My Blog

ak! I been tagged!

maggiemae — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 20:35:23 GMT

Random thoughts: 1.Trees are really cool. There is a pattern to their branches' spacing that allows them to breath the correct amount of oxygen for the size of tree. 2.I have recently become my own best friend. 3.I wonder if the person who invented ketchup ever thought that it would become a) as popular as it is, 2) according to some daycares; a food group, and p) a reason for fries to be invented. 4."They" aren't as smart as they think themselves. 5.The best form of zen meditation, in my opinion, is to pick a subject and study all the shapes that are in it, lights, darks, colours, lines. 6.Note to self: stop talking to yourself. Well, that might be OK, just don't talk back. OK, talk back but just don't argue, that's a sure sign of insanity.... because I said so, that's why... no, YOU're dumb. 7.I am incrementally 1/18, 8/9 and 3/4 away from being an empty nester and it terrifies me. 8. I'm dangerously close to not caring about a lot of things. 9. I've recently been called a 'fence pacer'. I thought I was a fence walker (not sitter, you see, clever me, but no, this person disagrees, thinking...ok, knowing me better than that). I'm alright with this task, as I think it's necessary for some in this world to be able to see both sides of every story, and perhaps live a little of each. Besides, fence walking was one of my absolute favourite passtimes when I wasn't afraid to fall off. 10. Aqua.

I quite my job to become an artist

maggiemae — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 17:11:07 GMT

I'm finding that's the weirdest statement to ever have come out of my mouth. Who in their right mind would quit their regular paying job to become an artist? Anyway, it's done. The messy business of telling my employer, who's sweet and has always been there for me ( a little too much, at times) that I'd give him some time to find someone, and give him the name of one potential school bus driver, is all but over. I'm helping the new gal figure out my route, the kids and the paper work, and then? Three things inspired me. One, that a friend, of 30 years passed away of cancer, in what I think of as the height of her life, last April. I've had such a strong sense of "life's too damned short" ever since the onset of her 1 1/2 yr sickness. It's sort of a tribute to her life, which albeit was too short, but very full. Two, the job I had was a job. Some advise that one should not let your job define you. I agree with that, if one has a job that they don't necessarily like. I, personally would like to define my job, then allow it to showcase who I am. With the CSA, I've taken a fairly simply framework of a concept, and built exactly what I want in it. I couldn't do that with school bus driving. There were 3 things I was in control of, the wheel, the seating plan and what music we listened to. The rest is up to the students, parents, weather, dept of transportation and my boss. Three, I really opened myself up for the past year to finding something else. All my adult life, I've had people say I should pursue art, I've wanted to, but really, it is a bit of a crap shoot, isn't it? I've been looking hard at each opportunity outside the art world (and there have been many in these 'good times') and throwing them out, knowing that I'd be unhappy again, I'd have settled. This summer, tho, I've had nothing but art ideas and offers thrown my way. They haven't dropped in my lap, by any means, but all I had to do was suggest, and boom! another chance produced itself. Now, add to that, the fact that I've taken a true look at the $ I'm making driving and laugh to think that it mattered much. It won't be such a leap to think I could make at least that much with art. So, the "then what?" question is answered. The list of possibilities is endless, really, but for now there's quite a wonderful array of things that came up. Whilst grocery shopping, I ran into the principal of the elementary school my kids went to. I asked if she was still going to be principal, and she asked if I was still driving. My answer was "Yes, I guess, until I'm not. I'd rather be teaching art", to which she replied "well! Then you should write up a proposal. What do you want to teach? Painting? Drawing? How much time would you need? ". Ha. That easy. Then, there's the commission job that I simply asked if I could do, and was blessed with an affirmative answer. It's a mosaic back splash. A rooster. The other things are murals in both a greenhouse bathroom and a gym, the creative end of a business with a friend who wants only occassional work now, of designing and building children's bedrooms, a consignment location, teaching workshops to the women out where I live, on things like mosaic stepping stones, drawing classes for kids, and workshops on maskmaking for teens. Life is good.

