Book #9 -- The Dirty Life

I had the pleasure of reading The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball over spring break. I say pleasure because it seems appropriate. This book was a complete delight. Especially for someone who is completely enamored with  fresh food, farming, and raising farm animals. I'm inspired and in awe of the business model for The Essex Farm, which you can read about here.

“I was forced to confront my own prejudice. I had come to the farm with the unarticulated belief that concrete things were for dumb people and abstract things were for smart people. I thought the physical world - the trades - was the place you ended up if you weren't bright or ambitious enough to handle a white-collar job. Did I really think that a person with a genius for fixing engines, or for building, or for husbanding cows, was less brilliant than a person who writes ad copy or interprets the law? Apparently I did, though it amazes me now.”
― Kristin Kimball, The Dirty Life: On Farming, Food, and Love

Are You There, Readers? It's me, April.

I haven't fallen completely off the grid! It seems a blog direction change prompted a full on book block. A lot of changes happened in February and March. I applied to a new school, went through that whole process in just a couple of weeks time. Got accepted. Registered. And finally, I began classes for my master's degree! I'm pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching with a middle school emphasis. If all goes as planned I'll be certified to teach social studies or english. I had been leaning toward high school but when I found out my program allowed you to pursue certification in two subjects at the middle school level it was too tempting to resist. I had enough credits through my English minor to add that to my plan without taking extra courses. I'm excited at the thought of teaching a unit around The Hunger Games or any of the other YA books I love.

The result though is that for whatever reason I haven't read a single book since the very end of January. My goodreads account says I'm only 5 books behind on my 52 book goal which is great. It's been difficult to focus enough to read a book. I'm half convinced I've got adult ADHD or something.

I promise though, when I do start reading again I'll update. Hopefully soon!