This morning

I just wanted to write about my morning. Kevin got up and made me oatmeal for breakfast then dropped me off at Mike's. We sat around for a little while picking out seeds and drinking coffee. The morning was cool, and I started weeding a bed while listening to the birds chirping and singing in the trees. There was a breeze, and the sky was streaked with pink clouds. It was absolutely beautiful.

Perfection.

Country life

Kevin is finishing the blocking for our interior walls! I'll post more apartment pictures later. Right now I actually don't have anything to do and have already spent hours in the sun planting garlic, so I decided I would write a post.

This place is so beautiful. When I'm frustrated or tired or both I just look around me at the hills set against the blue sky, and I feel rejuvenated. Money is going faster than originally planned, and I'm not interning with Jeff Poppen yet. I was starting to get stressed out, quaking a little. But then I helped Mike plant peas and broccoli, and the Chinese cabbage I planted for him is growing so well, and I share ideas with him that are helpful, and the dirt calms me down. My neighbor, Julie, brings me the straw she uses as bedding in her chicken coops. Free mulch. A neighbor will be plowing our field this weekend. Our friends volunteered to help us hang and mud the drywall. The help keeps pouring in. I can do this. We can do this. The money isn't gone yet, and we're more than halfway done. This is what I am on this earth to do, and I will do it. We have phosphorus for centuries, and calcium and magnesium, and we have manure.
The barn roof leaks, which is bad news for our apartment, so Kevin and I had to get up there with a bucket of tar to seal the seams and nail holes. As you may or may not know, I am not fond of heights. Our barn is three stories tall at the peak. To get from one side to the other, you have to get a running start, fling yourself at the peak, and haul your ass over. I was terrified at first, but the roof is surprisingly solid, and the view is beautiful. As of the last rain, we had fixed all but two of the big leaks, so we're feeling pretty good about it.

It feels weird to be regarded as an adult. People ask me gardening questions and invite me to work parties, like I actually know what the hell I'm talking about or how to do anything.

Yesterday when Kevin and I were finishing up for the day, I was overcome by how far we have come as a couple. Here we are. He lives in Tennessee, with me and with my parents. He's changed his whole life to come here with me. Five years ago....

I love living here. Our friends, Dan and Marianna, hosted a Hootnanny two weekends ago. They did a pig roast and brewed three kegs of brown ale and a keg of cider. The cider whooped me; I was college drunk. Kevin was a gentleman and rubbed my back while I puked. I managed to keep it out of our tent.

I can't wait to share this place with all of my wonderful friends! Bring on the naked dance party in the woods :-D

Progress!

It feels like years since the last update. We have been running at full throttle, usually twelve hours a day. We did some major deconstruction of the original barn structure before we could even start construction. It took off from there. As of today we have most of the roof plywood up, all the exterior walls, stairs, and the subflooring done. The insulation, drywall, and electrical wiring is all being purchased tomorrow. So we are well on the way! I already know exactly where the couch is going. Kevin is an absolutely amazing worker. He has impressed me every day since we started. I've learned so much watching him and Michael work together. I kept myself busy shovelling ancient cow manure, laying a stone walkway, pulling nails, and stacking wood. Click here for a slideshow of our progress!

Mike, the farmer I've been working with, had us over for a dinner party and introduced us to the son of one of our neighbors--Sam. He's going to be plowing our field, and we'll be planting it in a mix of rye, hairy vetch, clover, and winter wheat to improve the soil before spring. He and his wife want to move back to the creek to raise grass-fed beef. His father's land buts up to our property line. I also got to pick the best blueberries in the world with Mike. I have several quarts frozen and made a few pints of blueberry jam. It was my first jam experience, and I used honey and no pectin. It took several hours to cook down but is so freaking fantastic--worth every moment. I can't think of a better way to spend a morning than stuffing my face with organic blueberries off the bush, listening to the birds sing as the day warms up. Divine. This is how I spend my life here.

The season is changing. About the last day of August I noticed Partner's fur had changed, and the leaves are beginning their transition. Today it occurred to me that the people here in Tennessee aren't the only organisms that like getting undressed and swaying in the wind--the trees are gearing up for a winter long naked party! Except the prudish cedars; they keep their clothes on all year.

I went for a beautiful ride today. We went down to the creek and splashed around and had our first gallop in years. It was exhilarating, and I lost my hat.


Some random highlights since the last post: Kevin and I went hiking, and my ankles got covered in seed ticks. It was horrendous; I had hundreds of itchy red bumps for more than a week. I'm all for biodiversity but I wouldn't mind if ticks went extinct.



The truck caught on fire. Yes, that perfect farm truck. So after a new carburetor to compliment the new transmission with new spark plugs and wires it finally starts every time. I'm knocking on wood as I say this. That's all I'm going to say about the truck.






I thought this post was going to be longer, but that's all I can think of. We're doing it. And it's amazing. I can't wait to cook that first dinner in our kitchen!