Feeling overwhelmed again with love..  Things have been wrapping up in part, as Hannah is finishing her time here at Tierra Nueva (she has babysitting jobs the rest of summer), and I am visiting home for a few days, and shall return to live in un lugar nuevo.  I have hopes for this new place of living- I'm dreaming up the possibilities, as it is not yet decided..  Anyway, with this wrapping up, Hannah has been having a hard time, feeling like she just got here, and things are just getting to be really good: friendships are becoming solid and so much fun, we just had our first harvest and deliveries, and we cleaned up the little barn today for pick-ups.  But, we realize that with saying goodbye comes reflections, and the savoring of words and moments.

This last week has been absolutely amazing, and Hannah and I have been savoring each moment.  We were utterly blessed with a visit from Hannah's friends, Jane and Gil, who are some of the most life-filled, spirit-filled people I've met.  Jane is an older woman, but she just goes all day.  She is genuinely interested in getting to know a person, their history, their passions, their plans.  She can fill a car-ride or a 2-hour lunch and tea or a walk with engaging, uplifting, meaningful conversation.  She can change a frustrating, toilsome chore into an entertaining team sport.  When we were with her, there was always plenty of laughter.

La risa... Hannah and I have been laughing each day, so hard.  Our spirits are blessed to live in a good-humored community with hilarious people.  Each person has their quirks that make us laugh.  Salvio, always saying, "Wow", or "Okee", or posing.. Victoria's laughter which is just contagious.. the silly phrases that flow from Sara Jo's lips in her serious tone... Nico's expressions and impressions.. Laura's goofiness.. Hannah's pouty face (above).

At the farm:
Things have been great.  I recently learned that I LOVE hilling potatoes.  It is such fun.  Today, we got to finish weeding and hilling potatoes that we started on Saturday.  We finished after an hour or two, and then we began weeding another section- fava beans, peas, and cebolla (onion), not because we had to, but because we just couldn't get enough of sacando la hierba (weeding)!  5pm came, and I had a really hard time pulling myself out of the field because I saw so many weeds encroaching on our little plants and the weather was nice and I was able... But alas, I said goodbye to the fields for a while, reassuring the plants that I hadn't forgotten about them, that I will return to them in a week.  As hard as it was to leave the field, I knew the next thing on the agenda would probably be really good, and I had to remember the goodness of the field, move through to the next thing, and trust that all would turn out well.  Tonight, it did.  Nico suggested we take Hannah out to the Food Co-op for dinner to celebrate her time with us, so we proceeded to place a paper bag over her head and surprise her at the Co-op.  All of us from the farm came, in all our dirt from the day of work, and joined for food.  After, Hannah and I decided to ride our bicis (bikes) back to the Co-op to get some delish local ice-cream.  It was a beautiful time.  I love that place, and I love Hannah.

More about the farm- guess who else loves lettuce besides you and I?  Babosas (slugs).  Guacala.  I can't handle them.  I squeal like a little girl almost every time I encounter one.  Eek.  Especially when there is skin contact.. Anyway, I don't mean to make you squirm, but they have been a big part of my life lately.  Luckily, today Hannah and I got to harvest everything else- the leeks, leek scapes, and kale. And we got to take a share home!  So pray that these veggies ride well on the train to Portland.  It is really rich to harvest beautiful veggies.

Ah, I also found this incredible weeping willow on the farm, and climbed up into it (of course).  It was so comforting to finally have a perfect tree- they can be especially hard to find when most property is private.

And now it is time to rest up for tomorrow, which should be another beautiful, long, last day for us.  Then Wednesday morning we head to Seattle and next to Portland..
Thanks for reading!