we considered a field and bought it!

that's the text message that Luke sent me as he handed over the check to the former owner of 2 acres of land in New Albany, IN.

we are land owners.

we are (almost) farmers. we're on the cusp of a lot of changes - who knows what life will be like for us? we've never started our own business, we've never farmed 2 acres of land before (though we have gardened every square inch of green earth we could get our hands on), and neither of us have ever had a job that quits with the onset of winter. but we've also never felt so ready and certainly didn't believe that we would start living the dream so quickly.

we went out to the farm on Sunday to do a little planning and took a few pictures. I'm excited to share the changes in our life with you and am eager to show you how this plot of land will change as we get our hands in the dirt!

the Les and Alison Groces

As their time back in the States rapidly comes to a close, here is a post dedicated to them: Les, Alison, Marea, Joshua, Hannes, and Titus. We've enjoyed lots of sweet time with them since they arrived in August. For me, meeting them was a huge step in becoming a Groce, and I am even more in love with my husband's family for having them a part of it. These photos were taken one autumn afternoon when i nipped over for some play time and later found ourselves still there for dinner and bedtime stories...

Joshua, Alison, and Hannes.

Marea wrastlin' with Rue. I think Rue was actually exhausted at the end of our play time.

Titus chasing Alison around with a huge stick.



Dad's home!


Hannes decided that I should sit in his lap for the rest of our story time. And, boy, is he an animated story-teller:




Bed-time hugs.

We'll miss our family. All the kids will be so big the next time we see them! We might even have kids! Luke and I have really savored this season with Les, Alison, and Co. They've stepped in with the rest of the family in helping us make big decisions, dream about the future, and find contentment where we are right now. We've listened to great stories, read countless books, feasted on glorious gourmet meals (courtesy of Chef Les and Chef Luke - though some credit should go to the Ebelskiver for being an amazing addition to any home), and stayed out until 2 am laughing and talking.

Thanksgiving with the Groces is next and you know there's bound to be some killer food and photos. Until then,
kvg

the obligatory autumn post

I love it. Last wednesday I had a day off from work and started it off, thanks to my sweet Luke, with breakfast in bed. After he ate (in 2 minutes) and rushed out the door to work, I took Rue on a walk in our beautiful backyard park. I think it's safe to say that we are both proud to be a part of this neighborhood. It can be a hard neighborhood for many folks, including us, but there is a lot to savor in this place. I've learned to look for what it has to offer: what is beautiful and what is ugly rubbing shoulders; the darkness grappling with the light.

I realized recently that Luke and I are not really in any position to argue with Louisville right now. We have a house that we're doing some real grown-up repairs on, a couple of acres across the river we want to buy, and neighbors that we're coming to know. I walk the streets of this neighborhood every day - and I imagine the day when it's us who have lived in this neighborhood for 15 years, when it's not new and unfamiliar anymore. Then maybe we will see, from our kitchen window in the Winter or front porch in the Spring, the changes that happen subtly over time. That's why we're here. It's hard to imagine the things that can come and almost even harder to remember to look for it.

Perhaps, in the future, the shouts and the traffic and the sirens will become normal to us. Perhaps this neighborhood will swell with love. Perhaps the young men will play football in the Fall and hold good jobs and have good manners and love the women they're with.


It's my first Fall in this house, with my husband and our new life. My pots and pans shudder with each weight-bearing truck that passes us on Oak Street. The branches of the tree in our neighbor's backyard shakes it's leaves like golden snow from a burdened winter cloud. The men in this neighborhood, black and white, do their work with cigarettes still in their mouths. Such a man came over to me today, toothless and serene, his eyes as dark as his face, as I tried to lift the front end of my car over a 5 gallon bucket wedged underneath. He walked purposefully toward the tire and lifted. I noticed he had on a gold wedding ring, a plastic Stop 'n Go bag in his hand, and a dark blue worker's uniform with a name tag I couldn't read. I snatched the bucket and it was over instantly. I thanked him twice and he walked away, my neighbor for a moment.

panoramarama

luke recently acquired a new phone. it's similar to those iphones and smartphones and whatnot - which he loves, but i have no great jealousy over. EXCEPT that he has a panoramic feature on his phone. we used this quite a bit in chicago and have begun "panoramic picture sunday" with his family over lunch. here are a few of the results (consequently, you'll get a peek at what we've been up to...):







oh the fun!
more to come.
with love,
katherine

beirut by the lake

After some recent job transitions for Luke and stepping back into the busy-ness of Fall for both of us, we decided we'd kick off this new season with...a vacation.
we woke up this morning, fed the chickens and the dog, locked the doors and started the dishwasher and drove straight up North to Chicago. We skirted the city on Lake Shore Drive, taking in all the runners and bikers and fog-hugged towers to pull in to Metropolis Coffee, where there was, wonderfully, a cozy couch waiting for us.
Here's to a weekend full of relaxation, refreshment, enjoying one another, and blowing a month's worth of budgeted coffee and fun money in one weekend.

here are some things

we fell in love.


we got married.


we went away with each other.




we came back.


we have a pup

we have chickens


he works on a farm, where I sometimes come and work alongside him (and toss rotten strawberries at his back). and sometimes our sweet nephews come and help.





we cook for one another




and that's pretty much what's going on. :)