Eating Lots of Peaches

The most recent phase of my life has begun! I don't know if it's farm time or island time but the week I've been here has felt like forever. Something about this lifestyle really changes how time works. I've felt it before living in Bass Lake, where days fly by yet last forever. This slow life was much needed after the past 3 1/2 years of rushing through books and speed-writing papers, learning new things at such fast paces that I'm not sure I actually learned a damn thing. This week I've learned a lot about sheep, how to use saws, mastering my nail gun skills, spinning wool, making cheese, making soap, canning, raising meat rabbits, and just plain ol' country life. My biggest fear of being lonely has been easily averted due to all the new literature that these folks are tossing my way (and I'm loving!), a new knitting project, and 3 very social people with lots of good stories and good friends to share. 

Some Highlights (thus far):

• The daily afternoon beer is sure to give me a beer belly in a month, but the trail runs that we've been going on have made up for it. 
• I like prolonging my interactions with the sheep as much as possible. The ewes are the sweetest things to walk this earth, trying to get their heads and chins pet as much as possible. Liz, the border collie, rivals them for the sweetest sweetheart. Sheering is this week, and then babies come at the end of the month! I'll have so much more to learn then because with babies comes milk, which means lots of milking, which means lots of cheese making. 
• Been enjoying goofing around with the old man and hearing his stories of traveling all over the world in his earlier hippie days. Getting my wheels turning about what's next for me after my stay here! His travels in Nepal were especially interesting and his photos and drawings made it all the more enchanting. 
• Best thing about the farm: either the golf cart or the sauna
• 3 cute pups. Jet loves sheep, he licks them on their noses. Liz loves being pet and talking. Rodo rolls rocks down hills. 
• Good food. Fresh eggs are so delicious and flavorful compared to store bought eggs, bacon...the best bacon I've ever had, lamb sausage, and the cheese! Eating like a king these days. Did I mention the kegerators?
• It's beautiful here. Simple 'nuff. Views of Mt Rainier, the Olympics, and the Cascades on 3 sides. 
• Being around such creative, thoughtful, happy, content people makes livin' easy. 
• My own space. Haven't had so much privacy...ever. It's nice.

That's about it for now. Looking forward to the next nine months.