More community gardening? Yes, please!

I am as eager as asparagus in May! Hahah, it is summer time again and I get to be back on da faaaarm.  Last summer I got to test out my green thumb in Cali and this summer I'll be in Chicagoland.  I will be working for Chicago Botanic Garden's Green Youth Farm program.  This program consists of three different sites spread throughout the city and I have been assigned to work on the North Chicago site.  We are just getting started now...ya know, security badges, orientation, shtuff like that.  Stay tuned.  It's going to be a great summer.

Oh, well yes you can come visit! I am living in Evanston and have a couple of couches looking to be crashed on. Hollar! =)

Talk about the cat's pajamas...

Woke up this morning and went to mass at the mission.  I'm not really very familiar with the missions, but I know that they are marked as historical landmarks.  It was a nice change of atmosphere and I'm glad I kind of got to see what the mission is like.

After church, me and the girls went over to Marty's for breakfast.  We had some of his famous pancakes with fresh fruit.  We stayed there for a few hours, eating a delicious meal and enjoying each others company.  It has been a special part of the experience getting to know Marty's entire family.  Marty, Megan, and the kids have all been more than a pleasure to be with at and outside of camp.

Once we left, we ran a couple of errands.  One place we stopped was Whole Foods.  Which I was really hoping that Bobby Flay or one of his friends would go zooming by as part of a timed challenge or something.  But it was still an eventful trip because we got a load of delicious bulk goodies.  Then we stopped by Goleta Beach for a bit.

For dinner, Dan and Karen took us to an Italian place in town.  We had a blast as well as a great meal.  Jeesh, I am really going to miss being here.  Dan and Karen have been so welcoming and generous.  I have had fun spending time with them and also have learned from them in the process.  Which has been the case with a handful of people I've met while I've been here.  What a rewarding experience.

I'm telling you, being here is really the cat's pajamas.

Day 21 - Bathing Beauties

That's what Karen called us today as we were catching some rays out by the pool, "bathing beauties".  It was pretty great sitting out in the sun and hanging out with SP and Kay. Ohhh yea, Relax City.  Population: 3!

We also went over to Pete's in Camarillo.  We made some yellow curry veggies and also a Nutella whipped cream and strawberry dessert.  The 4 of us spent the night chatting, going in the hot tub, and dancing to some tunes.  I'm pretty sure SP even taught Kayla some new moves.  And maybe not everyone knows this, but Kay can bellydance like nobody's business.  It's true.  I saw it.

And it hit me today on the car ride to Camarillo.  Only 1 full day left. Blah.  I am so happy to be here and this has been such an amazing experience.  So much laughing and learning and loving.  I know it sounds cliche, but it's true.  And I could try to use different words so that they all didn't start with the letter "L" and then maybe it wouldn't sound so corny, but either way that's how I feel. 

It's been a gnarly experience.

Day 20 - This and That

So yesterday was the last day of camp and today was pretty much the last day on the farm.  Yikes.  Time has gone by so fast and in hindsight I wish I would have made the trip at least a little bit longer.  I am looking forward to seeing everybody back home and also to Garden Club, but I have really just scratched the surface here.

This morning we went to a small Episcopalian church service with Emiko.  It was an intimate setting with only about 15 people there.  Afterwards, the church served us a really good breakfast and it was a time for people to chat and get to know each other better.  I hadn't been to a service that small before and I definitely appreciated having the opportunity.  I should have gone earlier in my trip so that I could have gone more than once.

On the farm we did some weeding and also planted lettuce.  Then we did another community lunch.  We had some burritos, made some jokes, and chatted about soil.  It was great. =)

Afterwards, Kay, SP and I ran some errands and ended up back at Dan and Karen's.  Pete joined us later and we all went down to State Street for some Yogurtland.  Yogurtland in the house!  It was so good.  If it melts in your mouth and ends in -land then that's the place for me, that's what I always say.

Day 19 -

To be fair, this post is not written by me.  I would like to take credit for it because Satpreet is an amazing writer, but blah blah blah that wouldn't really be that "ethical".  Whatever.  So, we spent the entire day together, from about 6am until 2am the next day, and therefore, we thought it would be fun for her to write a guest post about our day.  Here it is y'all:

Yo! Yo! Holla at me! Holla at me!
My name is Sitty Sat-Preet,
And I'm dropping this beat,
I get my protein from milk,
Cause I don't eat meat.

The last week or two,
I've been with Deb and Kay,
I mostly laze around,
And eat Nutella all day.

But on Thursday morning,
I went to the farm,
Spent the day with some kids,
Runnin' 'round a barn.

We met some birdies,
We had some fly snacks,
Then we came home
And took a much needed nap.

Later we went out,
Looking gangsta with our crew,
The boyz were all up on us,
We told them what to do.

"Now boys, take it easy,
We know we be lookin' fly,
But we ain't on the prowl,
So don't even try."

We went home early morning,
The town was still hoppin',
Ate some Puffins, got some gas,
Then in the bed, we be droppin'.

Chicka-chicka whaaaat?

Day 18 – Stargazing

We have been dealing with an infestation of cucumber beetles on the farm. So we have been vacuuming up the pests and squishing them in between our fingers. Well, I didn't get the pleasure of squishing any of them – but Kay is a pro. 

Once the kids arrived we started our plant hike. We split up into a few different groups and the group I was leading decided to do a bit of exploring off the beaten path (we missed a turn). Hah, it ended up being an educational experience though. The day in general was more challenging than I had expected.  It was not a bad day, just maybe not as smooth as some of the others have been.  But of course, it just contributed to the learning experience that this trip has been.  After the hike we also did some weeding and planting with the kids.

For dinner tonight we went over to a new friend's place and made dinner and spent some quality time out on their porch.  It makes me smile to think about all of the new people I have met and been able to share a meal with.

We ended our night by going back to the farm for "Astronomy Night".  This was a night that was planned for all the kids that have attended camp over the past few weeks as well as their families.  It was a couple of hours that they could come enjoy nature after dark with some dessert, hot chocolate, and stargazing.  The Astronomical Unit of Santa Barbara came and set up their massive telescopes so that we could all take a look at Saturn.  We even saw a ring!  But, I mean I've seen it before closer than that.  I actually have a condo on Saturn....so, yea, my middle name is actually Saturn...they actually named the planet after me...so, yea, I actually have 65 moons that orbit me, so I guess that makes me a little bit better than Saturn...

=)

Day 17 – Ahh Yea, Representing the D!

It was recycling and insect day at camp. And we were fortunate enough to have two guest speakers from the community to talk to the kids on these topics.

Both speakers were energetic and very knowledgeable. And that rubbed off on the kids, so by the time they left camp, they were also energetic and knowledgeable. Good deal.

By the time we left the farm, the sun was out and blazing, Satpreet and I sat out by the pool for a bit with our legs in the water. Then we got ready and the three of us were off to meet Pete. We were meeting up and his family was letting us use their season tickets to go to a Dodger game! Hollar! And they were playing the Tigers! Hollar!

The game was so much fun. It was a great opportunity for us to spend time together and it was exciting to see the stadium and sit give or take 10 rows behind home plate. And of course, we were talking a bit of trash – doing our duty of representing the D. Well by we, I guess it was mostly just me. But the Dodgers fans around us were for the most part pretty okay with it. =)

And I'll post some pictures later, I just can't figure out how to right now. Pathetic.