last night around 4:20 (eyemuffs, mom and dad. everyone else: 4/20 Y'ALL. jokes, jokes.) i was woken up by two different calls of nature. the more pressing one was self inflicted, as i always tend to drink too much water right before going to bed. the second one was an untimely rooster. the good news about the REM cycle interruption was that I SAW THE BEST MOON SKY OF MY LIFE. when i woke up to go downstairs to use the restroom, i poked my head in robin's room to wake her so she could see the moon as well. but she looked so sweet and seriously sleeping. i left her alone. but what she missed was the brightest full moon i have ever encountered. so bright that my flashlight to get downstairs was completely unnecessary and any kind of nightlight from the computer screen seemed superfluous. the clouds were doing that silver ghost thing that they often do when crowded in the night sky by something as mind-blowing as a full moon. AND! i thought that i could see orion to the right of the moon being all orion-y, but it seems wrong that i could see him on the southern hemisphere. which of you fools took astronomy for your science lab? let me know if it was possible to spot him.

in other news, we built a fence around the new herb garden today! once more, i am still having to will my muscles to be of any use, but they are learning to comply without such resistance as they once did. my recent favorite mantra to get them to do anything is simply commanding of them, "muscles, ignite!" they rarely do.

farm life is still totes the good life. today i realized that i have been wielding a shovel for various tasks that stands as tall as my eyebrows. i am learning all sorts of new things. it is so satisfying to see how cyclical farm life is and how patient this earth and these farmers tend to be. it is a long process to scoop horse manure into a heap, mix it with the food scum that should never see the light of day, wait for it to decompose, till the land, add the compost, plant the seeds, wait, wait, wait, and then you get to munch on your beautiful and hard work. nature likes circles, wouldn't you say? except when we drive cars too much and waste, waste, waste and then this planet says "BITE ME, I AM GOING TO RUIN YOU ALL!" sorry, planet.

malcolm just got back from working today with gilly at her restaurant, leaving robin, lindsay, and me to work outside today. it is nice when the four of us get back together even just after a few hours apart. i really adore malcolm and lindsay and are so glad that they are just a small example of the people patiently waiting in my future life for me to meet and enjoy.

here's a question: where are all the newzea rainbows? although today is sunny and crisp, the past week has been rain central with the sun only making sporadic unannounced appearances. i figured that with all the moisture in the air, we would get many a rainbow, but i have yet to see one! in which corner of the world are all the rainbows hiding? because i love each of you, i hope they have found their way into your days.

love,
maggie