new j.o.b.

hi! I got a new job! I'm going to be working for a farm on Vashon Island called Sea Breeze Farm. They raise their own animals and also have a restaurant in town. I will be the chef's assistant, butcher's assistant and learn about charcuterie, cheese making, wine making, sausage making, and cured meats! I'm going to learn so much! I'm so excited, scared, happy, nervous, pumped, inspired.

I really believe this is a step in the right direction for me. It's an extremely small farm with ten people working there total, and the restaurant is completely grass roots. Everyone loves working there, you can feel it when you're there, and you can see it from the products they make. They are beyond organic, they practice the system of grazing each different type of animal behind the other in order to maximize a fertile environment. They treat their animals so well, and because of that the products come out phenomenal.

For my interview I helped make head cheese and pate with the chef. Then I cut up a pigs head for guanciale (cured pig cheek) with the butcher. It was amazing, and I learned so much in just that one day. Just gaining the knowledge about butchery seems like an important life skill to me, plus my knife skill will get pretty precise. I want to be able to look at a piece of meat one day and say, that's whatever it is, and it's really great quality, or vice versa. I also want to be able to cook an amazing meal for 25 of my favorite people one night, like it ain't no thang, and I think I will be able to after I start working and learning about the art of farm to table.

AHHHHH I'm so excited!

Check them out here:
http://www.seabreezefarm.net

Plus everyday at work we eat lunch together, just something that the chef whips up from the restaurant and we sit outside on the deck and enjoy our meal together. It's so dreamy!

There's so much to learn!

Today I drew. I was going to upload my drawing, but then I forgot my camera chord when I went to the cafe. I drew my favorite flower that is growing in my garden. Then I squished it in my book so I could keep it forever. Then I noticed a really oniony scent coming from it. Then I wondered if it was edible. Then I took some of it and tasted it. Then I realized it was a chive flower. IMAGINE THAT! My favorite flower in the garden is an edible chive flower! THINGS JUST KEEP GETTING BETTER HERE!!!!!

Foraging

I foraged for the first time last weekend. I foraged for stinging nettles in the forest next to my house, with gloves on, and then made stinging nettle linguini. It was delicious, hearty, and most of all fresh. I was so excited and happy to do this!

I also have two new neighbors that I see daily. One is a beautiful bright pink and green hummingbird, who I call hummy. I hear him every morning, look out my window and see him flying around and hanging out on all the trees. He is really talkative, and likes to drink the nectar from some of the flowers in my garden. He's a funny one and really has his own personality. My other neighbors are a family of Eagles. I see them daily but less often. Maybe only once a day. They get really close to my porch and I just sit still when they fly so close to me because I don't want them to go away. They are ENORMOUS and so awesome!

I love my new home!

ummmmm

ummmm i just got an isolated cabin on Vashon Island for the summer that has a view of the puget sound, a terraced garden, and apple trees in the back yard. What?!

Life Goals

I have three new life goals to add to my list:

1. Buy a camper van and drive around the U.S. for an extended amount of time.
2. Hike the PCT for 5 months.
3. Motorcycle or Scoot down the 101.

crafting

I WANT AN AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD PUPPY.

Just look at how cute they are, OMGad:





AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD PUPPY > any other puppy or cat

I discovered this when I went over to Azure's to "go out" for her last night in town. We went crrraazzzzzyyyyyy!!!!!! I stayed up until 2:30/3ish, Azure stayed up until 5ish, partying? nope, matting! Wooooooooooooooohooooooo. Fun times!

Actually it was fun, and relaxing, and productive, which I am all for these days.

Azure measures dimensions for photos:




I cut the mat paper with the expensive yet precise mat cutter



Look at how nice the mat looks!



Then Azure went bye bye. Bye Azure! See you and Mike in February! I will miss you guys!

Today, I bought a styrofoam cone



And some feathers:





And made a feather tree! While listening to the fleet foxes!



It really is winter, isn't it?

library

Who loves the library?! I do!!!!

I borrowed so many gems today from the library. They were all on hold for me. I love making my hold list and picking it up. Today I borrowed:

The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I've been meaning to read this f.o.r.e.v.e.r. but just haven't really gotten to it. Now I want to read it and then watch the movie.

True Blood Season 1. I've heard it's the best. Now I watch it, for free!!!!!

A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. It's sad that this man committed suicide before seeing his work in print. Then it goes on to win the pulitzer.

Dolly My Life and Other Unfinished Business by Dolly Parton. It's for book club at work. Don't judge me.

I love that this was all free. Free! Free! Free! So many hours of entertainment for free!