Writing With Two Eyes
One of the weights I carry from my academic days is a fear that in telling my story of living and working in Nepal, I’ll be appropriating The Other. As weights go, it could be a lot worse; I’m not complaining. But I’m always delighted and relieved to find others grappling with the same question in creative ways….Read More
05
Feb
2012
Shaking the Nut Bucket…
I’m trying to figure out why this story on the extreme sport of yak skiing appeals so much today. It’s certainly not the sport itself; I have no desire to be towed uphill by a yak racing downhill….Read More
24
Jun
2011
Sweet Spot Up the Hill
After several years, we’re still exploring our acreage in northeastern Oregon. We’ve vaguely named some places through habitual reference: The Rocky Knoll, The Frog Pond. But there are other special places we just call “sweet spots.”Read More
14
Apr
2011
Honorably Mentioned
I began writing poetry several years ago and still think of myself as a literary fiction writer, not a poet. Not really. Poetry is something I dabble in and play with. Even after publishing a few poems, I still hesitate to call myself a poet. Yesterday, I learned that I received second honorable mention in [...]Read More
08
Mar
2010
Memories of International Women’s Day in Nepal
Four months after I gave birth to my son in Nepal, I celebrated my very first International Women’s Day in 1988 in Gunjanagar, a village in western Chitwan District. It was also Gunjangar’s first time to organize an event for that day. I describe the scene in Sacred Threads, my ethnographic memoir-in-progress….Read More
02
Feb
2010
Song Inspires Nostalgia for Anthropology
A contemporary song reminds me of all that inspired me to become an anthropologist eons ago….Read More
28
Jan
2010
Strange Conjunctions
Within 24 hours, Howard Zinn and J.D. Salinger die, and Steve Jobs announces the iPad (which — menstrual jokes aside — may or may not revolutionize how we interact with the written word). I’m too busy trying to meet end-of-month writing deadlines to meditate on these odd conjunctions. And perhaps writing is the best way [...]Read More
24
Dec
2009
Grumpy Bears Unite
I feel like a grumpy, old bear this holiday season. I don’t want to put my energy into decking halls. I avoid shopping as much as possible. I have no idea what to get anybody, and the muzak playing everywhere makes me want to poke holes in my ear drums….Read More
20
Nov
2009
Western Larch: Species of the Week
It was hard to leave our yurt in northeastern Oregon with Western larch (Larix occidentalis) in full copper-yellow glory. But when the flanks of the mountains there blaze with what looks like a procession of candles, it’s time to get ready for a harsh winter or move to lower elevations….Read More
10
Nov
2009
Ama: My Greatest Teacher
Growing food this summer in northeast Oregon, I relied on all that I’ve learned over the years from books, conversations, observations, and personal experience. But I probably heard Ama’s voice more than any other….Read More
14
Oct
2009
Canyon mist, Northeast Oregon
30
Jul
2009
Walla Walla Sweets
In other gardens, I haven’t had much luck with bulbing onions. Rationing bed space in small spaces, I lavished most of my attention on more flashy vegetables: tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, corn. Walla Walla Sweet and friends: destined for the grill. But this year with plenty of space, I tried several different varieties of bulbing onions. [...]Read More
26
Jul
2009
Harvesting Garlic
I planted fifteen pounds of organic garlic last October and finished harvesting it this morning. Given that my soil needs more improvement (mostly a few more years of working in organic matter), I’m pleased with the results. Two Northwest heirlooms: Inchelium Red Nootka Rose I’m curing some of the garlic under the roof of the [...]Read More
18
Jul
2009
Two Moods of the Upper Deschutes
Upper Deschutes above Benham Falls: Benham Falls: TweetShareRead More
08
Jul
2009
Chipping Sparrow: Species of the Week
A number of small, brown songbirds have enlivened my spring and early summer on a daily basis. One is the chipping sparrow (Spizella passerina) [...] Read More
08
Jun
2009
Furr
I retired from teaching at an independent high school several years ago to free up time for writing and growing food. One of the things I miss most about it is the connection to all the wild creativity that comes from younger generations. Several days ago, I attended the graduation of students I taught in [...]Read More
01
May
2009
Apology to Dancing Parrots
Yesterday, I wrote a poem, “Thanks for the Feathers,” around some bird metaphors, and I used the parrot to embody some of my self-doubt about what I’ve written over the last month. “I mostly fear the parrot, preening her witty feathers, nodding her cocky head to the songs of others.” That was before I saw [...]Read More
