In Chicago-land for the weekend. Time passes. Life continues. I breathe in the ways I do. I freeze watermelon and tomatoes and salsas and sopas. I can applesauce and dry chiles and herbs and apples. in preparation for winter. I despair at the fullness of my freezer and trust that this year is the first year. or the 24th year. or the year and that there are abundant years to freeze more and can more and prepare more. or rather to do as much as I do when I do it.

Daniel and I consider possibilities as mid/late November indicates the conclusion of the season on Henry’s farm. Possibilities abundant and endless. Curious to me how frequently I find myself considering the endless possibilities. And wondering where I will continue. and how. I am currently confident in my desire to grow food. for me, my friends, my family, for the Unicorn Cafe if I am in the area of this chicago-space.

This season I have had my elbows deep in the “dampness of the earth” (as described by Ken of Pouquette’s, vendor of tea oh bliss Chinese tea direct from farms in China). I have tasted tomatoes, fermented tomatoes, wormy tomatoes, pristine tomatoes, red tomatoes, green tomatoes, tie-dye tomatoes, yellow tomotoes, orange tomatoes, striped tomatoes, fuzzy tomatoes, shapes and sizes and smells

I have eaten the sweet corn directly plucked from the plant. the candy bi-color sweet corn, so sweet that some say that they cannot eat more than a few bites. oh bliss and blessings.  I can eat a whole ear or two.  I may have a sweet tooth or teeth for sweet corn.

My arms are spotted with bug bites and rashes, from..?? plant oils?? parsnip burn?? poison ivies??

and the noise of the bugs. the noisy bugs.

at times, I fantasize about the winter. about time off the farm. about time to wake when I wake. about time to take a walk for however long I do. about stored potatoes and frozen edamame.

I’m thinking about Mexico. about buying land outside of chicago and living in a yurt. about making espresso drinks at the Unicorn. about drying and freezing papaya. about waste water systems. about permaculture. about what resonates with me. about sustaining myself. about how in love I am with my little loves, the pups.

hmmm.

oh week end.

Daniel’s papas are in El Derramadero right now. They wanted to take us along, and they gave us a week’s notice, at which time we thought we would rather give Henry more notice if we were to take off for two weeks. Thus we are not there. and I am curious curious of the chickens, and the chicks- bubblemonster and nails. I am curious curious of the oven. and of la familia. and of El Punto Loco. and everything. of the days. and the nights. and the dogs. and the rainy season.

mmm.

and I realize that I am where I am, and that is where I need to be when I am.

!!Life

I was identified this weekend by my yoga poses and as a farmer.

I was surprised to be called a farmer, as I consider myself a me who works on a farm.  and I cultivate my life.  my life-art.  I farm life. when I do.