dancing, battle horn, people, new land

So I have not been keeping up with this, but we've been so busy and had many guests. I'm not sure where to start. Farmers markets have been going well, although folks aren't tearing into the chocolates as i had thought they would, but Shevy's jewelry is in demand. Every week he gets at least one new commission, so we've had the most profitable markets days ever, which is cool because then we can buy shit from all of our friends so they have good market days too. Last week, Shevy got me a battle horn which is a cleaned and polished buffalo horn. I am working on making it produce the perfect call, but it kind of tastes like ass when i play it. We've also been doing more ceilidh dancing, and i'm getting better at it, and its actually fun. I never thought organized dancing could be fun.

Our friends Rain and Sealu are visiting now, and my Mom is coming next Tues, so i am kind of overwhelmed with guests right now. Its fun though, i will miss these days come winter, but i think i'll be ready for the rest and calm of a landscape of snow. Until then though, the garden is doing ok, our lettice is going well, and cabbage and chard are getting big. Our burgundy beans are flowering and zucchini and pat-a-pans too. We've gotten a few radishes and one beet so far too.

Ok, so i've beaten around the bush enough so far, i have big news. We're moving to another property, still in Candy Kitchen, but we'll have a lot more room to grow and we'll be further away from the road, so more peace and quiet. Our neighbor and friend Jo, is giving us a chunk of her 30s acres and in exchange we'll live there, near by and help her take car of the land and her horses and goats. She's getting older and though her spirit is vibrant, her body body keeps telling her to slow down a little bit and i don't mind helping with the grunt work. Sheves and i have always wanted to take care of horses and goats. The goats are babies, so when they grow up i will learn all about milking and cheese making. I figure its a good idea to learn how to make my favorite food ever, since i already eat so much of it. Jo is going to Texas for three weeks, but after that we will start the move and hopefully be settled by winter. No more grid power though, but we're going to scrounge together some solar panels to have lights and maybe a stereo, but Jo has a good set up at her house for solar, so i may set up my beloved robotic bread slave over there so i can still make fresh bread all the time. I'm excited and nervous about this all, but i think its going to work out great. I'm not looking forward to having to break everything down and move it and reset up. Like the dog yard and the chickens, I hope its not a rough move on the animals. I already am planning to improve both dog and chicken areas though, and i think they'll like it over there. I'm being called to dinner so this is all for now.

2 poems

First one:

Now is not the time.

Tonight is not the night.

I draw up from the roots,

healing amber flow

from the mouth of the goat,

And clear water,

from the mouth of the stag,

To ice the fire in my eye,

To form my will,

from a single crystal,

and fall back to the earth,

in a summer storm,

seeping down to the well

from wense it came.

Tis only the beginning.

Second one:

A thousand years ago it was,

And we awake now,

With the old Gods in our blood,

The old ways in our thoughts and dreams,

The old tales in our songs and hearts.

We are the fruitful green,

which breaks free of the earth,

reaching skyward,

after the long storm.

The chariot rumbles home,

and we are inspired by a new song,

A glimpse of the iron hammer,

a flash,

And we awake stronger now.

Inspired by Uruz, Thurisaz, and Ansuz.

happy garden, sad eyeball, chainmail, no more Sparkle balls

It has been a while since my last update, and not to much has happened. The gardens are doing great due to even more unseasonable rains, although now it is time for the monsoon rains to come. Today its very humid but coolish and cloudy. We're harvesting lettuce now and more chard, and soon some cabbage. Shevy ate an unripe beet this morning, I guess for fun, and it upset his stomach, surprise surprise.

I haven't wanted to write for a while because my good eyeball has been in bad shape. Swollen and angry, and thus i could not look into the glowing computer screen of death. I have been playing more bass, studying and meditating on the runes and writing some poetry again after so many years of not doing o. I will post them later. We did very well at farmers market last week on jewelry and chocolates, and it was a wonderful day of trading and gift giving with our neighbors. We got fresh goat cheese and blue tortillas!

Shevy has spent much of the past week getting back into making chainmail and leather working. He made an awesome chainmail belt and now he's making one for Billy. Billy and I both have requested bracers too. He also made this amazing braided silver knot work ring that the guy he works with commissioned. Its totally brutal; if i wore rings i would want one.

Not too much else to report, same old country life chores, animals are all doing well. Aspen is still almost as evil as Squishy cat. Squishy has been sporting a new red and black sparkle bow around her neck. And little Sparki is going to have his balls lopped off next week. Fun fun fun.