Up to my eyeballs in Busy. That is what I’ve been.  My life has changed quite a bit in the last many weeks. I’ve had many interesting things to write about and either no time, or little energy (photos of the girls’-weekend surfing trip are up). I can’t remember when I was this content. You know, the kind of content where you don’t have to think much about life, you just kind of live it and with each step, it tastes delicious? That kind.

BF and I are semi-domesticating. There has been chatter about the whens and hows of officially moving in together. I’m already in Queen Anne every night of the week. (He offers to come to my place, but his is much bigger and more comfortable; and he has the better kitchen.) We have a great partnership; it’s easy and fun, and there’s not any one else I can imagine sharing my life. He treats me very, very well. And he’s asking me about names for our children. Yes, it’s that serious. And very, very sweet.

Diablo Lake, coming back from the Methow Valley - Washington State

And yet, I still make time with friends, sometimes we make time together with friends (and family), and we each have activities we’re pursuing individually on occasional evenings. But, it’s nice to come home to my beau. (And he wants to start acro-yoga classes with me in October when boating is over.)

The Sitting Room - Seattle, WA (Shallon & I)

Mariner's v. Texas (we lost), with the Dragonboat team members

Part of domesticating means cooking! Yay! But, I’ve gone almost completely vegetarian (bacon, how I miss you), BF can’t eat dairy–and I haven’t met a pickier eater since…well, since Caleb. Together, we’ve decided to alter our cuisine to incorporate vegan recipes.  (Though, I will still be eating cheese.) Tuesday night, I made the Lime and Peanut Coleslaw from 101 Cookbooks. It was an excellent side to Veganomicon‘s “Snobby Joes” – sloppy joe sammiches made with lentil instead of ground meat. Can you believe that my picky-palate, meat-loving boyfriend completely devoured both, no complaints? I did alter the “snobbies” just a little (my mouth is watering just thinking about leftovers).

We have also decided that any and all meat we purchase will be from local farmers, grass-fed and will adhere to ethical standards. No herbicides, pesticides, antibiotics, hormones or steroids.   Certified Organic grass or grain that is not genetically modified. Humanely raised and harvested animals. Pastured and as local as possible. Because he’s Puerto Rican, BF was raised on meaty, traditional foods, and I don’t want to change that. Though, through some discussion and reading, I think he’s realizing the importance of meats that are humanely-treated and meats and produce that are locally grown and raised. And, (he doesn’t know it yet, but) we’re also joining a local Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA–a socio-economic model of food production. They benefit small farms and local communities.

I’m looking forward to October. Mostly, because it’s my birthday month, and yoga teacher training starts. But, also I look forward to October because I expect the chaos at work to settle down (just in time for me to possibly, maybe leave next fall to teach yoga full-time). And who know what other kinds of sweet surprises may pop up along the way?