One of my favorite things about Moscow

Every year we look forward to the fair. It's kind of an introduction to Fall, our favorite season. We like to go at night, when all the flashing carnival lights stand out starkly against the crisp darkness. This year we didn't go on any rides since tickets were exorbitantly expensive; instead we wandered through the livestock booths and thought about animals. We've been thinking a good bit about animals lately, since we've considered buying land outside of town and building a house on some acreage. And we'd like to have some livestock, not anything in large quantities but something that makes us feel more... self-sustainable I suppose. Anyway, it's just an idea, but it was certainly fun to wander past all the different animals and dream. We like to dream about the future and make plans and try out different scenarios in our heads. As I suppose all couples do. :)

After wandering and scheming we bought an elephant ear and listened to an old cowboy strumming country songs on his guitar. It made me appreciate living in America; I tried picturing Europeans in this type of setting and it just didn't work. He sang songs about the old West and about Idaho potatoes (versatile spuds, he said) and swing-dancing. All in all it was a very enjoyable night, and it reminded me strongly of where I live. I felt rooted, and perfectly happy with those roots.

If we do build a house on acreage we're going to call it Cohen Manor. Or Cohenfield. Or some similar noble-sounding name. :) Probably not, but we'd like to pass it along to our children and their children and so on, so that if we plant saplings in the yard now we'll know our descendants are enjoying their shade 250 years from now. Perhaps we'll stick a plaque in the yard to remind them.