life on the other side of the country

[Rogue Valley--my new home for now]

I can't believe I have been in Oregon for three weeks already. Today is the day I FINALLY got internet installed in my big empty apartment ! I also can't believe it took me that long to get settled and connected to the outside world. Gah. Work is exhausting but fun and makes the days fly. I am doing field research for a big restoration project with the Nature Conservancy in beautiful forests filled with fir, pine, and Pacific madrone trees. I feel so lucky to be able to work outside, hiking for a living, and be in control of my schedule.
Slowly but surely life is coming together again after months of craziness this spring. Writing a thesis, getting engaged, graduating with my masters degree, and moving 3,000 miles across the country with only what I could stuff into my little Ford Focus has made this year the most life changing yet out of the 24 I have experienced, and it is only half over!!! I feel grownup and (almost) fearless, and I am SO happy to be done with school, at least for now. Having the time to just reflect on life and do some deep thinking on where it is headed as well as on the present day is extremely satisfying in that existential way, and I have gained a lot of confidence and optimism in the past few months. I am learning that a lot of hard work, opportunity-grabbing, and risk taking is what life is about.

Happy July!

adventures

 

I have no recent pics to share because my apartment is in packing-induced shambles and who knows where that camera is...

Yes I am packing up my little life here in PA because

I have a job

Only, it is far far away in OREGON. 

Doing field work for the Nature Conservancy for 6 months. And I need to move across the country in one week!

There are some big life changes afoot, and I expect to get back to regular postings and involvement with the little bloggyblog, as I will have many new adventures to share and will be living by myself again for some time since Ben is still job hunting out east here.

Am I crazy? Meh, not abnormally so. Is life crazy? Most definitely.

Memorial Day scenes

 historic mansion

 craft fair

 ancient little chapel

 Union troops

Snow White-esque little chapel in the woods

 extremely loud cannon

Civil War reenactors

The cute little town of Boalsburg, PA is {one of the apparently several small towns that claim to be} the "birthplace" of Memorial Day. To celebrate the day, the town has an extensive festival complete with carnival, streets of art, craft, and food vendors, an antique car show, and of course Civil War reenactments. Living in the town next door, we had to check it out despite muggy temperatures in the 90's (I am so glad I was not stuck in a poofy wool 1860s period dress!!). It was a fun way to recognize and celebrate the holiday and a nice kick-off to summer, for it is definitely summer now in these parts.