Annual Letter 2011

The moon looked exactly like a lemon wedge this morning as I tip-toed across the frosty deck to the hot tub. The rind of this lemony half-moon was bright and solid. The rest of the wedge was filled with pale flesh and frilly edges. Even so, it was bright enough to sparkle off the lacey ice that coated the hot tub cover.

I have started nearly every morning of the year this way, although the weather conditions varied from the crisp promise of spring to the balmy breath of summer to blustery autumn winds to the icy silence or slashing rains of winter. The weather does not bother me, although I do not go out if there is thunder and lightning, for obvious reasons. It is so fortunate we do not have much of that around here because my morning soak is very important to me. I find time to relax, let go, sip my tea, notice the world around me, and dream.

Relaxing is good. I would like to do far more of that, not because I do not want to engage with my world, but because relaxing (not just my body, but my mind and spirit, too) is the foundation of creativity for me. It is the precursor to letting go which ironically leads to noticing my world, inside and out. As the birds begin to wake, I can feel my sleeping Self transform from hunched up on a branch with my head tucked down between my wings and feathers fluffed up to head up and the first song of the morning offered. I begin to sort through my current repertoire of “stuff” and allow only the most melodious, best thoughts to remain. I then sail forth on whatever feels inspiring in the moment. I am pretty sure the tea helps with this.

The symphony of choices life offers me is boundless. From these choices I compose rather copiously. So much so that I think this coming year I just want to play the same songs for a while, to perfect and enjoy them. Whatever choice I make, if it is made with passion and the awareness that I made the choice of my own free will, I am happy and consume each moment with gusto. Besides, nothing is stagnant. If I do not like how things are going I change course. This approach to life is very satisfying to me. I rarely look back, although sharing certain aspects of my year with you is pleasurable because in the telling I experience it again. Therefore, you will only get to hear about what I liked about this past year, and only a small portion really because there is so much good to say.

This was our second year running a B & B out of our home. What a great way to meet people! We had the best guests ever; full of enthusiasm and appreciation. I got to cook them great meals and hear their sighs of pleasure as they dove into our fresh eggs, veggies, and fruits. Because of them, I made my kitchen a test station for new and inventive breakfast foods and because of my desire to remove gluten from my diet, many of those baked items were gluten-free and delicious.

One of the most popular aspects of this farm is the goat milk production. Much thanks and appreciation must go to Willow, the goat, who deserves her own Facebook Page. The rest of the thanks goes to me for getting up every morning and milking while still half asleep and doing the same at the end of the day no matter how tired. I am devoted to this endeavor because I LOVE the milk and the kefir…and the cheesecake and the ice cream. I also love the happy faces that come visit our Honor System Kiosk to buy the many and varied goat goodies. The only territory I have yet to venture into with the goat milk is hard cheese and soap. I have a difficult time considering the making of soap mostly because goat milk is FOOD, nutritious, delicious food. It seems like such waste to make it into soap. I would rather give excess milk (if we have it) to the chickens so they can transform the nutrition into eggs!

This year we saw such a drop in egg laying from our lovely hens that we had to rethink our situation. As with the goats, I have chickens because I love fresh, organic eggs. The fact that I also love the girls is icing on the cake. The problem is the girls are getting old and I acquired them randomly over the years (“oh, honey, baby chicks! We don’t have this kind or that kind. Let’s get four of those, two of those, and…hmmm…how about six of those.”) Years later I do not remember how old any of them are. All I know is they have pretty much stopped laying. So, this year we decided to get more organized. Now, we have 25 Black Stars, 25 Rhode Island Reds, and 20 Americanas, all due to start laying in the Spring. Half of the older hens were sold to a couple wanting chickens for decoration in their garden. The other half…well, we have not decided what to do with them, yet. We are just happy when we get two or three eggs these days.

We are not all farm and no play, though. Dave and I took time off from the manure and maintenance to road trip twice. Once to Kings Canyon and the Alabamas just below the Mt. Whitney Portal and once to the Feather River area in the Sierras. The first trip was in a car and the second on the Harley.
The Alabamas are a “do-not-miss” experience. I love rock and there is a lot of rock there. The rock formations are famous, made so by Hollywood in movies like Ghingas Khan and by actors like John Wayne. While we were there they were making a commercial for Chevy Trucks, but this was not really an issue for us because the area is quite vast. The film crew and all the props, including the fleet of black chevys, disappeared into the landscape. I have made a personal promise to myself to get back there with my beloved Indie. Riding and camping with the horses in the Alabamas would be awesome. Consider this an open invitation to join me and Indie in the Alabamas!

The trip on the Harley was blissful, with two major highlights. One was visiting my old friend, Buzz McCann, and his partner, Carla, whom I had never met before and liked very much. Seeing Buzz was a warm and fuzzy feeling for me as I did not realize how much I missed him. Buzz and Carla live on the outskirts of Quincy, near Graeagle, a small town that lies between Quincy and the high desert off Hwy. 89. After visiting with Buzz & Carla, Dave and I stayed at the River Pines Resort in Graeagle and found a restaurant specializing in Margaritas and Fried Chicken!! That experience while surrounded by pines, rivers, mountains and fresh air was heavenly.

However, the most heavenly aspect of my life resides in the relationships I have with my kiddos, my partner, my friends, and Indie (my horse). I miss my daughter, Eyla, enormously, mostly because I live with just two guys now and it drives me crazy not having female perspective besides my own. Her level-headed, focused approach to life is taking her places, though, and I am very proud of her. She is currently Assistant Manager for Enterprise at the San Jose Airport. Alex is the best son ever. He is a comfort to be with, polite (most of the time), willing to help out when I ask, finishing up his Personal Trainer Certification, and assisting in the creation of a new Airsoft business in Sonoma County. Dave had major back surgery in November and is a new man. He is so happy with the outcome of the surgery and we are looking forward to many a road trip in 2012. My friends are the sweet desserts of my daily life, popping in and out whether by visiting me, saying hi on Facebook, emailing, or phoning. I love knowing they are there feathering my nest with their unique perspectives and interesting ideas. That is what I love about friends and family; no matter whether I am in my hunkered down, fluffed up mode or my singing-out-loud-life-is-wonderful mode, they are there.

Thanks for being one of the feathers in my nest. Have a great year and stay in touch!
 

This newsletter is dedicated to my cherished family and to all my friends
including: Debra and Holly, my childhood friends who remain close even after nearly 50 years, to Kalia, a friend since I was 16 who is such a match to who I am and thankfully leads the way, to Kip, who came to brighten my days this fall as she picked up her life and moved it to California, to Lorene, who is braver than I will ever be, to Katherine, who honors me with her resilience, to Maria, who is a song in my heart and a heck of a strong woman, to Didi, who is the best housecleaner ever and saved my behind this year, to Kathy, who is a touchstone, a cornerstone, a gem stone, to my mom (yes, she is a friend), who I love so very, very much for her deep acceptance of who I am, and to Indie, who makes me laugh and is central to my dreams.