Farm Friends

I had a great time in Humboldt visiting my CASA kid and having a few days to get personal affairs in order. Tearing myself away from Pat on Sunday was a challenge. I told Matt and Lauren (former college-roommate and much-admired lifelong friends) I’d make it to Eugene by mid-afternoon, but I seemed to keep finding all sorts of little domestic things to do that can be so enjoyable to do as a couple. We went to the gym, made breakfast, went on a walk, picked rosemary for Matt and Lauren, loaded the car, and suddenly it wasn’t 6 a.m. anymore.

 I thought I could make up time on the road, but those plans came to a screeching halt — literally — as I rounded a bend in the I-5 with a pack of five other cars and suddenly rubber was burning in all directions. The traffic was at a dead-stop for five minutes, then crawled for over an hour, completely dashing my hopes of claiming some semblance of an on-time arrival. Argh!  

 Despite my tardy arrival, Lauren, Matt and I still had a fun afternoon and evening planting a few things in the garden, catching up, and sharing a wonderful meal. I love the farm where they live and am always so impressed to see all the fun projects they are working on.

 

Right now they’re putting in a hand-hewn cedar fence, just planted a wonderful fruit orchard, and they put in filbert (hazelnut) starts in the front pasture. I can’t wait to see it in a few years! Barely second to my wanderlust  is my crush on the pastoral life. Both Pat and I would love to have a place out of town and live a subsistence existence. Maybe someday when my love of travel subsides. (Ha!)

Lauren had to work until the afternoon the day following my arrival, so I busied myself with a run in the countryside, then tidying up, potting the basil starts, and watching the bees and hummingbirds go crazy with the sugar-water feeder.

   

Lauren made some killer mac’n’cheese for dinner, and the only thing that would have made the evening better is having Pat there. Lauren and Matt are one of our favorite couples to spend time with, and I knew Pat was sad to be  missing it. After a fun breakfast on Tuesday morning, complete with freshly ground and hydrated black beans from last year’s harvest (like refried beans), Lauren was off to work and I was off to Eugene!