The Hog & Hive

05/17/2021

COVID-19 test wait shenanigans 🤪

08/29/2020

I remember, very clearly, saying to an advanced woodworking friend, “I could never...” Even though I’m a highly functioning artist, I could never fathom woodworking would be in my library of art. And a decade later here is am... doing a thing. A thing that requires a miter saw, an air compressor (and changing out multiple guns with multiple gauges and uses), a vice, and a table saw. Turns out... we’re all capable of surmounting our “impossible,” as long as we’re willing to try 🖕🏻
@ The Hog & Hive

08/14/2020

I look around my property at all of the things our forebearers curated with us in mind: the 100 year old vineyard, the walnut trees, the orchards... this barn. We’ve always been struck by her magnanimity. She’s the biggest reason we fought for this property. We’re not entirely sure of her birthdate, but we’re pretty confident in saying she’s at least 125+ years old. In my bones I feel an obligation to resurrect her to her original condition. That thoughtful, beefy construction of yesteryear. We’ve saved for years, just for her. When we’re done, she’s going to stand strong and proud for another 125+ years, and that’s a legacy I’m willing to bust my ass (blood, sweat, and DEFINITELY tears) to hopefully leave to someone, unknown to us, down the line, who will worship her magnanimity and value her history the way we always have.

11/09/2019

Smith family jam sesh

11/08/2019

You know how you have that running dialogue in your brain, and how every little while you check in with your thoughts and then go back to whatever you were doing? Well, I checked in on mine, and the conversation stopped me dead in my tracks and made me throw my head back in real, belly laughter. I’m getting ready to mop, doing all the things you do: pull everything off the floor (plants, shoe basket, etc.), vacuum, final sweep. And suddenly I realize I’m like, really jazzed to mop. TO MOP. Wait, what? Well, this is where I checked into that background conversation, and I realized I’m jazzed because I washed, dried, and reinstalled the mop head so I’LL BE MOPPING WITH A CLEAN MOP. 😂😂 A CLEAN MOP HEAD THRILLS ME

09/24/2019

I found a gaggle (a murder, a cacophony, a swarm?) of gray hairs the other day. And the BEST part?! I told Michael, and his response — VERBATIM — “That’s AWESOME! Are you gonna keep them?” Yes. Yes, I am. I grew up with a faded, worn picture of an old haggard man in a worn top hat, with a caption that read, “Never regret growing older, ‘tis a privilege denied to many.” And I take that seriously, most definitely after losing my Dad at His-Young-Age. So yes, the 👏🏻 GRAYER 👏🏻 THE 👏🏻 BETTER 👏🏻

09/20/2019

Not a Michelangelo sculpture, but I made a thing for our animals that holds a larger quantity of hay. They seem to approve. Also, I ❤️ and so does my flock 🐑🐐🐕🐓🐥🐖

08/12/2019

Unicorns are cool but and are too. The future is 💪🏻💪🏻 @ The Hog & Hive

07/31/2019

“Look Mommy! It’s your garden!”

07/22/2019

Uncle Buddy took Avileigh to Lake Fair, then to The Lion King, and judging by how much she woke up last night to tell us about the different things she did, I would venture to guess it was her best day of summer yet.

06/17/2019

Given the wretched shape this property was in, adopted the motto, “A little less sh*tty every day.” This weekend marked a huuuge leap forward by finally giving the guesthouse a new outfit. There’s still quite a bit left to do but look at how gorgeous she is!

06/14/2019