Of Gypsies and Cowboys

Some pics from our week in the heat wave. Temps above 30 everyday. Lots of work, lots of play, lots of things in motion.
(BTW, GreenValley is going to be feautured in a Portland-based magazine. They heard about us, love our story, called us up, and away it went. How bizarre!)

(scratch that. internet keeps cutting out and the pics aren't working. later!)

I have created myself a new office. In my opinion, it far exceeds the upholstered confines of my past office zone. It has hardwood floor and muted natural light. The open rafters could almost be termed ‘valued ceiling’ and the breeze drifting through could certinaly by likened to central air. Six hundred bales of freshly cut hay lend a sweet and earthy scent, and the fact that I’m the only one who knows I’m here at this moment creates that comforting sense of ‘secret’.
My hayloft office. In times like these….

Hey! Our story finally came out in the paper! http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=104848368023&h=aBywo&u=MBMcU&ref=nf The interview was done months ago and much has changed since then, but it's still cool! for now, we're roasting part-time and still supplying the store mentioned (The Docks) as well as some mail orders, while working at the ranch. Hm, crazy how things come about....

Throughout our journey this year, I found myself embracing the music and lyrics of artist Jack Johnson. His disc 'On and On' has been especially present; played and replayed and applied to countless moments. Almost every song has been a challenge or support in our steps and I have found mysefl inceasingly thankful for his contribution to our life.
This morning, over oatmeal and fresh coffee, I couldn't help type out the lyrics to my favorite track. An exceptional song.

Gone.
(Jack Johnson)

Look at all those fancy clothes
but these will keep us warm just like those.
And what about your soul is it cold
is it
straight from the mold and ready to be sold?
cars and phones and diamond rings…
bling bling
Those are only removable things
And what about your mind? Does it shine?
Are there things that consume you more than your time?
Gone, going, gone everyththing
Gone, give a damn
gone be the birds cuz they don’t want to sing
gone people all awkward with their things

look at you out to make a deal
you try to be appealing but you lose your appeal
and what about those shoes you’re in today
they’ll do no good on the bridges you burnt along the way
you willing to sell everything, gone with your herd
leave your footprints, we’ll shame them with our words
gone people, all careless and consumed
gone
gone going gone everything gone give a damn
gone be the birds if they don’t want to sing
gone people all awkward with their things
gone

(Yikes, live that hey? Hmm>)

Good evening :)
We're in the Valley; roasting coffee, visiting with the grandparents, catching up on sushi and traffic and asphalt. Early this morning I played with a herd of yearlings with Jem on my back. Later, I rode my favorite mount (of the four) through a new section of the property and discovered a whole mass of Saskatoon berry bushes on the verge of ripeness. As we drove away from the ranch we came across a young black bear foraging in an open field. Since arriving back in the city I've cooked a mass of bean curry, read a book on the back porch, and gulped in hours of high-speed internet while leaving phone messages through free long-distance calling. What a day!

I'm do tired. I find my mind is too filled with ideas and projects and opportunities (and caffeine) to settle down in the evening. And now, well, there's just so much to look at and screen-shop and such ;) Ah yes.

Anyways.

I'm doing well. WE'RE doing well. I'm learning a lot and also re-learning. It's an interesting exercise to return to this home in the Valley and feel some the frayed replay of emotions and strain of the spring and remember some of those days. Now, from my temporary plateaued home, I can see some of the very acute points of weakness and failure of the newly ended season. There are twinges of remorse and guilt and sadness, though these are paired with a new and living resolve and strength. In only months, I have become another person all over again. It's fascinating.

Part of what I am learning this month is that any life can be 'loaded' any where. We can stress or sin or break or whatever in an overworked office or an abandoned mountain, we can blame the boss or the weather or the Creator of them, we can run or hide or whatever. The pulse of a life less loaded lives within hourly choice of conscience and faith and value. It moves through health and confidence; unity of marriage and body and spirit; freedom to risk and fail.

I've tried and failed and tried and failed again, so now we continue to try and walk and dance and swirl within it all. And it's beautiful. And we'll fail again. And we'll unload and laugh and cry and .... And we'll learn and live and live learning; learn living.

Lovin' it....