Happy Spring y’all!

Although, this being Kentucky and all, we’re still vacillating between winter, summer, and back to spring. But that’s ok.

Nora and I have been enjoying the tulips and daffodils that bloomed early in the spring. Since we looked at and bought the house in the winter, we weren’t sure what the yard would look like, but there are all kinds of lovely green and flowery things popping up in the back and front yard!

Everyone has been enjoying the back porch, where Clay goes to enjoy cigars, Nora hid her own Easter eggs on a raining Easter Saturday, and which offers a view of the beautiful pink dogwood tree in the back yard.

We continue to work on making the inside of the house exactly how we want it, and will amp up the efforts as the weather stays warmer.

Hello and Happy New Year! 

Here’s a digital Christmas card from Nora (accessorized in her baker’s gear, which was a Christmas present), me/Becca, and Clay (in his Krampus hat.)  No Santas were harmed in the making of this photo. 

2018 seemed to fly by between my work, Clay’s work, and all the excitement of having a verbose, precocious toddler around. 

The highlight of my year professionally included being awarded an institutional grant from WKU’s Office of Research and Creative Activities. This award began in the summer of 2017, and my partners and I (Virginia from the Kentucky Folklife Program and a great professor/colleague Dr. Evans from WKU Folk Studies) offered four variations of the program during 2018 to four different student groups throughout a spring, summer, and fall semester. We also showcased the grant and our programming to folklorists at the 2018 Annual Meeting of the American Folklore Society in Buffalo, New York.  My trip to Buffalo was another mark professionally: there I completed my first AFS as junior convener for the Folklore and Education section. It was, admittedly, slightly more work as a convener than I expected, but ultimately worth it. Also, I visited Niagara Falls for the first time, and that was a personal highlight for sure.   

I had a wonderful trip with my sister in the fall, as well, which was also my first international trip since 2009! Montreal is the loveliest of cities, even if I don’t speak French at all. I practiced some “English, si vou plait?” on the plane, and fortunately everyone in the service industry there (from the train and bus stations, to every restaurant and coffee shop) were more than happy to help this poor American.  I saw some of the old colonial city, Keren and I hiked some of the Mont Royal and we enjoyed lots of lattes and good food.  

In 2019 I am hoping to find a new job amongst the available opportunities in Louisville, while also keeping in touch with all of our dear, dear friends in Bowling Green. 

Clay turned 40 this year! Since he was wishy-washy about any way in particular he wanted to celebrate, I took it upon myself to plan a surprise trip to New Orleans! Clay had never been, we both needed a vacation, and you only turn 40 once, so why the hell not! I booked us a cool AirBnB within walking distance from the French Quarter, found us some reasonable flights, and surprised Clay on his birthday (a Monday) by announcing I had made some reservations for dinner that Friday….in NOLA. We were able to catch up with some friends there, and enjoyed many a good meal and drink.

Clay’s biggest news is that he accepted a position at Moonshine University in Louisville, Kentucky. Read more about Clay at MoonU here! Although it was a difficult decision to leave Corsair and there were months of discussion, we are especially glad to be Kentuckians again, as those Tennessee drivers licences just never felt right. While in New Orleans, Clay and I had our tarot cards read (as you do), and the reader indicated more struggle and a possible move before our triumphant return to stability, so you know what? I think she really was on to something.

Along with a new job comes a new house, and Clay is jumping right into unveiling the original hardwood, painting, and planning the construction of a full bar at our new house. Of course, you’re all welcome to come stay with us! Our doors (and drinks) are always open to you!

Nora turned 3 this year! This included transitioning to a new preschool room, where her writing and counting abilities continue to grow. By the end of the year she was able to write her name, and she loves to draw pictures of her family, color, and take our dinner orders by walking up with a notepad and saying “And what would you like to eat?” Her favorite thing to draw for a while was “Mommy burping,” which is odd but cute until I tell you that, for Nora, a “burp” is actually a fart. All of her writing and drawing she does with her left hand. She also loves to be a ballerina, a superhero, a mommy, a baby, or a dog or cat during her imaginative and “dress up”play. Having grown about 5 inches since her last birthday to the end of 2018, Nora has also exclaimed that one day she will be as “tall as a house,” or at least “as tall as Daddy.”

As a family, we’ve had some great highlights in 2018, the most special of which in August was the birth of my nephew and Nora’s first cousin on my side of the family: Julian Alexander. I was so honored to be with my sister during the birth, and then spent the rest of the weekend fighting with my mom over who would get to hold the baby next. Ok, we didn’t actually fight, but there was lots of negotiating. In between the baby-holding, we also took the time to visit the Shedd Aquarium (Nora fell asleep in my lap on the bus ride back), the lakeshore, and the Chicago Zoo (Nora fell asleep on Clay’s shoulder during the walk out of the zoo, before we even made it to the bus stop).

Thanks to some friends, we got to experience our first Crawfish Broil, and man, was it good! In fact, I think it’s safe to say that we ate really well in 2018! We hosted a Burn’s night dinner featuring haggis, neaps, and tatties in January; had Crawfish Broil, true Chicago pizza, and great NOLA food in the summer; and Clay used the heck out of his new digital smoker throughout the year. We even prepared and served a smoked turkey for Thanksgiving with the Wilsons, which really was tasty.

The greatest new adventure for our family will be our move to Louisville, which should be completed in January of 2019. Even as it is heartbreaking for us to move further away from friends and family, we are grateful to have both long-distance and local support as we make the transition to a new house, new jobs, and a new school. We do have a furnished guest room, and ya’ll are welcome to visit at any time. Don’t be a stranger.

Happy New Year!

Becca, Clay, and Nora