We've been working on an organic farm owned by Anne and Simon who are an English couple who farmed in Ireland for years. The house were staying in is supposedly 500 years old and was apparently in shambles when they bought it; they have been renovating it while trying to get their garden established. It's still a bit rough around the edges but I can tell its going to be lovely when they get it finished...so much character.

Our main task while were here is going to be getting the maize field weeded, which for a couple of out of shape Americans is pretty tough work. None the less i can feel the long unused muscles starting to harden and its getting easier.

What I'm enjoying the most here though is the conversation with Anne and Simon who are both wells of information. They have lived an organic and eco-friendly lifestyle for years so have experience growing their own food, using alternate energy, building their own homes and much more. All stuff James and I wanted to pick up on while were travelling.

We're here for another week and a half to two weeks I think, and then we start making our way to our stay in Italy with a few pit stops on the way.

A few random things to note...

Spanish Red Wine is amazing, much much better then any red I've had in the states.

An ipod is essential to gardening, a playlist including Tool-Govinda-Marlin Manson- Typo Negative-Rob Zombie- and all five Anjuna Beats compilations is definitely a bonus.

While working yesterday the song Right In Two off Tool's 10,000 days album came on and it stuck a different note with me then it previously had. A lot of issues we've all talked about facing America in the next few years are by no means isolated to America. If anything our travels have shown us that the same things we've been seeing and talking about into the wee hours of the morning with heads full of glitter are prevalent throughout the world.

“Don't these talking monkeys know that
Eden has enough to go around?
Plenty in this holy garden, silly monkeys,
Where there's one you're bound to divide it.
Right in two.

Angels on the sideline,
Baffled and confused.
Father blessed them all with reason.
And this is what they choose.
And this is what they choose...”

When things are cut in two where will you be?

Sorry if that's a bit cryptic for some of you ; )

On a side note though I found a book in a hostel in Edinburgh that I've been reading and am quite enjoying, Pronoia. I highly recommend it to anyone tired of feeling like the world is out to get you, and rather would like to be a master of Rowdy Blisfullness.

Peace yall,
Amanda

Ps Belgium pics updated and spain pics to come later today

written by  Slade's Elucidation on July 15, 2008 from Lugo, Spain
from the travel blog: Slade's Elucidation
tagged LugoSpain, Pronoia, Tool and SpanishWine
Send a Compliment

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Hi Daddy and Amanda how are you doing? Well I'm doing fine. I think I am going to have a play date with sarah. sarah is a nice girl. I met her at school. on saterday I played on the play ground with Micah and Micahs Grandma bought us snow cons it was good! me and Mom wet to the vet and the cats were scared to deth!. Mookie has not been his self. I am may take swim Lessions I look forward to doing it. bye for now. Love Savannah:)

written by  Savannah Slade on July 21, 2008

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Amanda, those lyrics are amazing and I find them perfectly, wonderfully fitting as well.

Love,
-W.

written by  Wes on July 25, 2008

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