Dear Ones —

It’s been a year since I last took to writing you a letter. It has been quite a year of undoing and rebuilding.

We sold our house last Christmas, and by early spring, we had moved into a fixer-upper in the woods. We spent the rest of the year clearing brush and dead trees in an aspen grove, salvaging rotting windows, painting the house, replacing the septic system, and giving the house a makeover on a shoestring. Dave learned to use a chainsaw, and I now know the quiet (but rare) satisfaction of swinging an axe with minimal effort and seeing the log split in two. 

Here are some pictures. Who doesn’t love a good before and after?  

The house is set at an elevation a little over 7600ft. I learned to bake at elevation and last night finally made a sourdough that made my heart sing. Living at elevation is no joke; sleeping or digesting are harder. The tomatoes I planted in our sun room took from April to December to bear fruit. To make matters more exciting, while bedrooms have heaters, our living room, kitchen and dining area are heated by a wood stove. Mornings are cold, but there is a built-in morning meditation in building a fire. Best done an hour before the kids are up. 

The drive to school is longer now, but we take an unpaved road and watch herds of elk graze from winter through summer. 

There is a little pond in the yard. Let’s just say there is a learning curve to taking proper care of it. Salamanders live in it. Moose come by in the summer to cool off (and break the pump). Bears jump in to try to catch the salamanders.

We did adopt a dog—meet Kit!—to bark when wildlife is around, so the kids can play and be alerted to come inside when the wild inhabitants of the land are present.

So—are you happier now? Have you figured it out? You might be asking.

Well, there is truth to the saying, “Wherever you go, there you are.” I’m here to report and confirm that your baggage travels with you.

I am, however, a big fan of choosing your problems when we can.

• I’d rather be grumpy about a cold house and having to make a fire than about Project 2025 taking hold.

• I’d rather worry about my kids cutting themselves with a whittling knife (they do wear gloves) than about them training their brains for fast dominance with video games.

• I’d rather be annoyed by the squirrel teasing our dog than by cars driving too fast on residential streets.

• I’d rather be vigilant about sliding into a ditch at 25 mph on a country road than about crashing on an icy highway at 55.

See, our brains are designed to worry and stay on alert—it gives us an evolutionary advantage. I want to choose what I worry about.

The things that have changed for the better last year (our move to the woods has likely something to do with these): 

• I brought my art practice back to life, playing with clay, drawing and returning to writing poetry.

• I stopped overthinking my career. When the kids’ school asked me to fill in for a toddler teacher on medical leave, I said yes without hesitation. Teaching in a toddler classroom for three months taught me so much—more on this in a future letter.

• Dave and I have reconnected and, dare I say, fallen back in love. More on this too, when the insights feel ripe.

• Loving the shoestring remodel challenge. Schools I considered going to before I landed in an econ major were interior design or journalism. Just ask me about stick-on tile or paint!

• Lastly, I am resurrecting this letter-writing practice with you.

Some things worth sharing

 🐰 Shall we, Alice? 🕳️

A random list of things that brought joy into our lives:

🕳️ On our drives to and from school, we listen to audiobooks. The Chronicles of Narnia series are a true joy and so engaging for the whole family. The writing is beautiful, the lessons soul-building, and the kids’ vocabulary is now quite amusing and impressive, with name-calling like pontoons and the use of the words rather and presently. Even if you don’t have kids, the books are a balm for the heart. 
Also, the Secret Garden! 

🕳️ Notable books (audio or read):
- The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth by Zoë Schlanger,
- Debt: The First 5,000 Years by anthropologist David Graeber about debt as foundation of early economies, debtor-creditor relationship as it shaped societies, religion, and concepts like "guilt" and "redemption". Fascinating!
- others, in no particular order: Greenlights, Us, Lion Tracker’s Guide to Life, The Life Impossible, Midnight Library, Existential Kink, Wild Mothering, No Pressure No Diamonds, Women Who Run With The Wolves

🕳️ Podcasts; Topics I’ve been circling lately: Hypnosis & Parenting, Fawning, Peri&Menopause, Inner Path, Vaccines, Giving/Receiving, Why Men Don’t Practice Somatics

And because life keeps moving forward—

2026 offerings

I’m debating homeschooling Leo next school year, so to keep fall and winter more open, I’m packing the first half of the year with offerings I’d normally spread out.

Here’s what’s taking shape:

• MotherCircle - in Person, Carbondale CO, Fridays, Jan 30-Apr 10

• Pelvic Floor Yoga Therapy - In Person and Online, meeting every two weeks - Feb-May

• Yoga Therapy for Depression and Anxiety - In Person and Online, meeting every two weeks - Feb-May

• RETREAT! I have been planning this for years! Labor Day Weekend, Sep 4-7, Carbondale CO: Rebirthing breathwork, Somatic exploration, Core belief updates, hot springs sessions and more.

Thank you for reading and for being part of this circle.

As the year turns, I wish you problems you choose, worries that feel worth tending, and moments of aliveness that surprise you.

With love,
Vanda