Jenna, at A Light Inside recommended me for a "versitile blog" award, which requires I write seven interesting things about myself and pass it on to fifteen other blogs. I don't know of fifteen other blogs, but I thought I'd post the interesting things anyway. I've never really been able to resist talking or writing about myself - any excuse is pure enjoyment.

1. Most interesting for my right now is the baby I'm carrying. After three years of marriage, my husband and I are expecting our first child and we are overcome with the blessing - and overwhelmed with "Things we'd like done before the baby comes". I'm grateful that I've remained much more physically capable than I expected to be at this stage of pregnancy, and I can't help but rejoice in my strength as I de-stump the garden, haul wood, and burn brush piles.

2. I live entirely off the gird, in a yurt, and apart from occasional cravings for a big, deep bathtub, I am entirely happy with it. We have huge plans for our land, and eventual "real house" but for the present, and the not-too-distant future, we have only modest desires: a driveway that can be driven on consistently, a garden, chickens, and a well.

3. I'm eagerly anticipating my post-pregnancy tattoo. Paritially because I love getting tattoos, and partially because I know our tattoo-artist will be thrilled to see the baby! He's an amazing man with land and five kids of his own.

4. I have a tendency to forget to be tackful when in discussion. I'm much better at writing kindly than I am at speaking without being dismissive.

5. I would much rather have my beautiful dishes smashed by careless users than use plastic dishes. Which, I suppose is why visiting children wander my house with handmade, pottery espresso mugs and why my own favorite mugs often end up lacking handles from trips in the car, or in my purse, to places that don't have nice dishes.

6. If I could change anything in my past, it would be my fashion sense in the first two years of college. In other words, I don't have a lot of regrets.

7. Cyganeria is a Polish word, meaning artistic bohemia. It applies a good deal to my life: Art being the pursuit of beauty, and bohemian meaning the unconvential life. I think it is Rilke, my favorite poet, who says "Be for one day unfashionable, and you will see how much eternity is in you." I am striving to see, each day, if I can't grow that bit of eternity, until it fills me completely.

Blessings!