back on the farm

I have left hot and dry Melbourne and have arrived in cold snowy Illinois.

And I am tired and hungry. The difference is marked.

The trip was long. I don’t usually drag my body across the work with such speed. But I don’t have time to waste now. There is a sense of urgency in everything. It might take me a few days to catch up.

While I was gone, John bought a new wood-stove. I look forward to cooking on it.

I will be here almost two months then we change hemispheres again. The game is afoot.

Here is my newsletter from Sunday, in which we have the second to last chapter of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and I explore my next mission as doula for my daughter in Australia.

All up I will spend more time in Australia than on the farm for the next couple of years. It feels very old fashioned and valuable to be able to work with her on growing and raising her baby. And I won’t leave people to struggle on alone in my family. I know how that is. I did that and barely got away with it. My children would have benefited greatly by having a grandparent full time in our lives. It would have been a game-changer to me as a solo parent. But I had no help from my family. It was hard. Living on different continents won’t stop me. I am going to make this happen.

I feel like I have purpose.

Here is the new wood stove. Isn’t it lovely.

After I have visited the animals I am going to get in a load of wood and crank up the heat then cook lunch. Then make a grocery list and maybe even start some bread. I really am very hungry. And looking forward to putting this stove through its paces!

The house is cold. It might take a moment to acclimatize to that. My body still feels warm from the sunny days gardening and walking in Melbourne.

No walking here.

Too cold.

Take care and Talk soon.

Celi