This week I am busy packing and preparing for our trip to Ecuador, including the Galápagos! My husband and I are meeting up with our son Gabriel as he completes a fascinating semester-long program in Development, Politics and Languages.

In Ecuador he has stayed with four different host families (two of them Indigenous), snorkeled in the Galápagos, bathed under a waterfall, explored the rain forest with a naturalist, helped out on a farm in the cloud forest, and made chocolate from scratch, roasting cacao pods over an open fire. Oh, and he has studied, of course! He is currently wrapping up a four-week independent study project on efforts to reintroduce native grains like quinoa and amaranth within a Quichua community.

It was hard to say goodbye to my beloved son last August—I worried about Covid, crime and car accidents, for starters. But I’m delighted that he’s having such a rich experience, and am looking forward to seeing the country through his eyes.

Really, once babyhood has passed, parenting is just a long process of letting go and trusting that you’ve taught your child the skills they need to be OK. We miss having our kids at home, but there is also great pleasure in seeing them stretch their wings—and in sharing a bit of their adventures. Here are some haiku on the empty nest stage of parenting.

driving lesson
he practices
leaving home

his absence
its own presence
childhood bedroom

her notes covered
with question marks
philosophy class

empty nest
our son’s old sweater
on the dog

semester abroad
she waves from the far side
of security

childless once more
the farthest ridge line
fades into blue

kids all grown
we train the sweet peas
up the trellis

I wish you all a happy and merry holiday season.

The above haiku first appeared in The Heron’s Nest, Frogpond, Presence, and Visiting the Wind: Haiku Society of America Members’ Anthology 2021

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Makino Studios News

Holiday sale on calendars: My 2023 mini-calendars of art and haiku are just $9.99 through midnight this coming Friday, Dec. 2 (normally $12). No code required—I just want to encourage you to order this week, before I leave town on Saturday! I will have someone filling orders while I’m gone, but shipping may be slower than usual.

Fourth printing of my book: I was down to just two copies of my award-winning book, Water and Stone: Ten Years of Art and Haiku. But thankfully, 150 more copies finally arrived yesterday! This fourth printing includes excerpts from the lovely reviews and judges’ comments.

Made in Humboldt fair: The “Made in Humboldt” event at Pierson Garden Shop in Eureka, CA runs through Friday, Dec. 24. This is the only fair where you can buy my calendars, books, prints and boxed notecards this season. There are 250 participating vendors, all local.

Free shipping: I offer free first-class shipping on US retail orders of $35 or more. Use code FREESHIP35 at checkout.

Cards: Holiday, birthday, sympathy or everyday… right now there are more than 70 Makino Studios card designs to choose from. I also have five different notecard sets, including two holiday designs (but act fast—one of them is almost sold out).

Art prints: Blake’s Books in McKinleyville and Humboldt’s Hometown Store in Ferndale both carry a selection of my matted art prints, ready for gifting. They are among the local stores that carry my books, calendars, notecards and single cards.

Holiday shipping deadline: The US Postal Service advises that for first-class packages to arrive by Dec. 25, they should be shipped by Saturday, Dec. 17.