My family took the opportunity of a recent trip to Oregon to revisit the cold, gray beaches where we grew up. My niece spotted the rolling mass of waves from afar and asked: “Get in it? My feet?” and her parents were happy to comply, while the baby kept warm with my own parents. MyContinue reading “Waves, meteors and cougars”
Author Archives: Katie Botkin
My favorite traveling shoes
I have tried traveling with quite a few pairs of shoes over the years — everything from Doc Marten boots, to Converse All Stars, to Asics running shoes, to expensive ballet flats of various brands. In a good travel shoe I want support, comfort and flexibility. They have to go with everything in the limitedContinue reading “My favorite traveling shoes”
Advice to my youngest brother as he prepares for his first trip
My 18-year-old brother is going on his first semi-solo backpacking trip to the UK in a couple of weeks. He’s planning to be gone for two months, and he’s traveling on a budget. So, Isaiah, here is some packing wisdom from your oldest sister, who happens to have spent about two years of the lastContinue reading “Advice to my youngest brother as he prepares for his first trip”
Chloë on the farm
I’ve written before about our family farm in Iowa, where my Swedish ancestors settled down. My little niece (the sixth generation) had her first explorations of the place at our most recent family reunion. She got to drive the farm truck, ride the tractor, celebrate her second birthday, walk the train tracks, and play withContinue reading “Chloë on the farm”
The Blue Lagoon
If you have a few hours of layover in Reijkavik, I highly recommend taking the 20-minute bus ride to the Blue Lagoon medicinal hot springs. The short ride takes you through fields of dark lava rock, and once you’re there, you will be handed a bracelet that will allow you to program your locker andContinue reading “The Blue Lagoon”
French highlights
To recap: in France, I spoke French, toured Normandy, remembered Joan of Arc, and cruised the Seine. And it was glorious. I wrote about it a bit more extensively over on David Lansing’s travel blog.
The souvenir
On my 31st birthday, Antoine, the youngest member of the family I am staying with in France, has given me an unexpected birthday present: a beautiful little pendant that looks like a large pearl or a small, pristinely white Fabergé egg. I put it around my neck and feel the smoothness of it with myContinue reading “The souvenir”
Doug Wilson, as he was
The first time I encountered Doug Wilson was in the fall of 2000, in the basement of someone’s house. Wilson was reading an excerpt from a humorous book to a collection of admiring college students. It may have been written by P.G. Wodehouse; I frankly do not remember. I was 19 years old and wasContinue reading “Doug Wilson, as he was”
Writing styles and logical fails of a One-Woman Man
I’m not the first to comment on this, nor will I likely be the last. Over at The Gospel Coalition, there’s a quote from Doug Wilson that has resulted in much discussion trying to parse out what he intended, what he didn’t mean, and how anyone who dares to suggest this isn’t true or biblicalContinue reading “Writing styles and logical fails of a One-Woman Man”
Johanna’s wedding
Back when I was one, I made the acquaintance of Leah, who is on the far right. This was in Oklahoma, where the summers lay thick in the air, suggesting, oppressively, that our parents should go West. Leah was the first of five; I was the first of five. After both families packed up andContinue reading “Johanna’s wedding”
Botkin Creative 