Life. Love. Happiness.

"You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life."

                                                                                                                           - Albert Camus

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In a squarish state...

 somewhere in the Pacific Northwest...

Jaida finds a town to call home for the next year.
This place is called- Nehalem. Or Manzanita...both are accurate.

Spending her days in shop, or in garden. In rain or shine.

Discovering friends. Creating memories.  Manifesting happiness. 

And so it is.

Well I do owe some kind of apology for the basic fact that I have not offered completion on the summer's events and results. This blog started out as a journal for the details of my summer, so that my friends and family could keep track. 

 

I just now reflected to the first of my posts. I had said my intention was to find a career-specific employment opportunity or internship. This would likely be within the area of photography and/or nutrition. Yet here I sit in my room in Oregon, with several jobs, and none of them directly contributing to my pursuit in photography or the like. And this is perfect. All of it. 

I did choose my little nook on the north coast. Manzanita, where I work and spend free time, is just the most gorgeous and inspirational location when you want it to be. The sun comes out, and I jet to the beach or some other vista, camera in hand. So in a major way, my skills are certainly not being neglected. I take many photos, as most of you have seen lately. None of my experiences will be of waste or regret. Nehalem, even though it is elbow-to-elbow with Manzanita, is entirely different in landscape. The setting is along the river and bay, with access to highway 53; which harbors multiple farms, dairies, and knitter folk.

Which leads to my job and some of what I do in my social life. I have learned to knit, as a way to communicate more effectively in the yarn shop I work at. I also enjoy attending the twice a month "knit nights". The dynamic of that group of women every sitting is usually a unique experience. Most conversation turns hilarious, and I am beaming as I listen to stories. The community in general is extremely blessed with artists and other talented people. I am really impacted by the beauty that is produced here, on canvas or on stage. (What a spot to be for creative sparks!) We even have some spectacular food options, and an amazing health food store. I dont think that I would have thought I could fully survive and thrive in an area this small (<1000) without going into the big city. Amazing. 

I keep finding additional interests and fascinating people to occupy my time span, and I am sure it will only get more interesting as the year moves on. I am an official resident of the state of Oregon on or about October 10th, 2013. (As rental agreement certifies) When this is settled I can acquire other legal ID and apply for my schooling in-state. And I only look forward, with the most curiosity, to viewing these notes in a year and actually knowing what I have chosen to do. 

 

Until then- I'll just BE.  With Love, Jaida

The final set of pictures!!

                     Hauling out the hop picker (Hoptimus Prime)                            The beauties

Row after row

Americans having fun with German

So gorgeous in the morning

Ashland on the hill

Setting up the picking tables

View atop the ladder, the garden and northeast side of the valley

Clean and empty! (For now)

                            First walk through the daily process.                     Gathering and bunching vines

Yeah the first round of the season! :)

                                 Rachel just doin' her job :)                                Spencer packing dried hops

                   The beautiful lights left from wedding weekend.                        So lovely

                                                    Improv musical at The Green Show in town

Drinks at Alex's

The two greatest people I have met in a long time. Soo wonderful!

The biggest group we had the whole week- 24 people

Rebecca and Ann

Zeb!

The funny mini donkeys

Turkeys on the roof! These guys go wherever they want, when they want

Our stellar WWOOFing group

All done! Rachel, Spencer, neighbors, Dan, Morgan, Rebecca, Jordan, Steve and Zeb

Ashland: The Land of Good Beer and Fine Friends

Only a week long stay here at Alpha Beta Hops, but that doesn't mean I haven't had a full experience.

I had an interesting drive down the state, stopping at coastal viewpoints and then revisiting Alice in Corvallis. The separate stretch on I-5 added a completely different flavor. I saw so much dry land, in the sense that things were tan and black versus green. And even went through a pass that could've passed as North Idaho. Stopped to snap a pic at the Rogue River and continued to Ashland.

I found the farm right away and was way too excited to have Steve and company greet me. With the minor description on the WWOOF website, I wasn't all too sure what to expect. So after walking around the back yard I was able to meet Spencer, Jordan, and Dan. Then Morgan and Jessica arrived and everyone finished cleaning up the new couple's wedding reception deco. To wrap up the day's meet and greets, Rebecca came back with our fourth wwoofer Rachel. :) Such a great crowd, and it was added to when Zeb joined the crew a couple days in.

So the first full day on site was spent arranging tables and canopies for the picking line, and general prep for the week. Every day after that a group between 10 and 24 met to harvest. The strings at the bottom of each section are cut, then bunched to the center. The tractor with chute attached drives to meet the vines, while someone atop the ladder-backed machine snaps the lines from the top. Collecting 3-5 rows depending on the yield will put any group to work for a couple hours. The entire harvest encompassed a full seven days and filled the drying racks many times. With smiles broad, the group picture was taken and a good meal enjoyed. :)

The WWOOFer group went out and attended a "bachata" style dance class- good thing we were the only ones there- and actually came out with a mild excitement to show off skills in the hop yard. Another day Jordan, Rachel and I went to check out the Green Show outside of the big Shakespearean stage in downtown. This was completely entertaining and hilarious as an adult improv group performed a whole 30 minute musical off of a random book title given by an 8 year old girl, called "The Snow Spider." The evening was capped with relaxed drinks and funny conversation at Alex's Plaza Restaurant and Bar with a Reggae group performing for the night. The most priceless moment for me was meeting and learning from an older gentleman, Mackenzie. He filled us in on his very full life from air force and boxing days, to traveling and many different jobs, and then his advice on how to cure Rebecca's back pain. So awesome! What you can learn when everyone respects the conversation and has fun.

>>I did get to experience a full-on allergic reaction to something not completely identified, but i am leaning towards the tracking of hop residue to my face repetitively. My face was in full swell mode with accompanying unpleasantness for two days with previous days of minor agitation. So the day I was to depart, after taking a break from picking and eliminating possibilities, I went to Urgent Care to get my first-ever shot and prescription. Now I'm on a 16 day cycle of Prednisone, Allegra, and Benadryl. (The swelling was all gone this morning when I woke up, instead of worsening like the other mornings. So I am much happier now and just letting my skin recover.)<<


The stories and jokes shared were definitely a part of the experience, and hopefully the pictures on the next page will do some justice. :) I was able to watch the Hotel Hell episode with the Roosevelt Inn along side these awesome individuals, and across the four days of my encounter with allergies was treated with the most generosity and kindness possible. I loved them!! In general, I had a very well-rounded encounter with much support and humor from my last farm visit. Hoppy Days! (As Steve inserts on a casual greeting)

Post Script--- Rachel and I have driven back to Nehalem and she is now working for Ginger at Re-evolution Gardens just down the driveway from myself at Lunasea. I am going into town as soon as my face clears up and will be obtaining a fine job at either the health food store or boutique, then getting serious and committed for the fall gardening season.

“A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.” – Tim Cahill

          “The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things

may be, to see them as they are.” – Samuel Johnson

A Look into the Coast and Fairfield Farm

Just out of Wheeler in the inlets

                                                               ^^ Out of Garibaldi...

     Then, beautiful, misty Pacific City. The awesome fog bank made for great changing visuals

Just past Lincoln City

The sweet old trusty Buick was totally enjoying his coastal vacation

The funny gift store, north of Newport at Cape Foulweather, that mom and I saw 4 years ago

And a recreation of the "modeling" we did there too :)

My favorite memory and experience, revisited, at Nana's Irish Pub in Nye Beach

                                             That lovely bridge and marina/harbor in Newport

                                          The beautiful food in full swing at Fairfield Farm

Great to re-visit the teeny kittens we were bottle feeding! Sooo cute and funny