Springtime and Old Friends

Back in Brownsville for a lazy Sunday afternoon.  I'm sorry my blogging hasn't been quite up to snuff, I have barely been home and in front of a real computer at all in the last couple weeks.  It's been a lot of fun travelling around like a nomad and having so much energy again now that the sun is out...and my belly is full of chicken wings.

This weekend was a lovely break from the country life.  For the first time in so long I socialized with all my college buddies, went back to Reed for a dance party, etc.  One of the most rewarding things I did this weekend was spend a couple hours with a tube of tennis balls and Roscoe the Dog at Kelly Point Park.  We actually weren't in the park proper, but just adjacent to it on a beach where Roscoe could be off leash.  He had his first swimming lesson, he chased the waves, I threw the ball and lay in the sun with my book.

Like everyone said it would, being a dog owner has changed things.  Like where I can stay, what I can do, when I can do it.  When I first got him that pressure caused me some anxiety, but now it's just part of life--I have a dog. Things tend to work out, and Roscoe continues to impress me with how mature and well behaved he can be.

Plus, while I do enjoy all the things 22 year-old women are supposed to enjoy (cocktails with friends, shopping at House of Vintage, Talking Heads dance parties), in my day-to-day life the best times are spent with this fuzzy little man--good old-fashion substance-free and cheap fun in city or country.  Plus I am lucky enough to have scored some wonderful friends who also have cute dogs with whom I can stay in P-town.  This morning it was just me and the three dogs at their little homestead.  The sun was out and the bees were flying like crazy.  I wandered around the yard with my cup of coffee, wondering at all the life and beauty their home has to offer.

While I had a great time seeing everyone this weekend--it really was a joy--being back in the packed Student Union, speaking blaring and girls stomping around in high-heels with barely any room to move, I remembered why growing out of the college phase is so lovely.  And coming home to my own little garden and the cozy house so peaceful, I feel rather happy with where I am now, a year out from graduation.

And more than anything, I look forward to the future.  It looks like with the milk production ramping up at the farm this week, I will be spending a lot more time in the cheese-making room.   Tomorrow morning we'll be hanging chevre and pressing farmhouse cheese.  Plus milking the goats.  And in just an hour here Roscoe and I are going to head off to work.  But before that, I think a little nap is in order.