Polymath Chronicles

I've been putting off writing this post for about 2 months. 

I've put my house up for sale. Annie is in training and not at home, Prize went to a much better home than I could give him, given the craziness that is currently my life.  It's very weird not having livestock at home (other than poultry). With Annie in training until mid-September, I don't have to worry about her. When I pick her up, she'll be rideable, and I will be able to continue her training in dressage and driving. Kiri will be caring for the 'Tater (Who's Your Daddy), who won't be weaned until at least December, and probably later, given that mid-winter isn't a good time for that kind of stress.

I have come to the realization that I can't live where it rains 80-90 inches per year.  I have asthma, and this last year has just about killed me.  My 1984, semi-permeable mobile home is full of mold, mildew and assorted fungi - probably the reason I developed my anaphylactic mushroom allergy. I have had more lung problems in the last 2 years, than all the years before, and find myself increasingly short of breath (ok, I'm out of shape, too, but not that bad...).

I've also realized that I'm not like normal people.  I thrive on change.  Oh, I can stay put in a job for several years, but then I need to be doing something different. I've been at my current job for 6 years.  To say that I'm feeling chaffed, is putting it mildly - twitchy is a better adjective. My current job is as close to a dream job as you can get - good people, good, interesting stuff to do, and good pay.  However, it's in a location that will do me in. 

Some of my favorite jobs were temporary in nature.  I would go, clean things up, kick butt, take names - they loved me and I moved on. Life was good.  I also really enjoyed working for myself, setting my own hours, doing fun stuff in between doing my work.  I'm not all that concerned with my future - so long as I keep putting in my share, the universe has always provided what I need at the time.

So, my plan is to sell the house (mainly the land - the house isn't worth much), and move east to central Oregon.  The climate is more like Reno - I miss that way more than I thought I would.  It's has more "big sky" than where I live now. Walton is in a canyon, and while the trees and green are very nice, my eyes are feeling squished. 

By the end of summer (Sept/Oct) I will have relocated.

The hardest part right now is that I feel like I've failed as a farmer.  Anybody can have chickens...  Someday, I'll have another place and have pigs and sheep and maybe goats (along with the ponies), but for now, even the chickens are going to a new home soon (which they already have, thank goodness). It's very strange not to have hooved stock outside the back door - that's what brought me to Oregon in the first place! I wanted a place where my sheep could graze for at least part of the year, so I wouldn't have to feed so much hay. Now I have unused hay in my barn.  It won't go to waste - I'll haul it over to Correy to help feed Kiri and 'Tater. But it's like it's the end of a dream. I'm hoping it's just a suspension, and that I'll get back to it. 

The universe may have other ideas, though.  There are other things in the works, which are too nebulous to mention now.  If they solidify, I'll post about them later.

In the meantime, I'm purging stuff like mad.  I'm hoping to get down to just the bare essentials beyond bed, loom, fiber stuff, cd's and books - that's not asking too much, is it?

Last weekend, I spent Thursday through Sunday in Prineville.  My goddaughter, Brin, got married.  Now, you probably didn't know I had a goddaughter.  I was given the honorary title of Fairy Godmother by Brin, who is Correy's daughter.  There are actually several of us Fairy Godmothers in Brin's life - we all love her very much.  FG Sue made her veil from the wool of one of Correy's sheep, and FG Belinda made her dress. When they announced that they wanted pictures of the new couple with the moms, we FG's all looked at each other and decided they didn't mean us!

My part in the wedding was to deliver Brin in all her gorgeousness to the base of the aisle in the pony cart.


I'm concentrating really hard!

The wedding was outside, and the weather was perfect, after a morning scare.  It was raining Saturday morning, and we were all a little concerned.  By about 9:30, though, it quit, and then for the ceremony, it was just overcast, perfect for pictures.  After the ceremony, the clouds broke up and it was sunny, and the party was on!

I don't really like having my picture taken.  So when a friend was aiming my way, standing with Correy to my right, I stuck out my tongue.  Unfortunately, another "friend" took advantage of another angle and got the shot.  Ok, so it's not my best pose!

We had a great time, as did all of the participants and guests.

I think I've been bitten by the driving bug.  After driving Levi (the pony), I could just picture Annie in harness. She has a a really lovely trot - very elevated action, which shows off the feathers on her lower legs. While she's not as dark as Honey was, she's still a pretty good looking pony. I may try to get her and Prize trained to cart - he's pretty flashy, too!  First, I need to get a harness.  Ok, first I need to start working with Annie and get her used to basic things before the harness parts...

Tomorrow, I'm starting the trip to Reno, via Prineville, to pick up the travel trailer that my dad is giving to me.  It's a 1979, 19.5 ft. Komfort.  It's going to be used as the party pad at sheep shows and the guest house at home.  While in Reno, I'm hoping to get together with all the friends down there, as well as seeing family - too much fun!!

Once again, I find myself with 2 horses, neither of whom is rideable.  With Kiri pregnant (her udder is developing, so there’s no question now…), she’s out of action.  Annie hasn’t gotten there yet.