Love Love Love

“Love Love Love… Love is all you need”

So true are these words. I wonder how far we could all take them. If only for a day the face of modern society would be transformed.

Love each and every person you meet.
Treat them with respect and give them your tireless patience.
Listen and wait for the light of love to rise within you and you will always be ready to make the best choice.

Peace and Love

Allen’s Neck Clam Bake

Today I had the honor of attending one of the oldest traditions in america. In 1887 the quakers of Westport MA and the surrounding towns came on the third thursday in August. 121 years later this tradition is still going on.

I met people today who have been going to the clam bake for their entire lives… and I must say that some of these people were older than my grandparents.

The “bake” process was something to be seen. First the giant bonfire was built and lit. For 3 hours the fire heats up stones that will supply the heat for the bake. After all the wood has been consumed dozens of men in protective garments put out the rocks and start removing the ash from the wood. Then the rocks are put back into place and the seaweed is thrown quickly on top (the seaweed crackles when it touches the rocks). After all the seaweed is on the trays of food (clams, corn, potatoes, onions, sausage, fish, and stuffing) are placed on top and stacked. Finally the tarps are brought over the food to and seaweed is placed around the layers of tarp to keep the steam in. After only a few minutes the tarps are filled with steam and the cooking process runs for the next hour.

Sara and I volunteered for the event. We did everything: set up tables and chairs, prepare the bonfire (15 feet long and 6 feet high), clean steamers (27 bushels), wait tables, eat, and clean up.

The total number of people that bought tickets came to 550 and there were over 100 volunteers. This was an experience of a lifetime and to see such a community of people come together and make something of this magnitude happen was inspiring. I hope to continue to attend this clambake for years to come.

Peace and Love

Fear

As you all know I am currently working on a farm and living in a community setting with 6 other people. I absolutely love what I do and who I live/work with. I guess it’s no surprise but it’s not easy to always please everyone in the house.

Sometimes I feel great stress from the thought of what another person might think or say. Even last night I have very strong feelings of fear and anxiety. I wish it wasn’t true but it is. Luckily my tendency is to get along peacefully with everyone, but when conflict arises some people are harder to deal with than others.

I am hoping that through this new community living experience I will gain some insight and fearlessness; Insight on how to communicate with people from the very beginning of interaction and fearlessness for when I need to face up to the challenge. I hope that in the future I will not have a ball of tension in my stomach but actually have a freeness from the fear. I hope to be aware of my strength and confidence in who I am and what I believe.

I also hope that through this current challenge I am learning a lesson that will never have to repeat itself.

Peace and Love

Mt Chocorua: One Year Later

I had yet another amazing climb up Mt. Chocorua yesterday.

It all started with Sara (a new friend who is WWOOFing on the farm) and me saying I want to go hike a mountain. Sara’s only here another couple weeks, so we figured we better go now before it’s too late. Despite the weather forecast we decided to take the plunge up to the summit of Chocorua.

We stayed the night at Justin’s house and got up at the ass crack of dawn to get to the mountain around 7am. It was a foggy start but the sky cleared up beautifully. When we got to the mountain Sara and I decided to climb up the Piper trail and then cross over the three sisters and come down the Carter trail.

Piper’s trail is great. It’s a steady uphill climb with lots to see… waterfalls, rivers, and great views. When we got to the rocky areas where the trees start to thin out we found blueberries and started to pick. We couldn’t help ourselves. We were like two kids in a candy shop. I was stuffing them in my mouth by the handful. After we couldn’t stand to eat anymore we made way yet again for the summit.

We got to the top in under 3 hours and met a few people up there. It was stunning.. as usual. We ate a quick lunch admired the view and then made our way back down across the other three smaller summits; the three sisters.

WARNING!!! IF YOU EVER HIKE MT. CHOCORUA DO NOT COME UP OR DOWN CARTER. It is a horrible accent and descent. The paths are hard to see and very treacherous. There are also poor views and such. Although despite the horrible climb down we made it safely and in under 2 hours. (We ran a lot because we were afraid of rain)

Out of all the trails I’ve taken up and down Chocorua my favorite is still Chapney Falls!!! The trail head starts on the north side of the mountain on the Kangamangus Highway. It has the best views and a moderate trail to climb up.

Here are some pictures!

Peace and Love

John Larson

A good friend of my family died on Saturday. He was 56. Him and his family have always shown me great kindness and were a large part of my childhood. Thank you John for you life.

Life is measured not by days

But by how you live

And how much you love.

Peace and Love

Speak Impeccably

Today I spoke a lot. I also listened. I just don’t think I was quiet enough to know what to say when I was lost for words.Speech is a very powerful thing. We have this great gift of communication but sometimes we lack the foresight to use the gift to promote love. Every word we utter is a moment to create understanding.The problem I see with words and speech is the transition and interpretation. Once the words leave our lips, the ideas and feelings about those words are held to the mercy of the other person’s belief and understanding of those words.I allow myself to feel guilt over words that I have misspoken. Especially tonight when I spoke behind another person’s back when I should have never opened my mouth. Unfortunately this is not the first time I have put someone down and felt bad about it. I don’t even know why I do it.My only thought about all of this and why some speak so carelessly is because some of us crave the attention and like to create a point of interest. Unfortunately I do not possess a filter for thoughts that should otherwise be left unsaid, and my excitement to speak without thinking leaves me backed into a corner. Sometimes I just don’t know when to listen and when to speak. I am assuming I feel too much need to speak or that I am too egotistical.Tomorrow I will probably sit down with the person and tell them how I spoke ill of them. It will be the only way for me to stop it from happening again in the future with someone else. I can only try more to make the potential of my words totally creative and totally loving.Peace and Love