Day 177: Work-Work

Today for work-work, I've been getting things ready to take a day trip this Friday. I'm going to Cotton Plant, Arkansas, way out in the Delta, to visit a row crop farm that uses a lot of regenerative soil practices. These include diverse cover cropping, no-till, integrated pest management, and complex crop rotations. They've turned their farm around in a few years from relying evermore on chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides in order to eek out a crop to using less and less of those inputs, improving their soil, and improving their profitability. It's pretty cool. I've heard about these guys for a year or two now, and I'm excited to meet them in person. 

In the morning Jeremy and I both had calls scheduled at the same time, so I was on the phone outside, with William coming in and out asking for things. He wanted help doing a math game on the laptop so I was whispering instructions to him while I also tried to listen to the call. 

In addition to work, I did a very boring-adult thing: I cleaned my washing machine. I scrubbed the very dirty rubber gasket and ran it hot with vinegar and then ran it with baking soda. I was tempted to do both at the same time, but I thought that might end in a Curious George type scene. So, that was surprisingly satisfying, and only took until Day 177 to check it off my list. Next up: the oven. That is far more ghastly, though. Maybe I'll wait until 277. 

I also made three different foods in my Instant Pot throughout the day: first, chickpeas for a salad I like. Second, sweet potatoes for William's lunch. Third, polenta for dinner. I felt like I was just cycling things in and out of there. It earned its keep today. 

Jeremy had a couple meetings for work, which meant he didn't get as much school work done with the kids as was assigned, so tomorrow he'll have to get them all caught up. And tomorrow he has meetings for work too... so... hmmm... this is not all adding up... 

half-time employee + kindergarten teacher + 3rd grade teacher + farmer = 350% 

He did make time to take them to the creek in the afternoon (P.E. class) while I got some more work done. I got a text from Jeremy after they had been gone awhile requesting I make popcorn for their return. These kids certainly live well - bowls of warm, buttered popcorn awaited them when they came back in, dripping, chilled, and happy.

Do you see the bee butt in there?
Future butternut squash, perhaps,
if we have enough time before first frost.