Fireside Musings

Campfire photo by Natasha Pietila

Creativity is as rampant here as the mosquitoes, and it makes for quite a rich environment. Even the interns have started thinking lately; it seems as if everyone here is really adjusting well to the demands of farm life.

My first two weeks here have been eventful and relaxing. Though I have not written as much as I would have liked, I have made some good inroads into revising and editing some older pieces that I would eventually like to compile into ... well, a compilation.

The real winner of my time at the B-Farm is my dog, Percy. Running herself ragged every day leads to long naps on my feet, followed by some Frisbee time and possibly some swimming. She keeps busy by begging for food, play-biting the other dogs, or scheming to get attention from all of the people here. She's in heaven.

It's a beautiful day here, and I'm hoping for a Hippie Mike concert at the barn this afternoon. Maybe a quick trip down to Milsite Lake for a cliff jump or two, who knows.

My favorite part of every day is the nightly campfire. Collecting an assortment of wood during the day and watching it burn by night is the most tangible thing that I have provided in my time here. The smoke keeps the fist-sized 'skeeters at bay and warms chilly limbs after the sun has gone down. I'm already excited for tonight's fire, and it's still 8 hours away.

Matt builds a fire. Photo/Natasha Pietila