Well look at what we have here:

How are you all doing, today? I'm well, thanks for asking. The farm season is over, only it isn't, not really, but it seems it is for me. Conclusions? Big paradigm-shifting existential thoughts? Sure, of course, but they're my conclusions, and my big paradigm-shifting existential thoughts; I earned them the hard way, and I haven't managed to completely work through how I feel about them(that blog will come in time, but that time isn't now). What I am willing to say? Support your local farmers, even if it's harder or more expensive to do so. Take care of them, and they'll take care of you. It's worth it.

Thanks to Christie and Kelly for giving me the opportunity, and for teaching me, and allowing me the opportunity to come to this place and have the experience I've had. I'll be forever grateful for that.

Enough soap boxery, this blog isn't about my preaching(or not only about that) it's about keeping you updated with my doings, and I've been remiss in doing that. So what has happened in the last few weeks? As I mentioned I went to Oregon with a whole crew of friends and acquaintances for Thanksgiving. It was a fantastic weekend. There was much cooking and eating, walking on the beach and in the woods, relaxing in the hot tub, and many, many games. It was a much needed rest, and the drive was as beautiful as the destination. I have no pictures from the trip, but Maggie loaned me a pair, and I loan them to you, now:

Let's see, what else have I been doing? Knitting(that's my new camera case, and a hat which I've only just begun):

Now that my season on the farm is done, I'm looking for something to occupy my time, but in the meantime I'm house-sitting, and dog-watching, in a lovely home, in town, which is certainly a pleasant change of pace. There's a kitchen:

My haven't I been busy?

And a wood-stove to keep me warm and toasty:

Not to mention Sitka and Skana to keep me well excercised:

And a whole massive stack of library books to read:


Killed some ducks and a chicken...for your edification, and future knowledge, in case it comes up. Cut the bird's throat, don't chop it's head off with a hatchet, trust me on this. Having done that, I've got legs curing for confit, and racks and feet and heads for making stock, and given what we all know about Aaron and esoteric preservation techniques, we can safely say that this pleases me, to no end. Also if you need a bird slaughtered and cleaned, I'm your man. Still slower than a professional, but I'm working on it. Another important part of this sort of farm work...it works best as a group effort; thanks to Shaelee for the opportunity, and to Maggie for arranging it, and doing her share of the work.

Went snow-shoeing up on the ridge, the other day, with Maggie. It was a gorgeous day, and as it often does in this place, everything was crisp and well-defined. It's hard to describe, and I'm unsure if it's a quality of the air, or the play of light and shadow, but it really is unlike anywhere I've ever been before, the mountains arrayed before you, the ever shifting light, the breeze, and in this case, the sound of the snow melting off the trees, each one a miniature rainstorm. It was both beautiful and humbling. I loved every minute of it. These pictures are also courtesy of Maggie, except for the one of me; I took that one:



So what's next for Aaron? That is the million dollar question, isn't it. I'm not sure, to give you a straight and simple answer, but my lack of clearly defined path, doesn't worry me in the least. I have a place here, for now at least, and friends and companions who are willing to do what they can to enable my journey. Just as many of you enabled me to reach this place(Mindy, Mike). That's how I'm spending my time these days, figuring out the next step; reading and writing, cooking and baking, and pausing, now and again, to look out the window at the mountains, and to smile, and to appreciate where I am, and what I'm doing.

Is it dark where you're at?

Because apparently, this far north? It gets dark, right early, and it's only November, I shudder to think what it will be like in January. Despite that, I have to say this place is incredible. Even on a gray drizzly day, perhaps especially on a gray and drizzly day, this place has a beauty...you know what? I'll shut up and let the pictures speak for themselves.

From my trip up to Hurricane Ridge today.




It's not really that snowy; in fact, those are pictures of every square inch of snow there was.

What kind of Mushrooms are these? I don't know. They looked delicious, however. Also on the mushroom front...pickled chanterelles:




I've not been doing a great deal, you know, the usual:

Knitting and crocheting:

Baking(roasted potato fendu and peanut butter cookies):


Also in the kitchen, the controlled spoiling of foods, the powers of fermentation...cider in the process of hardening, and milk in the process of seperating, that I might use the whey in further fermentation projects, and the curds in the name of cheese:

Farmering, which this week mostly involved planting garlic:



Also harvested the last of the apples, this week:

Pink pearl...yeah:

I've been doing really well, but I'll freely admit that the early darkness can be a little wearing. It's fine as long as I have my friends, but when they're not around it can be a little...frustrating.

I'm enjoying the opportunity to work market on Saturdays. I'm getting to know my regular customers, and my fellow vendors, and it makes for a nice change of pace from working on the farm. We are rapidly approaching the time when farm work become very difficult due to the weather, but despite that fact we seem to all be in good spirits.

I like the story I'm writing for NanoWriMo, I think it will probably turn out to be a novella, actually around fifty thousand words when it's complete. I hit the halfway mark today, right on track. All I can say is that it's a good thing I'm not trying to do this in July. That would have broken me. I've got a lot of stories to edit once this is done, and I'm giving serious consideration to taking another crack at rewriting my first novel, given the experience I've just had, I feel like I could write it a more authentic voice, and I have an idea of how to fix the ending, but all of that will have to wait until December at the earliest. A preview:

That's my life, these days. Hanging out with Maggie, and the kids down the street at the Lazy J, who, after an incredibly productive summer, are quite justifiably exhausted. I'm doing my best to reward them all with cookies, and my company, although whether that last qualifies as a reward is up for debate.

I've made my reservations for Christmas in California, and since I'm not driving I guess I won't be able to haul a tree a thousand miles for aesthetic reasons, but it just made more sense to fly. Truly excited to see everyone again, and to celebrate with Grandma Pooh and Saba. Sunshine might be nice, as well.

I've got preliminary plans for Thanksgiving that I'm totally jazzed about More on that when I know for certain what's going on, or I might just leave y'all in suspense, and share after the fact...let it suffice to say you needn't worry I'll be alone and depressive on the holiday.

I hope you all have big plans as well, and I hope you're enjoying your lives, and if you want to talk, feel free to call or e-mail, and if you have, and I haven't gotten back to to you yet, I promise I'm working on it, but the allure of the yarn is becoming hard for me to resist. Not sure what that's all about. Love you guys. Miss you, and hopefully I'll get to see at least some of you, soon.