Stretching, yawning and scratching my head as I itemize the recovery plan for shedding winter weary, I have read some old posts revealing the quirky thoughts swirling in my head. Though a pastoral life would be an accurate pigeon hole for me, routine would not find a place on the list of descriptives for me. Last year's pictures stir fond memories of wonder and blunders; it all leads back to gratitude and a reaffirmation of the 5F's. My current time and place in life needs to focus on family, friends, farm and faith. Notice that failing is not among this list. My long winter absence from this journal is largely related to the constraints of time, especially productive time. While the weather this winter was untypically mild, the season itself was a functional challenge that frequently confounded my broken brain. I did spend the season as a winter hiking guide for Smuggs, and managed to complete most treks but my injured brain and resulting mis-abled movement stranded me a few times. It was a sharp reminder that time will march on and my warbling state of unwellness will keep in close pace with that rate of momentum. New meds, new priorities and tempered ambition brings me back to a doable reality. My plans for a soft fruit plantation, where once I rescued horses, become more vivid and the first steps for this conversion will take place in June. My motorcycle pursuits have evolved into a more practical journey with my surrender of the solo two wheeled adventure, transforming to the pursuit of a URAL side car rig with two wheel drive for both on and off road, in all seasons. I can tooly-dooly around my farm and still be road-legal it style, without the perils of dropping the bike. In the rideless months of winter, I have happily grown a kindred relationship with a favorite Harley driver becoming his official pillion riding enthusiast. An unexpected but deeply affectioned relationship nurtured from a mutual passion for loud pipes, Vermont roads and the other-adventures. So begins a new season of green and sleeveless days in the Former Republic of Vermont, my beloved Green Mountain State. In permaculture, the belief and practice that there is no such thing as waste ~ only misplaced energy: it's all good. Ride on...peace ~ ell
