Just Breathe

December 21, 2015

It happened.  At long last, I know where I’m going to spend the rest of my life.  That’s right, Cornville!  It looks like you’re stuck with me for the foreseeable future.

Today, the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved my use permits.  Not only can I keep 2 kitchens in the house (one commercial and the other residential), I can rent out the commercial kitchen.

I need to say that again.  I CAN RENT OUT MY COMMERCIAL KITCHEN!   I can begin to generate at least a little income stream from this monstrosity of a house.

And because of that I can live here for as long as I want, propagating my asparagus, building new gardens that work for me, planting new orchards along the ditch side, raising pigs if I choose or buy another milk cow.  And because of that I can live here for as long as I want propagating my asparagus, building new gardens that work for me, planting new orchards along the ditch side, raising pigs if I choose or buy another milk cow.  I can bring in a hundred laying chickens. I can keep my dogs here on the farm where they belong and I don’t have to find homes for six of my eight cats.  I can paint the living room.  I can tear out the fireplace (OMG! that mantelpiece has to go–or maybe I’ll paint it green and blue…because I can!) and put in a wood stove insert that will heat the house with wood from this heavily overgrown property.  Perhaps, if God (via Amazon) is good, I might even build in the new kitchen then turn this vintage 1985 wreck of a kitchen into the living room it ought to be.  I can think seriously about replacing the tractor.  Who knew that instead of wrapped presents under the tree, I’d be dreaming about a Kubota with a rototiller?  I can even park it in the front barn!  Woot!

I can go on splitting my daffodil bulbs and iris rhizomes, and seed them across the hills and ditch bank.  Soon arugula and sorrel will cover the rocky slopes (where there’s been cow poop) and I’ll keep encouraging grass along Oak Creek until I’ve tripled my pastures.

And I will eventually wean that calf.  (She broke through my barriers and emptied half of her mama’s udder last night.  More baling twine is needed!)

And Tom will die in his sleep right here where he’s lived his whole life.

I’m home, Toto.  I’m home.

Bless everyone who was praying or thinking of me today.  Bless Tammy DeWitt of the Yavapai County Planning and Zoning department for all her help.  Special thanks go to Eric Marcus, Su Petersen, Kevin O’Melia and Jacquie Robinson for their neighborhood support, and again for showing up to the meetings along with Steve Cassagio of the Cornville Community Assocation.  Your presence made it all easier.

Lastly, thank you Cornville, Arizona.  I didn’t know this place existed until May of 2010, and now I’m sorry I waited so long to find you.  What an amazing hidden gem of a place this is, and I’m overjoyed to be a member of this community.