Fun to have one of my favorite places in the world entirely to ourselves this morning. Fun to bike places vehicles can’t yet go.

We adopted a yard bat last week! Bluesky buds, meet Pippa! @stebbinsmatt.bsky.social

Two more creative writing cohorts kick off in early April—my last workshops until the fall. Dive in and join me for some fantastic creative community and dedicated writing time? www.creativefuelcollective.com/dive-seasona...

One of my favorite memories: A 22-mile family ride around our hometown lake, with stops to take in the views & go for some quick swims. We figured out a way for @stebbinsmatt.bsky.social to tow Toya in a modest* trailer & it was such a great morning. *Not at all rated for ~60 lbs. #SuperheroLegs

I may never be any good at tooting my horn, but I promise the writing workshops I lead are something special. Four different Q1 2026 offerings are live: www.creativefuelcollective.com/events-works... Discounted pricing through year-end. Please sign up &/or share with a beloved writer in your life?

This is definitely someone who should be in the House of Representatives, def. someone who should be able to introduce a bill that would essentially qualify anyone voicing their support of Palestinians/their opposition of the Israeli military murdering hundreds of thousands of them as “terrorists.”

Every year on August 16 @stebbinsmatt.bsky.social and I hike into the mountains to re-read our vows—the ones we wrote ourselves and read to each other on this day 12 years ago. The ones we've had framed and hanging in our bedroom ever since. 12 years feels like a long time, and also like a blink.

This week also looked like bike stoke, post-ride swims, Toya grins, sunrise-soaked ridge lines, an accidental rabbit murder (I cried), an intentional chipmunk murder (Toya is adorable/remorseless), homemade meals made + home-grown herbs, a comics class with beloved humans, huckleberry-stained hands.

This week looked like unruly inboxes and impromptu meetings and a return to (way too) hot temps and soft pretzels and high praise and a dramatic end to a notably lucky fire season. [Wildland firefighters: thank you, thank you.]

Newly and perpetually obsessed with starting as many days as possible riding bikes on quiet trails in our beloved misty, snowy, sometimes even warm mountains.

We live in a pretty fantastic place. I don’t forget and still, it’s nice to be reminded.

"In each interview, the through line is clear: together, we can build a better world." I really can't recommend defund by Calvin John Smiley enough. @haymarketbooks.org #SundaySentence

Toya’s "bat wings" [signs we made for her to wear via a recycled paper bag] were a big hit at our local #HandsOff2025 gathering today.

This morning! One of the prettiest sunrises I’ve seen all year.

Today our beloved muppet pup turned seven, and so we took the day off to fill our bellies with dirt and sunlight. We also filled our bellies with rainbow sprinkle Rice Krispie treats. A good day.

Procuring three different types of mini pies for Pi(e) Day was an extremely solid and tasty plan. Leaning into every tiny win these days (and always).

There is limitless potential and outright power in creative community. I've seen it, felt it, proudly and humbly helped facilitate it. Gathering to find our voices, + to unearth the inspiration and determination to use them? It really does feel essential right now. Spring DIVE is open: bit.ly/DIVEwg

When you’re co-leading the first session of a beloved book club filled with some of your favorite humans and one of your other favorite humans hand-delivers a heart-shaped Rice Krispie treat (that your dog of course thinks is for her). My heart is so full tonight.

This book is so good. Originally delivered as a lecture at Columbia in September 2023, the potent prose in these 80 pages is a master class. It’s a book that should be taught in undergrad Literature and Language programs across the country.

Photos taken by a neighbor of ours here in our little mountain town during today’s local protest. She’s waiting to hear if she still has a job via more impending Forest Service cuts. Another neighbor of ours lost his FS job last week. These are public servants being treated like they’re expendable.

Portrait of a Saturday in February. Beautiful bluebird skies. Beautiful snow muppet. Beautiful xc ski groom. Photo by @stebbinsmatt.bsky.social

Sharing some words [and a newfound personal mantra] today: kerrtopia.substack.com/p/senses-of-... When the world gets bleak, we can get bright.

Matt made a bevy of wonderfully tasty Lunar New Year-inspired dishes all day today. Toya has been Very Interested throughout the culinary adventure, even though she both despises and cannot eat onions.

The first few weeks of this year have been relentless, in so many ways, but they’ve also been peppered with intention (friend dates, morning swims, diagnostic medicine, writing time) and spontaneity (neighborhood dog parties, sunlit strolls, family ski dates), and it’s all making such a difference.

The only thing cuter is this video of how happy Toya is being out there with you.

This one feels notably timely and is at the top of my list: groveatlantic.com/book/recogni... (I’m hoping to actually make it to book club this year!)

Last night I closed another DIVE [quarterly writing group] session with an inspiring group of humans who wrote together for the last three months of the year. Sound interesting/like something you (or a writer in your life) might be into? More info/reg. re: the first two 2025 cohorts: bit.ly/DIVEwg

First skijoring adventure of the year this morning! I’m honestly not sure who had the most fun out of the three of us, but odds are good it was Toya.

Relatable. Much too relatable.

Accidental color study alongside this morning’s full (super)moon soak. I love me some moody blues (and greys).