meeting mania in machias!

For the past two weeks, I've been squirreled away in the delightful winter wonderland that is also known as machias. And while it was snowy and delightful outside (one night, it got down to -8!), mostly we hung out inside the hive to look back at 2010 and look forward to 2011 (and beyond!).

I neglected to take photos for the most part- so have stolen them from mattie, recent, and matt (thanks!)

On the final travel leg, we had a car full of people (7 of us, i think) and our things- and then stopped at trader joes for a major stock up. So Nikki has some extra cushion for the ride home (only about 6 hours left in the trip at that point).

We created a whole new world- called stickyland- where all bees could make a detailed list of all the tasks we do, so that we can work towards a more even distribution of labor by passing on tasks from people with too many to people with too few.

Making stickies
sharing back with the group about stickyland

new bee caucus

winter time beach! it was a first for me... so pretty.

skipping rocks on jasper beach on one of the few breaks...

Lists and lists...

Note takin' (all the time)

meetings may have killed nate...

Somewhere in between meetings- we managed to have a birthday party for everyone- and had friends from town join us!

Even frida got to celebrate with a catfood cake!

party party!

delightful

The first coal project debrief-- starting with a timeline of the 3 year project! Epic!

meeting smiles.

chattin it up

prepping for the snow fall during a lunch break.

erin not only survived the snow-- but loved it (if she says other wise... she's in denial)

Trying to define out Niche, mission, vision and goals... it's sort of kind of a really big thing.

Outside of meetings, the agenda team had more meetings to talk about the meetings! MEETING MANIA!
Planning meetings on the beach...

such a lovely day!

Reporting back on the what happened in 2010 with the Mesoamerica Resiste project (lots of things!)

we make mind maps--- it's true!

sharing

doing some political alignment work (and yes, that is in fact another mind map)

investigating the magical world that is the poster
reading a list of beehive magic (consider it our secret spell)

Coming up with big ideas... together.

We finished up meetings just a few days ago... with the last two days being a full on, no water breaks sprint to the finish line. And the next morning- many of us split ways. To North Carolina, to New Orleans, to Colorado, to Pennsylvania, to California, to Ohio... and holding ground in Maine. Two weeks isn't enough time to see people- especially when every breath you take involves the word 'meeting.'

And now I'm sitting in sams living room in Pittsburgh- with Recent and Nate- trying to hear whats what with fracking around here by putting our ears as closely to the ground as we can. I'm learning a lot, and being afraid a whole lot, too.

More to come.

tid bits from Ohio

I'm currently sitting in the Boston Airport with Mattie after 3 days of travel. To Pittsburgh by car, and hanging out with Sam, then bussing to NYC and see Mike, and then another bus to Boston. Which is where we are waiting for Agent to to arrive to the east coast, and Nikki to come pick us all up--- and onto Machias! (and picking up Kbar and Tracy in Portland, too!).

Colin and Kayla get down on the banjo

Lime Sugar cookies---- a brilliant idea (if i do say so myself), needs a bit of perfection before the recipe finds its way on here...

I spent a wintery afternoon at the Stratford Ecological Center (as very recommended by Joe Brehm) with Miss Leslie. Farm animals, fields, green house, hiking trails, library, and more cool things. Totally worth checking out, it's very close to delaware.

Just eating a Sweet Potato Pie... fresh in the mail from New Orleans! Along with other amazing things... like the most magnificent snow flake I've ever seen, very cute patches (galore!), and my cannot-die water bottle! Aww... Erin!

And then I found this gem on photobooth... new haircuts! (well- new at the time- when these were taken in Baltimore)

Getting crafty with super hero capes for the boys...

Finn opening his up on Christmas (ok- they had no idea what it was...)

Sporting some pretty great capes... with magnet connectors (emmas idea!) around the neck


And Kayle checking out (and enjoying?) her stuffed rocket ship... on theme with the capes of course!

Dad hanging with Kayla

Elefun with grandma (who is cut off here...). Woo!

Installing the bunk beds... you know-- big boy beds.

My attempt at recreating the BEST pancakes ever--- from Bubba's in NYC. Attemp--- semi successful. More on this soon(ish)...

A vagabond jewelry box Emma made me... little flaps for earnings, pockets, and loops to connect in necklaces. And it all rolls up-- to result in a easy to carry, tangle free jewelry box! So good!

It is very nice to know I have a packed (!!!) schedule ahead of me and my days of putzing around my mothers house are over (for now). But, it wouldn't be so nice if I didn't have that break with the family and time with friends.

Maineward ho!

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...