Homestead Update #30
Hi friends! I'm happy to be back to share another week with you. The more I settle into this new life, the more I have to report back and the happier I am with how things are going. I want to continue focusing on how my weeks are shaping up with the homestead and the farm at camp. Did I mention that my title is "Farmer"? I love it!! Anyway, enough chatter. Let's get to the important stuff.
Garden
I used to think that I didn't really know a lot about gardening, but I'm slowly realizing that I know a lot more things that I thought I did. For example, when I was given the tour of the garden at the camp, I recognized almost everything that was already planted without having to look at the tags. I also can identify a lot of wild plants and also cultivated plants that you plant in your yard or garden. It makes me feel good that I have absorbed all this information throughout the years.
The garden is really in full swing. I've harvested basil already. There's parsley that's ready to be harvested. I still want to plant some things--perhaps some corn and pumpkins for the fall festival at camp. But I need to get to it soon! I'm still working on getting things into shape, but I have some time before that really needs to be done.
chickens
I've slowly been collecting eggs. I know I used to do a 'I collected x eggs this week' but since the chickens are at camp and I'm not there everyday, I can only give you the egg count that I've collected. So far, I've collected a dozen eggs. I'll start keeping better track once camp actually starts. I have a plan to paint a clipboard with chalk paint and then have the campers keep track of eggs that way. I think it will be cute and fun! Stay tuned.
Currently
I'm still listening to podcasts while I walk or work in the garden. I just listened to this episode of We Can Do Hard Things. It really spoke to me and what I've been through and how I'm really working hard on myself. I'm also still listening to my true crime podcasts. I like having something to listen to while I work away in the garden.
I'm back to knitting again! YAY! If you recall, I have some projects that need to be finished so I decided to start carrying some of the smaller projects around with me. It actually starts conversations with people. I was knitting at the lunch table and a conversation was started by a group of staff members. It turns out that they are from Hungry and Poland. I just love the diversity at camp. I also met a great woman from California! She was so friendly and personable. It made me totally at ease. Have I mentioned how much I love camp?!!?
I brought my radio/cd player/record player home from storage. I have it in the bedroom so now I can listen to music whenever I want. I must start collecting a few records from the thrift stores! I'm listening to a local public radio station out of Pennsylvania. It's so nice.
I also enjoyed watching the farmers hay the fields out front, especially after the tractor parade. I'm watching them as I write this. There's something so soothing about having the windows open and hearing the tractors out in the field. This is definitely what my dreams are made of. It's funny how you live someone else's dreams for so long that you tend to forget what it is that you love and what you want out of life, especially when that person isn't willing to help you fulfill your dreams. Just their own. I'm happy to be on this journey of rediscovering who I am and giving myself the things that someone else couldn't, or wouldn't, give me. I feel really strong and independent for the first time in years.
Business End of Things
I don't have a ton to report back here. I did write my children's book manuscript. That was nice. I've had a few stories floating around in my head for a very long time. Now the hard part begins--how to get it published! And find an illustrator! I have a few demonstrations and classes coming up in July. And I still have some ideas for blog posts. And for a lot of other things. I guess there's really no end to the ideas...it's just the execution. But there's plenty of time to get it all done. Rome wasn't built in a day. hehehe.
The Rest of the Story
I actually don't have a lot else to report back for this week. I know you must be shocked! I did finally write the story of Lady Liberty. I hope you read that and also took a look at all those cute sheep, goats, and donkeys from a couple of weeks ago. Oh. I know! Anna Lee and I went to visit our friend and see some fireworks. She got to be off leash and frolic through the woods for the first time in almost a year. She's been regulated to being in a harness and on the leash on our walks (with the exception of when we went to the beach. She was allowed off leash there). She did so good with the fireworks! We were right along the river and she didn't even bat an eye at the noise. I had her on leash but she just laid down on the quilt next to me. I apologize for the photos of the fireworks. I used my phone but hey! It was fireworks!!Anyway, I'll be back soon with more updates and fun stuff! I hope you're summer is off to a smashing start.
'til next time
-k
xoxo