First Day

Day number one: complete!

Today's lunch menu: Beef stew, cornbread muffins and spinach salad with red onion, apple and citrus-poppy vinaigrette.

I started work this morning around around 8. Browned the meat, deglazed with some canned tomatoes from last year's harvest, made the muffins (with green chilis) and washed some spinach. I got a quick tour of the chef's areas (coolers, freezers, etc). Lunch was ready and out by noon. After lunch was clean up and I was done for the day! A breezy 5 hours.

After work, I went into town and got my very first PO box! I'm not sure if this is really all that exciting, but I feel like someone in the movies when I open my little mail box! It would be even cooler if there was some mail in there! feel free to send me some!!! :)

While in town, I found a store called Viroqua Food Cooperative. A little food gem out here in the middle of nowhere, stocked with organic and locally made/grown products, special diet foods, a nice asian section, bulk spices, teas, granola and flours, locally roasted coffee, fair trade and organic coffee, kombucha, a small deli and salad bar.... i was amazed! I am so very excited that I have a place to buy great products here!

On my way back to the farm, I decided to test my memory and drive back without looking at the directions. I got so close...and then I don't know what happened! All of a sudden I recognized an area that I knew, but wasn't supposed to be on this route! Luckily, I was still able to get back to the farm by memory, but just not quite the way I intended.

Driving from Viroqua to the farm is actually quite nice. Much like driving back roads in Michigan, farm land is everywhere. However, much unlike Michigan, this farm land is quite hilly and sometimes terraced. The first 10 minutes of the drive is up along the top of the hill. On either side of the road, which winds and turns constantly, you can see the homes and farms down along the hill sides. The second 10 minutes is spent descending the hill into the valley and navigating the 'slight' turns to your destination. Not all the streets are marked out here, and most 'intersections' are so vague you hardly realize there was an option to turn at all! Which is what I would venture to guess happened to me on my way back!

The roads are pretty empty. However, there is an interesting mix of travelers who share the road. Today, I saw a big tractor coming down the road at me, immediately followed by a Hummer! Also, 2 Amish buggies; one on coming, one I had to pass. They always wave at you. Add one more buggy to the tally I saw while on a quick run and the grand total was:
1 tractor
1 Hummer
3 buggies
1 hard core (pedal) biker
and maybe 3 other cars.

I spent the evening putting my cabin together. Or at least, attempting. I managed to assemble my computer desk (although I'm sure something isn't quite right with it...it still stands pretty sturdy so I'm not going to mess with it!) and two other shelving units. Once those were all put together, I could start putting things in their places. It's still not picture worthy, but by the end of the week I should be able to get some pics up!