Prodigal Autumn

Here on Matius' farm in Metri outside of Puerto Montt, Chile for a week now. We live in Matius' old house (he lives in his new one) with other travelers who have been without exception a joy to live and eat with. There's a beautiful lake ten minutes walk out back, and the way there is covered with delicious murto berries. Max and I have been cooking for ourselves and everyone else with freshly harvested produce; last night I made bean dip for a crudete of cabbage and cucumber, followed by quarters of steamed little winter squash over rice with roasted squash seeds on the side, followed by whole beet salad (raw greens, steamed stems, boiled roots,) and for dessert my best stab at sopapilla, a fried squash bread, with applesauce that Cali concieved of and we all made together whilst singing Christmas carols. There's not a whole lot of heavy work right now, though on Monday I got to dig a new planting bed; I've had plenty of time to devote to reading and sewing as well as cooking and sleeping.