Dec
24
You won't fail.

You won't fail.

🍊 Sometimes, you’ll feel like you’re the last of the winter fruit, just barely holding on. Not wanting to drop. Beat up, bruised, shriveling and defiant. Gravity, the…
Dec
05
Christmas, on repeat.

Christmas, on repeat.

❄️ Not sure anyone cares about my favorite Christmas song, except maybe my family because I keep it on repeat, and repeat “I love this song so much,” endlessly—but…
Nov
30
This is a gift for you.

This is a gift for you.

👩🏻‍🎨 It’s book release day for this one, and it is impossible to overstate how proud I am of her. “This is a Gift for You,” is the best…
Nov
17
Wet Knees

Wet Knees

🍄 Low to the ground, knees wet through my jeans from the damp forest floor, I can’t believe they’re real. I mean, look at them. Fifty or so…
Nov
12
One Year Ago

One Year Ago

🌲 This was us, just a year ago. I’ve been writing this post in my head for weeks now, never quite coming up with the right words. All the…
Nov
06
Trying Hard

Trying Hard

🍼 With a babe in arms, it is no wonder I've been thinking a lot about parenting and my place in the world. It's a surreal…
Oct
29
Frog Lake

Frog Lake

🐸 Frog Lake, Oct. 2021 There’s actually seven different Frog Lakes in Oregon, eight if you count “Bull Frog Lake” — that’s in Oregon City and isn’t actually…
Oct
02
As much as I'd like.

As much as I'd like.

🏕 I haven’t been writing as much as I’d like. The only things I’ve been writing lately are small stories of love and the future, told into…
Aug
21
Tae.

Tae.

👞 Even if you think you have a lot of friends or know a lot of people, in the grand scheme of things, you really don't get that…
Jul
19
Tired, but happy.

Tired, but happy.

🐇 Tired, but happy. ⠀ It was a month ago tonight when this little lady bounced into our lives. ⠀ I could write about how many times I’ve just teared up…
A bunch of essays, photos and thoughts by Pat Castaldo.