Work hard, chill hard.

Farm life in Colorado greeted me so warmly that it almost seemed like a trap, yet two weeks have passed and I've steadily become more amazed by this experience.

The view from Moonbird's window

 Our work at the orchard has mainly been simple tasks, like planting vegetables.  This is the kind of work that passes quickly but leaves me tired and satisfied.  I'll spend a day playing in the dirt, and when the job's done I can walk away knowing that wholesome organic deliciousness will soon be sprouting from the earth where I spent my day's energy.  We are creating FOOD, which creates ENERGY, and at the end of each workday Q and I celebrate with a massive restorative supper.

Good words from Good Times

While living the city life I think we forget certain raw feelings of respect for Nature, the sort of jealous goddess who feels she must remind us of her power as soon as she gets the chance.  After a few days of golden sunshine at the orchard we were presented with a torrent of rain which soaked through our clothes and turned the ground to quicksandish goop.  Then came the wind, then the cold, and suddenly we were working through a formidable snowstorm.

The orchard's three yaks, who normally are not especially adventurous, were inspired by the snow.  I imagine they were channeling their ancestors in the mountains of Tibet when they pushed over a fence and escaped their pasture, and surely those shaggy beasts of the Himalayas would tip their yak hats to the bravery of these three domestic individuals who broke free and then went about grazing in neighboring fields.

The snow continued to blow in mercilessly as we wrangled the escapees, and by the time we got them back in their pasture the orchard was fully covered in fluffy white coldness.  The year's apricot crop was annihilated in that freeze.

SNOW!

The unfortunate apricots

On a day like that it's easy to appreciate the power of nature, and to respect the farmers who make their living this way.  Other days it's all about basking in the simplicity of a direct relationship with the land.  The family hosting us and the community here are masters of working hard and chilling hard, and I am remembering that the harder I work, the more satisfying my supper will be.

Little peepers

Sensei Queej

Good beer and great company

Song of the occasion: Wait So Long - Trampled by Turtles