Addicted to Nature: August 2017

Friday, August 4, 2017

Hunkering down for the summer

Well, I haven't gone anywhere this summer. In fact, I think I haven't traveled since our trip to the desert in the beginning of April. It has been great. That said, I worked a lot- especially as a substitute teacher in May and then the recent coordination and directing of a summer school program in July. It has been great to be home so much but I am ready for a reprieve from work. With the exception of Jake and Page's Wedding (3 days away), Kate and Mats' Wedding (1 night away), and an overnight at Deas Island Regional Park, I have been home every night for a long time. It feels good to me now that I am not traveling like I was last year or even a decade ago.

Since May I have been "writing my exams" and this period is to end at the end of August. I am very behind, and am writing this blog as yet ANOTHER means of procrastination. But this has been one of the occupations of my time. Writing and reading. It's challenging but definitely fun. It makes me feel good that I can actually recall some of the literature I have read. It's even more fun when I can piece the literature together in ways that develop some ideas of how I perceive myself, the world, and future research possibilities.

I did take a break one day and drove up to Blaine to hang out with Biggs and ponder the meaning of the universe... and to enjoy a beer in a hammock on his property... wow they have done a lot of work to that place!

I also found some tree trimmers and asked if they could drop off wood chips and mulch at our house. They were happy to oblige... with TWO big truck loads and in 6 weeks I have moved nearly all of it to the rehabilitation project that is our backyard. It is exciting to create space for newly planted trees and shrubs; I hope that they all grow big and strong!

And as a result of not going anywhere, some folks have stopped in to see us. It was great to recently have cousin Aaron and Jenna stay over for a couple of nights. We ate, drank, walked, laughed, and enjoyed the timelessness of summer together. We also celebrated Katie's birthday with an impromptu lunch and a kind-of planned dinner with Kevin too.

Another small report is that Michelle and I decided to try a 30x30 challenge. Its small but a good reminder of the importance of being active, going outside, and spending time together. We are making the effort to walk together for 30 minutes a day and the goal is to make this for 30 days in a row. So far we haven't missed a day- and this morning marked the 13th day. Hoorah!

Interestingly enough, the speed limit outside our home has been reduced to 30 from 40. It is neat what a community of people can do if they are interested in making change.

School starts in less than a month and I have to finish these exams, put in 40 hours of research work, repair the chimney, build a wood shed, split firewood, process a bird, and make some soap. All of this might be doable.... but probably not :) I'll be OK with finishing the writing. If I can get the chimney in too that would be a bonus, but I'd be OK if that happened in early September too.

Here are some pictures. And then, back to writing :)