Philosophical musings on a peach

I just ate a peach.

It was arguably the best peach I've ever had.

Certainly the best peach I've eaten in recent memory.

And while I was eating it, while it was rooting me to the floor with its incomprehensible deliciousness, I felt a kind of desperation. I felt trapped in the futile desire to capture, to save its perfection. I wanted to encase this peach, in all its glorious, juicy, complex flavor, in a permanent bubble so that I could enjoy it forever. When the dreary hopelessness of January stretches before me, I want to be able resurrect that peach.

But, of course, I can't. I was resigned to the ephemeral Now. The only thing to do was to savor this fleeting but sublime moment, knowing that to render it eternally present would be to condemn it to mundanity.

And that - that fleeting perfection of the moment - is the best way I know of to define Beauty.

For the love of soil and plants

Today marks one month since we arrived in the Springs. It's feeling more and more like home, and today, I finally checked off one of the projects I've been planning to do for months: a backyard compost bin!

Getting the supplies this morning was probably the first time I've ever been excited to go to Lowe's. This was basically the easiest possible setup (other than making an unenclosed compost heap), was super quick to make, and cost less than $30. If you're thinking about making your own compost area, these websites have some great information.

The other new addition to our backyard: a juniper bonsai.

I've been wanting a bonsai for years, and for my birthday, Daniel found a website to order one. Someday I'd still like to grow my own from cuttings, but this seems like an easy way for beginners to practice the art of pruning and shaping.

Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree. (Martin Luther)

Housemates!

Our four housemates (Service Adventure participants) arrived on August 6th and 7th, so they've been here for almost two weeks. We spent almost 10 days leading them in orientation: getting to know the city and each other, envisioning how the year might unfold, and trying to help them figure out how to be away from home. We've had a lot of fun adventures, too.

Our first hike at Cheyenne Canyon

Garden of the Gods one morning

Sunday the 9th (the first Sunday with all six of us here) was Service Sunday at our new church, Beth-El Mennonite, so we spent the morning on a work project in a fellow attender's yard.

Bike tour of the city!

It's hard to describe everything that we've done over the past two weeks, and how it's all felt. I do have to say how impressed I've been with these lovely girls, especially their adaptability and good attitudes. These traits have cropped up again and again as we've gone hiking and biking (relatively new for some), hauled rocks and weeds out of the dirt (nobody's favorite job), and tried foods from quinoa salad to groundnut stew (none of which were weird to me, but I already know that my eating habits are far from mainstream). No matter the situation, these four dove in wholeheartedly and without complaint. I'm feeling thankful for the positive tone this has set for the year, and looking forward to our many adventures to come!

Meet the Springs

We've been living in Colorado Springs for two weeks, and I'm learning more and more about the area every day. Though I still have much to learn, here are a few important points I think people should know about our beautiful new home!

1. It's bigger than you might think. Colorado Springs has a population of about 440,000, so even though it sometimes gets overshadowed by Denver (population 650,000), it's still a big city. Before we moved, lots of Virginians I talked to were surprised to learn this.
2. It's closer to the sun. The Springs sits at an elevation of just over 6,000 feet. (Harrisonburg is 1,325 ft.) This means the air is thinner with less oxygen, exercise is more challenging, and sun exposure is more extreme. 
3. Relatedly, the weather is great! With over 300 days of sunshine per year, this part of Colorado boasts clear skies and bright sunshine. In the summer, we get cool mornings and cold nights. In the winter, temperatures are often mild enough for short sleeves during the middle of the day. (Or so I've heard.) And the low humidity makes for bearable heat and powdery snow.
4. The city is home to a LOT of present and former military. Not only does the Springs house the U.S. Air Force Academy, Schriever Air Force Base, Peterson Air Force Base, and Fort Carson Army Base, but a lot of veterans also move here with their families after retirement. So far this hasn't really impacted us (other than noticing that military discounts are everywhere), but I'm interested to see what this feels like.
5. Though the Rocky Mountains are starkly visible from almost any part of the city, Colorado Springs isn't actually IN the Rockies. It's on the Front Range. This means that the city is nestled up against the edge of the mountain range, making hiking super accessible but keeping temperatures mild. (Incidentally, it also makes navigating easier for those with no sense of direction, like me. If the mountains are on the left, you're facing north.)

Right now, our area is a pretty popular tourist destination. (Understandably so -- if you haven't been to visit, you really should!) I suppose that's a good thing, but I'm also looking forward to the off-season, when I can get a better sense for the personality of the locals and the city...