If I really wanted to, I'm sure I could conjure up 30 separate moments of gratitude I've experienced in just the few short weeks I've been here at Copper Horse Vineyard and farm. This #WWOOFing experience thus far has exceeded my expectations in so many beautiful ways, and I am already feeling forlorn about the quickly approaching day when I will have to bid adu to my new quirky farm family. Here is an example of a typical day:
6:22am- Reluctantly, I get up. Even though the sun is barely peeking up over the mountains and the air in my tiny home/bungalow blows in crisp and cool through the open windows.
6:30am- I open up the barn and say hello to all my farm animal friends. My job is feeding and checking waters for everybody while Eric mucks Rosie's stall and Gina milks Lakota. Lakota ain't no chump, and knows a rookie when she meets one. Because of this, I only attempt evening milkings...when the stakes are not nearly as high, nor the reward nearly as voluminous.
7:00am- Yoga and tai chi. The first week I did this in the main house with E&G, but after a few mornings, I decide to start doing my own yoga on the mountain-facing porch of my bungalow.
7:30am-8ish- Eric prepares us breakfast. Typically a poached egg; his impossibly runny, basically raw and mine more of a "6 minute egg" and some kind of homemade bread. Lately either crumpets (not kidding) or "Italian Muffins" which are exactly the same as English muffins, but as Eric pointed out, "Are made by an Italian, which makes them Italian muffins, not English." Touche. OH- and the coffee is equally delightful, Nespresso made goat milk and local honey. I usually have two, shamelessly.
8ish-12ish- Pulling weeds in the vineyard. Yup, by hand. But just the really big, mean, spikey/viney ones that would otherwise hinder the weedeater. I wear my cowgirl boots, running shorts, and a tank top with gloves most days. I've been listening to audiobooks and usually finishing 10-15 rows by lunch. Eric follows behind with the weedeater most days.
12ish- Lunchtime! Most days either leftovers or a quesadilla with cheese and various veggies from the garden. Usually followed by another latte, because such is the French and Italian way and I would never want to offend my hosts....
1ish-4:30pm-
I have all this beautiful time to myself! During this time I have done various things including but not limited to: reading one of two books, showering, writing in my journal, writing in my blog, snake hunting, napping, watching Netflix, watching the clouds, more yoga, personal dance parties, listening to more of the audiobook, researching my next move, listening to podcasts, attempting to meditate, being present, being grateful-always.
4:30- Barn critter feeding time round 2! This time I get to do the milking with Lakota. If we get more than 8oz before she starts tap dancing on my hands...it's a good day (we've only had a few good days. HA!)
6ish- We dine. And I say this specifically, because to the Defaschelles, dinner is an art. Every night has been geographically themed and expertly paired with wines from all over the world. They have not once cooked themselves something different, but instead have created culinary experiences unique to my dietary preferences, that suits us all. They have challenged my residual ED voice, (unbeknownst to them), and I am happy to report that the voice has yet to win out. I've willingly tried dishes without knowing every ingredient, or even half of them. I've eaten more varieties of fish then I have in probably 8 years, and my once automatic calorie counting feels like a distant memory. It's been thrilling and delicious! We also historically have a cheese plate after dinner, with varieties like camembert, brie, bleu vein, homemade mozzarella, fontina, and more. Some nights we even top the cheese off with some dark chocolate...and ED has never been invited.
7ish- After we clean up dinner, we typically watch a show or a movie. So far we have watched the "Biggest Little Farm", "Wine Country", and most of the series "Warrior Nun" on Netflix.
9:30pm- This gal is typically in bed. And by bed, I'm referring to the plush futon in the middle of the tiny house/bungalow. Most nights it's still really hot when I try to fall asleep, my only A/C being four open windows and one rickety box fan. But by the wee hours of the morning, once the temps have dropped into the 60s and 50s, it is perfection.
In summation and in keeping with the routine of the farm, I have come to appreciate several aspects of this off-the-grid way of life. It certainly is not for everybody, but my grateful takeaways thus far have been:
#11 Learning how to self sufficiently live off the land
#12 Putting the needs of others (farm animals) before myself
#13 Eating what's served without protest or refusal
#14 Feeling physically sore but also accomplished after a day's work
#15 Learning how to milk a goat (see below)
Yes, I can and do have to follow up the machine with manual milking. But I couldn't figure out a way to video tape and do this at the same time, ha!
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