best. cutest. smartest. ever!

That's right- i didn't forget about this thing (just forgot about my camera for a while...)

and since getting back to ohio- i've been doing lots of sleeping, sitting, reading--- all pretty non-blog worthy things. But i've also been doing a lot of hanging out with family and friends.

Generally I forget to take photos of such lovely things- unless of course- those family members happen to be the best, cutest, and smartest kids. ever. (ever!)

nels- is perhaps the biggest fan of the true cost of coal there is. he's super content asking questions about it for hours--- way beyond my attention span to keep answering him. So, while his brother colored---- he studied. and asked. and looked. and studied.

see? the cutest!


hot chocolate for a snack? well--- whipped cream anyway.

And when i got the coal banner in the mail (woo!), we naturally made a tent out of it...

inside the tent...



imagine this- happening for about 45 min straight. finn could barely stand up he was so dizzy. who knew parachute people could be so much fun? (well- finn and nels did i guess).

My mother and I met Colin and Rick- and their babies- to go to the santa train in elaware. but, we had to wait in line for a long while (hence- the well bundled miss Kayla)

my mama and her granbaby

all aboard the train!

cheezin it

just had their train tickets punched

kayla and colin-- checking out the model trains

trainssssss!

Nels delivered his letter (and his brothers letter) to santa. Finn asked for toys, candy and books. Nels had a much more specific list--- some highlights? a remote control dinosaur (or boat... either one) and toothpaste (clearly- what 5 year old doesn't ask for that for christmas?)

Kayle totally hung out with santa--- unlike finn who would have nothing of it

finny in a pretty sweet conductor hat

Time to bake cookies! yes!

First up, sugar cookies

Kayla can make them, too

stars, hearts, and christmas trees

icing cookies

green, yellow, and purple frosting---- purple was by far the most popular choice.

very, very thoughtful

so much work, so very tired...

Mixing dough for snickerdoodles

squishing the snickerdoodles into cookies

and of course--- after baking so many cookies- you have to eat some, too!

so delicious!

thats all for now- but you can pretty much bet on more photos soon...

the last leg

Well, tour is over. I'm currently in Columbus, GA and we're all resting after a long weekend of cross-pollinating at the School of Americas Watch mobilization. We've been on tour since Appalachia Rising, and since tour has started, I've probably traveled more than I have in my collective life up to that point.

I believe (though, it's hard to remember) I spent time in 12 states- Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts, Rhodes Island, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Woah.

After Michaela left us in NYC, we headed to Dickenson College in PA, and then off to Swathmore, outside of Philadelphia. We had dinner with a up and coming artist collective at the school- who is currently planning a mural about local and sustainable food in their dining area- and had a really great show there. Awkwardly, we stayed in a very fancy hotel-type-place.

We were very out of place and the fellow visitors had a hard time believing we were supposed to be there.

It could have something to do with our weird habits of rolling posters in public spaces...

We also had a chance to check out their very beautiful campus- including the outdoor amphitheater, rose garden, and very elegant buildings.

We headed to a community art space in Wilmington, DE- where they had our posters up as art in their gallery and many other amazing pieces of art (like drawings of bees!)

It was a small, but great crowd.

In baltimore, erin and i both got hair cuts and stayed with Sara and her partner.

We left baltimore, and got to have breakfast with my Aunt in Rockville, Maryland before she headed out of town. We were able to stay there for 2 days, and do a show near by at the University of Maryland, as well as see my uncle. We also got to see (some of) the Appalachian tour- group photo- horrah!

A.
B.
(hahah!)

Before leaving, we switched cars. Sam and Recent said bye to Claire- allowing Claire to ensure Erin and I's safe and un-broken down travels for the rest of tour (plus- when it rains, there isn't the constant fear of the duct tape/ply wood/tarp back window leaking and destroying all of our posters!).
And Erin and I said good riddance to little red (just kidding- little red treated us well and we tried to be stewards of the truck- making sure to get it a new tire, an oil chance, check all fluids- and even get to windshield wipers) before sending it home to Maine, to be back with Nicole and the rest of the hive.

We stayed with Erins lovely grandparents in Greensborow, NC for a couple days. Erins grandpa- 'bamboom'- played us some music on the bagpipes.

And Erin gave her nanna and some family friends and relatives a small kitchen table presentation- which- they loved.

Erin and I stopped to watch the sunset for a bit on the way to her fathers in Charleston, SC.

I don't know who would write 'erin smells'- but some things... are undeniable.

Drawing in the sand.

Brea bought erin and i wax mustaches- grape flavored- which we tried on together while packing the cars (with the midwest tour- Sophie, Tyler, and Nikki!!!!) outside of the home of an ally in Atlanta GA.

Yup, that's a dollar in the toilet in our hotel room in columbus, ga. I think we all need to drink more water...

The six of us- Nikki, Sophie, Brea, Erin, Tyler and I- all set up bright and early saturday morning for the SOA watch mobilization.

Last moment sign making and patch prepping...

followed by many hours of story telling...

and more story telling. in between- talking and listening to folks about the beehive, coal, war, free trade... the works. Its a pretty strange event- but it was fun to be there with the beehive and chat a million and two people up about the work.

And now- we're all in the hotel letting things wind down and getting ready to all head out on our various adventures- florida, new orleans, machias... and ohio. And while tour has been fun (and challenging, educational, empowering, scary, motivating... and many other things) the idea of sleeping in one place for a while sounds really nice- particularly with the knowledge that when I do ground my feet, it will be in Ohio with all my family and many wonderful friends.