I finally had a chance to sink into the Yamhill Valley and its ways over Christmas Break. The week of Thanksgiving Jimmy started a new shift at work in which he works noon to midnight. Then the next week we got two little two month old puppies (My step-son Mason is playing with Kirby, above). So needless to say, when nearly all of the students left campus down in Monmouth during the first week of December, I was eager to stay home and sleep in with my family, and tend to my new little babies. What a godsend to have nearly a month off from driving down to Monmouth.
In the time I had at home, besides keeping the puppies from chewing up and swallowing every single object they get their paws on, I started to do my shopping in McMinnville rather than in Salem, and I started to cook a LOT. We hosted Christmas at our house, which was a first for me. I really enjoyed hosting and cooking for everyone, and buying all of my presents from local farmers, orchards, roasters and artisans.
When I went through the House of Myrrh workshop called "Heart Design" in 2010, one of the projects we did was to make a "life dream" map. A lot of my life's dreams have been coming true lately--besides getting married; having a beautiful, memorable wedding; and having a sweet, strong man around to help me do things I could never do on my own, I have time and funds to buy fresh, local (or wild!) produce and cook things from scratch more than once a week. ...Now I just need a dreamy garden and a trip on the orient express.... oh and I still need to become a jazz singer. Those are less attainable dreams, but possible still!
I dream I didn't have that's coming true this Lenten season, that might strike you as almost as terrifying as being a jazz singer, is that I'm going to preach a sermon at a church! One of the pastors that oversees my position at work asked me to preach at her church, a tiny little Episcopal one in Monmouth. I'm not sure if I will ever agree to preach again in the future, but for this one time, I'm really excited about it! During a trip to Birmingham three winters ago, a very liberated older woman named Katie, a deacon in a Episcopal church, and a virtual stranger who I was staying the night with because of a mutual friend, said something rather prophetic as she was driving me to the airport: she said that I should look into being ordained. I was so shocked and honored at the thought... it would have never occurred to me at that point. I'm still pretty sure it's not my calling, but maybe preaching will shed light on that some more. I think my husband is hoping I won't like it too much. It must be weird for men to be married to women pastors. It's not a traditional picture of domesticity.
I'd like to play the domestic role and decorate my new house more, but I haven't had a lot of money to since I had to get a new roof for my rental house in Portland. I think I'll enjoy it more decorating gradually anyway. I spent this past weeks' spending money on a concert in Portland. It was very satisfying. So many old friends and acquaintances were there. It was emotional for me. Portland tugs at my heart these days. I like where I live because I feel really free to be me here. In the city there is so much pressure to keep up with trends and norms. I guess if I was a trend-lover then I would feel more free in the city. I do miss the familiar sights and smells, the variety, and the intense nostalgia that Portland holds, but I think that leaving has made it all the sweeter.
I have found some of my places here in Yamhill County. They are still new, but they are definitely mine now. Some of them are: the Mac Goodwill, George Fox, The Red Fox Bakery (thanks Diane!), A Family Healing Center, The Blue Goat Cafe in Amity, Eggers Acres, North Valley Friends Church, Coffee Cottage, Harvest Fresh Grocery, and Recipe--dumbest name ever for a restaurant (says the Portlander in me), but it is suited to this quirky, pretentious but un-hip wine country life, and they do cook very good, locally harvested food, which is really all that matters to me.
Here's what I made from scratch today--quinoa salad with arugula and almonds, and spicy pumpkin and hominy stew.
