You Learn Something New Every Day!

The last couple of weeks have been filled with lots of learning for Jake and me.

Jake's pharmin' outfit

     Jake started his new job at an independent pharmacy in Maiden, NC.  In addition to learning the ins and outs of his new job, he also had to prepare for 3 big exams - the NAPLAX (pharmacy boards), SC Pharmacy law, and NC Pharmacy law.  After hours of studying, 4 trips to the testing center in Charlotte, and days of waiting for scores to be reported, we are happy to say that he passed all 3 exams!  He is now a licensed pharmacist in SC and NC!  Yes, you read that correctly - he is a pharmer!  In his first month as a pharmacist Jake has been learning something new every day.  Here's Jake to tell you about a few new things he's learned:
- Even though I had 4 years of excellent schooling, I still have a lot to learn.
- Working in a small town definitely has its advantages - everyone feels like family.
- I need to work on my Western NC accent - people know I'm not from here.
- I am thankful for some awesome teachers at my pharmacy who are putting up with me through this learning process.
- Honesty, friendliness, and a smile go a long way with patients.
  

Elizabeth's farmin' outfit

     As most of you know, I decided to take a year off of teaching to try new things.  After contacting many farms in the area, I have been hired as a goat/chicken farmer in Vale, NC.  Yes, you read that correctly - I am a farmer!!!!  I have really enjoyed my first week of work and I just love my new animal buddies!  I did not have to study for any exams, but I did have to study 19 goat pictures so I could learn their names quickly.  I have also been learning something new every day:
- Goats know their names! (And after lots of studying, I know their names too!)
- Finding an egg in the hen house is exciting every single time!
- Milking a goat is amazing and should be tried by everyone.
- Animals like it when you talk to them.  I don't know this for a fact, but I do know that they seem happy when I include them in the conversation.
- I do not smell good when I get home from the farm. (This depends on whether you ask Jake or Tillie.  Tillie loves my farm smell but Jake doesn't).
  

The hen house where the eggs are found

 


Tex loves it when I chat with him

Our new home in Conover, NC

  In addition to having new jobs, we also have a new house.  We are renting a home about 6 blocks from downtown Conover, NC, a small town just outside of Hickory.  The home was built in the early 1960s and it has so much personality!  It has the original Frigidaire oven, yellow sculpted carpet, and a pull-down chrome Nutone range hood.  The house also has a little over an acre of yard.  Tillie loves it!  So with our new home we have learned something new every day:
- You need a lot of tools to take care of a big yard.
- It takes 4 1/2 hours to mow our lawn with a push mower.  Thankfully our nice neighbor sold us his John Deere riding mower so now it only takes an hour to mow the lawn.
-  Neighbors are the best at making new people feel welcome, complete with chicken pot pies and volunteer lawn services.
- The basement is home to cobwebs, cave crickets, dust, and Jake's new man cave.
- You cannot move a huge fallen tree limb with 2 people (although we gave it our best effort).
- Meals taste better when eaten out on the front porch (or back).
    Learning something new every day is a blast!  We'll keep you posted as we keep pharmin' and farmin'!
Love,
Elizabeth, Jake, and Tillie