Photos by Anna Van Devender unless otherwise stated. Escaping the Southern Arizona heat in June is a Van Devender family tradition. Driving to Yellowstone in…
“Oh yeah, it’s Tree Tuesday!” quoted Kid 2 as we got ready for a day of Camp Mom. All three kids loved climbing and fruit-harvesting…
“Yay! We get to eat breakfast outside!” chirps Kid 2, and he flits to the back door. His verbalized desire is music to my ears. In…
Worms help me recycle, garden, teach, and pay attention. I like worms. Worms, though uncommon in desert soil, reside with minimal care in habitats called…
Fall is a time of transition. Over a season, hot turns to cold. The downpours of monsoon summer and the drizzles of winter sandwich multiple…
The palo verde tree that planted itself, helped shape our front yard and shade our house, and beautifully flowered each spring, has to come down. We…
The coyote was an especially good sign. I know, coyotes can be tricky. But this one was exactly where it should be. It was we…
“Did this stick come from a TREE?” asked my 4-year-old. He accepted my affirmation thoughtfully, then inched along the trail again with an 18” pine…
The trees are thirsty. The kids are restless. The day is young, and one that will heat up quickly. I turn the hose on a…
We eat our breakfast outside. Every summer morning around 6:30 my two young boys and I schlep a simple meal to the backyard, pick a…