I looked at Maria this morning, shooing off the zillions of flies and no see ‘ums, hauling manure out to the field, dragging water to the animals and I realize that we have not had a vacation together in four years. We’ve run off to Vermont or New York for some quick day trips – we’re going to New York City this Thursday and Friday for my birthday. But that is not enough time to rest, to be away and feel away.

I am beginning to see how tired she is – how we are – and how much we need a real vacation, a week or two away from the farm with a bunch of good books and beautiful places to walk.

I have a friend who loves her farm and will not leave her farm even for a night, but I am different from her, I love my farm and I am eager to leave it as often as I can. I believe in getting away, seeing new things, eating new food, seeing new movies, hearing new music, seeing new plays,  taking walks on new streets, taking photos of new images, thinking new thoughts and meeting new people.

It is so easy to slip into a rut in life, spin your wheels in the same places. Maria and I both love our lives, I will never speak poorly of them, but these last few years have been intense, filled with challenge, pressure, change, blogging, lambing, money issues and surprise. As with life, we have been tested again and again. I think we are tired in the soul a bit.  We need a break. This morning, watching Maria, I got determined to make this happen, even if I can’t quite figure out how. I’d love to take her to Florence for a couple of weeks to walk through the museums there, but that is not in the cards for now. I have to figure out something we can do, something that will offer both rest and a refreshment of the spirit.

And I will. There is always a way.

Bedlam Farm is a wonderful place to live, a wonderful place to return to. And sometimes, a wonderful place to leave.