Today I turned 40 years old with a bottle of champagne and my family on a summit overlooking the North Cascades. We kicked off the weekend on the Pacific Crest Trail at Harts Pass near Canada. The PCT was the first “big girl” trail I hiked after moving to Seattle in 2013. Spending time in complete silence (for hours) was a first for me. It truly changed my life. When I finally grew comfortable paying attention without immediately reacting, I was really able to listen and see life around me in a way I never had before. If someone asks what really led to the end of my career, it was an internal shift I have a hard time describing but ultimately resembles self-awareness, and it probably began on the PCT. I met several through hikers this weekend who started at the Mexico border and were almost done. I asked what they planned to do after such an accomplishment. “Go home and get back to work,” most said. At first it seems anticlimactic but I remember Trent Peterson, a young man whose story I told years ago, as he rode wild mustangs along the PCT. He used to say that the PCT is just a trail, what matters is that we slow down, pay attention and see clearly whatever path we’re on. I looked up a quote from that report to share with you all.
“This isn't to advocate for the PCT. The PCT is just a trail. Get out of the rat race and slow down. Pay attention to the little things, not just the big things, because it's the whole picture we need to be aware of," he said.
Years ago I envisioned a life without daily poop patrol. I figured my kids would be out of diapers and I could say goodbye to the stink. I was wrong! Managing poop is a a big part of farming. It takes some learning but if you do it well, you can use it to your advantage.
One item I will never grow out of is the fermented cod liver/concentrated butter oil from Green Pasture which keeps my bones strong for poop scooping and also saved my teeth from chronic cavities years ago. It’s packed with vitamins A,D & K along with omega 3s. You get 10% off at checkout with promo code “ALISON”. https://greenpasture.org/
What do you think? Does Hei Hei have repressed anger towards our other rooster, energizing his need to dominate us? Does he need a therapist? Or a crockpot?
Did you know that omega 3 fatty acids like DHA & EPA protect the brain from inflammation and help foster a healthy nervous system? Maybe Hei Hei needs some? I get a good daily dose from the fermented cod liver/concentrated butter oil from Green Pasture. Use promo code “ALISON” for 10% off at check out.
https://greenpasture.org/
I noticed water below our outdoor freezer today and opened it up to find that a lot of the meat was starting to defrost. We aren’t sure if the seal has an issue or something else is wrong but it was a very close call. Luckily we salvaged all of the meat because I caught it quickly. We had nearly a half-cow’s worth of beef inside it. It would be a big loss for anyone to have to throw away that amount of meat, but for us, it has the added layer of meaning: we raised that cow. We are grateful for the food in a way we took for granted before becoming farmers.
Thankfully the fermented cod liver/concentrated butter oil from Green Pasture doesn’t need to be frozen! Keep it with you inside your house fridge. I used to get chronic cavities and it stopped my longtime battle - I finally started getting perfect checkups at the dentist! Taking it is part of my daily routine which will now also include checking our freezers! https://greenpasture.org/
https://www.thefocalpoints.com/p/breaking-gates-foundation-funds-first?
Great. Just what we don’t need. Gates really is a James Bond villain
