“All creation is not for man.” -Edward Abbey

Sampling has carried on! We are approaching our last stint! We have Skeleton Creek left on the docket for next week, then we are done! Then I  head to Oregon to start my next adventure! The adventure begins next weekend when I move into the mobile home that Andrew and I will be living in until December. Yes, I said it, mobile home. Our new landlord sent us photos (so we know it's not too hillbilly). We have a wood stove, new floors and cabinets, two bedrooms, it's right on the Nestucca River, and 2 miles from the ocean… I am too excited to care that it’s a double wide! Andrew got a job for Oregon Dept of Fish and Wildlife as well, and will be moving to Pacific City starting on August 28th and arriving as soon as his dad and him cross the many miles from Willmar, MN to Pacific City, OR. 

Edward Abbey  

The past two stints have been 3-nighter’s so I have had a lot of time to read in my tent. I finished The Bill McKibben Reader: Pieces from an Active Life. Andrew sent me the book for my birthday. His sister, Janelle, gave it to him for Christmas and instantly became a “must read” from Andrew. I am now passing on the “must read” message to all you folks! It is an exceptional collection of works from one of my favorite writers. He is part of an exciting movement called 350.org. Check it out! I won’t give too much away, but he touches on subjects like Christianity, activism, and appreciation of nature. He speaks on the divide between Christianity and the ideals of many American “Christians” and how that ties to people’s ideas of “land ethic.” He draws on the leadership of the greats such as, Martin Luther King Jr. and Edward Abbey, author of Monkeywrench Gang (another “must read”). He then also describes his version of nature appreciation, taking place in his home in the Adirondack’s in Vermont. He describes a love for the everyday around you, not just “eco-porn”, referring to appreciation of only the grandeur, such as the Tetons. All right, I’ve given away too much, go buy it or check it out from your local library! It will stimulate some interesting conversation!

The 5 pickle jars, 2 with hot peppers!

Pickles with John Prine Lyrics on them!

Weekends in Fairfield have been pretty uneventful, so I have created my own fun! I tried out making pickles! I found a recipe online, and adjusted it a bit (we will see how successful that is in 2 months!). I have never pickled anything, nor been taught by anyone, so we shall see how it works!

*all italicized text is a link to the book or the website! Just click to get there! Woop Woop!