prairiestead woods

I decided in the summer of 2021 to make attempts to purchase my parents' land outside of Scranton, Kansas. My parents are moving after living there for twenty years, but want to hold on to the land because it is sacred to them. I grow weary of the city and long more urgently for a retreat to escape the noise and commotion. I would love to find a way to have this land as the retreat and someday, perhaps home. I have a million thoughts about what this land could be, so will use this page to help me keep it organized, as well as to process what that means for my sanctuary, prairiestead.

My parents moved to town almost a year ago. Prior to moving, my mom and I had some deep conversations about her connection to this land. She was already showing significant signs of dementia, but I had no idea her mind would be lost to us in just a few months. While she wanted to move to town to be closer to us and for fear of a medical emergency with my dad, she had a lot of feelings of loss about not being in this place she has loved and cherished for 22 years.


I personally had never felt connected to this land. I was maybe even a little resentful that the 25 minute distance seemed to keep a hefty distance between us at times. When she fervently asked me to care for the land and do what I can to keep it in the family, I actually didn’t answer right away and wanted to avoid the question because I certainly had no interest. I love my house in town and have built my own little urban farm sanctuary that I would never want to leave. I didn’t bring it up again, hoping it would go away. But when she did bring it up again, emotionally frantic with fear of the future of this land, I did not hesitate to say yes. The more I thought about it, the more obligation I felt to something that was so very sacred to both my parents.


The first couple months, we just kind of looked at the land and shrugged our shoulders. It was so overwhelming and we didn’t know where to even begin. My dad was 80 at the time and had a lot of health issues, so there had not been much upkeep for a few years. One thing that did feel important to me, though, is what we had always called the Spooky Trail. We called it this because when my kids were little, my parents would put spooky things along the trail in October and we would walk them through it and it was one of their most favorite things. So we started there.


We spent the fall and winter reclaiming the trail and expanding it. It was the best time. And the amazing thing is that I fell in love with the land. Like hard. Every little piece of land and animal and flower. Even though it turns out my parents cannot hand the house down to me, I will do everything I have to in order to purchase it. There is no way I could ever not have this place to retreat to. I’m totally smitten.

find me in the wind

that’s where i’ll be

with the falling leaves

of the majesty


find me in the wind

that’s where i’ll be

with the sturdy trees of my father’s strength

with the delicate buds of my mother’s love.


find me in the wind

that’s where i’ll be

with the mulberry tree

my babies once foraged

with my beloved’s gaze

falling upon me

with the creator’s breath wrapped around me.