As usual, I manage to keep busy. My project eats up most of my time and whenever I get some time off there's still plenty of activities to keep me entertained. My project is going well and I'm learning a lot. It's a bit like walking in deep snow. Every step demands it effort but it's steady progress which is just how it's supposed to be which leaves me very happy. When not at work I spend my time learning how to ride western, going for long walks with the dog or exercising if there is not anything special going on and most often, there is. As I mentioned, I live pretty far out on the country side, nearest town is half an hour away with car and that town only has a population of 3000 which is very small. For a real town it's a one hour drive on highway so you get the idea. Although I never in my life have really lived on the country side I've always pictured it as something that would suit me very well and it really does. Honestly, I don't know how I can ever go back to living in the suburbs or a city again after knowing how wonderful it is to live out on the country. For me personally, there is so much more to do on the country side than in a city and I just love being close to nature, be a bit isolated from everything and get some peace and quiet and of course have plenty of animals to hang around with.  So before, this preference of mine was only an assumption but know I've really confirmed it for myself, this is how I want to live. There are days when I feel extra patriotic and miss Sweden and especially those near and dear to me, but most days I live by the saying "Home is where I hang my hat". The thought of knowing that my days here are numbered is lurking in the back of my head and I just try to be grateful for the chance to get to experience all of it, from my work to my American home.

I visited the Missouri Endangered Wolf Center and got to see these beautiful maned wolves.
They have a certain spindle like character to them when they move around.

On a walk with Gus in the forest just by the house.

Tribute to them Stars n' Stripes on the Ashland Rodeo