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Where to begin? I have been a horibble blogger as of recent, Im sorry. Things here have been really busy and internet has been on/off so here I am two weeks behind. But, Im back and, really, not so much has changed.
I am actually here at the farm alone for the next few days. Elly, the daughter, is still in England for a friend's wedding and she comes back Tuesday, and Kathy, the owner, just left this morning to go to England to take a TEFL class so she can teach english abroad this winter. So the past week has consisted of me learning how to run the farm on my own, its been great. I have learned SO much about the field and which plants need what, i feel like a semi-expert ( or atleast not a newbie anymore).
The set up here is really a mixture. We have a house with a huge field in the back with mostly flowers and a few herb gardens, plus a greenhouse with tomatoes and cucumbers. Across the road, they have a huge field with all of the food. Mostly, it is maintenance, which is no small task. Everything needs weeding and sometimes water, although mother nature has really taken that as her job lately (its rained everyday for the past week or so), but i have also planted a couple of things myself. Today, I planted some new tomatoes which requires turning all of the soil, building circles so they can gather water, planting them and then tieing them to a stick so they are encouraged to grow upwards. I have also done a lot of transplanting. Kathy is still learning new things with each season about the best locations for different flowers i.e sunlight exposure, rainfall etc.. so sometimes we let something grow one place and then move it to a different place later on. The rain has pushed inside quite a bit so we have done some construction projects too. They are finishing up an outdoor living area with an outdoor kitchen so we have been putting in mud floors and gleaner for the walls.
Nights here are really interesting. We have no tv so we always cook a great meal and then, usually we listen to the news on-line or, lately, we have been listening to some really cool BBC lectures. It sounds nerdy, and it kind of is, but there is a show called "In Our World", and each night they bring on experts in totally iverse subjects to talk and discuss it for 45 minutes. Last night, we learned about the history of bread (completely appropriate because we make ALOT of bread here) and tonight is "The Trojan War". It is like the old days, gathered around the "radio" (ok, its 2012 so its a computer) listening to a show. I have really enjoyed them and its nice to learn about something so random, maybe I would have never looked it up on my own. These people who come on are SO knowledgeable about such a narrow part of life, it really makes me realize how different each person is. How can someone be so passionate about Marco Polo? I dont know, but there are people who have devoted their academic lives to him.
The village is still the same old Voditsa. I have made some friends at the Pensioners club (basically old guys who still know Russian) and everyone has really been so friendly and helpul.
Last weekend, I went to Varna, a city on the black sea coast, and had a great weekend off. I went to the beach, met some Bulgarians and a couple of Americans here on Peace Corp. It was great to be at the beach and back in the city to do some errands and enjoy some ice ceam (the one thing you cant grown on the farm and cant live without a freezer). Next weekend, I might just have to go back.
Not so much happening actually, now that I write it. No Robots. No goats. No worries.
Lindsey
- comments
Dad Dear goatless in Voditsa, seems like a wonderful old-fashion 'living off the land - it takes a village' kind of experience. Just enjoy it. I bet those old Pensioners have some good stories to tell. You're not missing anything here other than cut-throat polarized politics, roller-coaster stock markets and high unemployment. Simple and hands-on living is a good thing...bella vita
BJH Do you think Dad is making fun of my incessant need to watch Sleepless In Seattle?
Cpaz MARCO...