School Days, Future Plans, and Chaga Tea

The spring semester has officially started. I have to admit that I am less than excited. My classes are already proving to be an insane amount of work (Physics & the Environment, Evolutionary Biology, The Short Story, Philosophy & Logic, and Genetics). In fact, this is probably the toughest semester I will ever have during my college career. Seriously, the work never ends!! The good news is that I applied for graduation a few days ago. Its weird to think that I will be graduating in August - almost a year earlier than most of my friends. I am really looking forward to graduating, but the thought of having to find a job by September is also terrifying. While my B.A. in biology will look great when I apply for my MAT (Masters of Arts in Teaching), I'm not really sure what kind of job it will be able to land me prior to applying for grad schools. I guess I'll have to wait and find out!

Luckily, Michael and I already know that we have a cheap place to live in the fall. After I graduate, we will be temporarily moving to New Jersey (I know - hilarious and horrifying at the same time, but we'll make the best of it!). His Dad owns a few apartments in the area, and he is letting us live in one of his lakeside apartments for free while we get settled in together and start saving some money. I am incredibly blessed to have such a generous soon-to-be-father-in-law! Once we have a little bit of money saved, we'll finally be able to start our adventure traveling around the world.

Some Instagrams from this weekend:

 

 

Top Left: Michael sitting across from me at the Middle Ground Cafe in Stafford. The faux plant behind him was a little too close for comfort.  
Top Right: The inside of a black cherry tree Michael started chopping down in order to obtain a large burl.
Bottom Left: My beautiful ring :)
Bottom Right: The first time in an embarrassingly-long time that I actually did my hair

Currently, Michael is trying to make his first batch of chaga tea. Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) is a charcoal looking fungus that grows primarily on birch trees. The chaga mushroom has been used as a folk remedy since the 16th century. Naturalists and homeopathic doctors claim that the antioxidant-rich fungus might have possible anti-inflammatory and anti-cancerous properties. I've been doing a little bit of research online, and there are tons of people who are convinced that drinking 6-8 cups of chaga per day has either helped or completely cured their cancer. I'm not sure I'm totally convinced, but that sounds interesting enough. Michael and I went hiking in the Nipmunk State Forest yesterday in an attempt to try and find some chaga. After about an hour we had a bag full of the stuff. I admit that I'm a little skeptical about trying this tea since Michael just handed me a mug of coffee colored liquid, but it does emit a pleasant woody smell that seems somewhat inviting. Wish me luck!

Oh, and next weekend Michael and I will be traveling back up to Vermont with my Dad to sign the venue contract for the West Mountain Inn! Once we sign the contract, our wedding date will be official! I am seriously so excited. Sometimes I still cannot believe that we are actually getting married in a year and a half.