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Keeping the grind alive

The Grind.

After getting used to such an intense weekly grind its hard to rest.  Its hard to not work, not find something to do when for the last 6 months the 'to-do' list has seemed endless.

So it's winter - my first winter in New Mexico - if you can call this winter...I got snowed in and stayed in my pajamas for days last winter in Detroit, where it's generally accepted that hell is a cold place.  Here it's warm thanks to that Southwestern sun and the car is as toasty as the house on a clear day. But the sun only hangs out for so long, not as much work can be done outside - this effects our 'grind'.

We both work full time jobs too...well Cameron does, he's the finest butcher I've ever seen (and by fine I mean fine).  I was a vegetarian before I met him.  Maybe its the slightest scent of blood that has stuck to him over the years, but he makes me crave the protein and vitality only grass-fed beef gives the body (a craving I haven't felt since before 8 years of vegetarianism).  His job is far more demanding than mine.  Reception at a tattoo shop during the winter also means finding things to do...

This is what I found to do.

The grind has been killing my journal keeping, an activity that I truly believe has saved my life many times over since 13 years old.  I've always wanted to start a blog, but I'm not proud enough to publish what my journals know.  Making this blog adheres to 'working on the dream' but also fulfills my need to write (though my journals ignore the horrible grammar).  Plus the dreamer in me hopes that maybe our story could be inspiring or something like that...we're just so psyched about it, maybe it can get you on your grind - whatever that may be.  

Not as much outside work can get done, so we're finding ourselves starved for other activities that satisfy our motivation to make this poultry farm a reality.  "The Renegade Poultry Project" because it is a project.  We are actively working on figuring out all the working parts and constantly learning more.  Consuming all information we can find online, drawing diagrams, building models.  We both come from suburban/urban families and neither of us has ever lived or worked on a farm.  Yet we both can't shake this romantic idea of living off the land and freeing ourselves - and our children (eventually) - from these grid-locked lives we've both led so far.

Not to say we don't love this city...we looove Albuquerque.  I basically got 'conned' into coming here by my boss and agreed to a 2 month trial-period at his shop.  But I knew on the east-bound train through the desert that I'd need more time than that to explore this incredibly beautiful state.  Cameron is born & raised and would probably be a Lifer if it wasn't for our rural dreams.  He is really a fan of everything ABQ, everything NM and everything local...he's got that pure entrepreneur's spirit, plus a work-ethic capable of moving mountains.

From Day 1: the vision has been clear, the grind has been alive, and the love has been real.


forever grateful
-jennifer

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