Last post... for now.

It has been about 3 months since my last blog post. In that time we have spent more time than we like in cities, gotten married, dealt with some medical issues and looked for land. The land search is taking longer than expected and it's gotten cold in Vermont. We decided to rent a place while we search and *gasp* get jobs to have more cushion for the purchase and afterward. Our new home is an adorable flat in Montpelier Vermont.

 I'm a little excited about the place

Really loving the brick wall accents and wood floors

Montpelier is the least populous state capital in the United States. Meaning it is perfect for us. It has more of a small town feel than a city. So far we have been doing a lot of running around to get settled. Finding out all the things we are missing for indoor life... like trash cans and a mop.

Matthew's impression of an anime character cleaning a dojo lol

Saw this on a night stroll

I'm excited about a number of things. First, to be inside while it is snowing outside. Refrigeration and an oven. Reducing our use of plastics! There is an amazing coop in town that is walking distance with a great bulk section. Composting, there is a composting service in town because Vermont. And, wow, you know your an adult when all those things make you excited lol 

First baked bread in the new apartment!

With any luck by next summer we will find a forever home. In the meantime I will enjoy 'city' life, and hope you come to visit us! 

Last minute departure, back on the East coast

Our last days in Colorado we did some mudding on a strawbale structure and I celebrated my 34th birthday.

We made the decision to leave Colorado early. For a week Matthew's breathing was getting worse due to decreased air quality from the fires. On our way east we stopped in Wisconsin to visit friends and their new baby.

We made it to Massachusetts and are going to look at property in New Hampshire. After spending the summer in Colorado we realized.. we don't actually want to settle there. Our reasons are bad air quality in the summer fires, concerns about the decreasing water, increasing population, and increasing land prices. Colorado is having a huge influx of new residents and the land that is what we want (at least 10 acres with water) is rare and out of our price range. So here we are. we are so grateful for the time we had with Robin to learn from her and realize Colorado wasn't quite right.

taken on our first hike back east

Driving from Colorado to Massachusetts... strengthened our decision to settle in the East. It was such a drastic contrast. The feeling of humidity was actually welcomed. I'm sure some of it is the feeling of home, we grew up here and there is a comfort in being back.

That's all for now. Just because, here is a photo of baby goats lol

It's been a long time, Update in photos

This will be a glossed over version of the last two months. There is just way too much to tell. Here we go...

We stopped in Arches NP on our way to Colorado. It was pretty cool... as expected a bunch of Arches.

We then spent most of the past two months in Crestone with Robin Blankenship at Earth Knack. The first month we worked with her 6 days a week, the second month only 3 days a week.

outdoor kitchen

outdoor shower

helped build a shelter

during the Earth Knack gathering, we were trying to start a fire with a very large bowdrill

Escaped for a hike to cottonwood lake, the sangres are AMAZING

I made this hat! It's Nalebinding, predates knitting and crochet

Cooking in the Horno

Built these stone steps

Learned to drive horse buggy, That's Trigger, he's the best horse in the world

Indigo dyeing

Building a new tiny home, Straw bale construction

we were in the 4th of July parade

Hand crank ice cream maker

 helped shear 3 alpacas and 1 llama

Visited these fine folks in Steamboat

Free Keller Williams Concert in Steamboat

Saddle rode some mules, that gentlemen at the rear is Ben, great guy

Matthew looking Amish

New friends! Couple on the left in this and next photo are from Denmark

Big day laying foundation on the new tiny house

Bear canning day, with libations

got comfy riding

part of the foundation we layed

Visited friends in Colorado Springs, Tanya is an underwater photographer and when we arrived asked if I'd be up for modeling

Josh is a ham

We had a really fun night

Maybe too much...

 moved in to a tipi for the rest of our time here

 Built a coyote fence

 went to sand dunes national park

 drove the most dangerous 4wd trail in Colorado, stopped before it got really crazy

 hiked a 14er, Blanca peak

 Skinned a roadkill rabbit

 Did a day class with kids from Florida, taught them fire, flint knapping and cordage.. oh and took them for a buggy ride

 Jam day!

Straw bales getting ready to be mudded

We have about another month here then we'll be heading East to get hitched. We've been looking for places to live, as our next adventure is to settle in a place. I'll speak more to that later.