I'm loopy.

maggiemae — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 01:38:24 GMT

That's what child # 3 says. She said it in that tone that says "but I still love you". I've been wondering if it was just me that thought I was going a bit soft. The summer schedule I run is absolutely nuts. I don't think that's what she was talking about, but perhaps it's what causes the rather bent mentality I run on of late. Good thing my family still loves me, grin. Last week, I had a work party of 9 come out to do their weeding. I feel obligated to be out with them; in part because they might end up pulling a row of something useful, but also because it's my business. That was Fri night til 9 pm. On Sat morning, we had 5 am rondezvous with our friends to butcher our chicks, and a work party of 4 at 9 am to weed. Then on Sun another 5 am rondezvous to butcher chickens at the friends' house. It's been stinkin' hot, so we wanted to get the butchering done before the heat set in. I'm glad, too. We got 25 chickens/day done by 10:30 am. That darling daughter of mine is a bit loopy herself. She LOVES butchering. We found that if one puts a bit of dawn in the dunking water, it destinkifies them a bit, so that eliminated the only thing she didn't like. She feels she's particularily good at getting the lungs out whole. I have to admit, there was a bit of pride in me when I saw her sneaking up to the squeemish girl with a chicken foot and placing it on her shoulder. She's got a bit of her mother in her. For some reason, the other girl didn't talk to her much for the rest of the day. Today, the day after delivery day, is sort of my day off. I took some cold cuts. olive cheese bread, and tomatoes w/basil, garlic, olive oil and balsamic vinegar to my family, who're staying at the lake. left them all there after a nice chat with my Dad. Didn't sleep well, as it was hot and a 2 am thunderstorm and glorious rain (it's been dry) announced itself quite loudly til about 4:30. I found myself propped on the couch at about 6 this morning, water glass in hand. I guess I fell asleep watching the lightning show. So, today I just hung out. Went and watched the zucchini grow for a bit, tidied my kitchen, and read. Sort of giggled a bit when I realized that the reading I'd done was bouncing between my new obsession, permaculture design book, and online info for what ails my tomatoes, to a common weed book of Alberta. Then, a friend called to ask if her garden was OK (I think I recognized the somewhat subdued excitement as she asked if the peas were ready, and if the squash was supposed to be on the vine already). It's all about growing things, even on my day off! Ah, I guess it gets in the blood.

Delivery, focus of intent and a paranoid mamma

maggiemae — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 21:04:36 GMT

The delivery went alright. As usual, adding new aspects always need the kinks worked out. Because of the increase in #s of shares and the fact that I'm still only one person (daym!) it took a lot longer to pick. To add to the rush, #1 son was finished his exam right in the middle of the picking so I had to interrupt to run and get him. Good news is that he and his buddy helped. Bad news is, it wasn't enough time even with the extra hands. Good news is (didn't we already do this part?) I got a spare driver. Bad news is (ahem) I forgot to pick the arugula. I haven't received any irate phone calls so I'm assuming I'm forgiven. Next week they'll get double the arugula. The borrowed trailer made me wish I could buy one. Alas, my little company can't afford it this year. The owner of the trailer is a great guy, and wants to let me use it whenever I want. Says he'd like a bag of carrots. Grin. I'll be paying it forward. Focus of intent. This one's been big in my life of late. I've been asking myself "what, if anything, are you going to do about people in your life who're, well, toxic to you?" And, "What direction do you want to go with your work? You're not getting any younger, you know". That last one kinda bugs me, who the heck does that voice think it is, anyway? So, intent. hmmm. I want to focus it on something, but am totally undecided in both the above aspects. Rush's 'Freewill' says "...if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice". Up until recently, I've chosen to stay in relationships that are costic for various reasons, not all selfish. Up until recently, I've toyed with finding other work, but none seems any better than the job I have. There's stuff I'd like to do, but don't think gallavanting around the world is conducive to raising a family, at least not in the way we've chosen. I think what needs to happen is I need to focus on the outcome, and the focus itself becomes the intent. The outcome doesn't have to be so specific, as to dealing with individuals (after all, this sort of smacks of washing one's hands of someone), but perhaps the outcome I desire is to have peace and good people in my life. And the work; my outcome there could be that I follow the most perfect path for me, that I find, in small ways or big, where I will best benefit this world. There's paranoia afoot. My # 2 son (most like me, I'm told), is a good kid. Active in extra curricular activities, good marks, mostly respectful, loving and nuturing. So, the other day, he asks me "How come you don't let me drink?" That got me reeling. I was glad to have been facing forward while driving. My answer was about 1/2 hour long (YAWN). Because I love him. Because he's at a tender age. Because I knew, personally, several people who were killed or badly hurt because of drinking. Because I want to give him other options. Poor kid. At least he's coming to me with this stuff. He wants to go to a party, where we all know they'll be drinking. So, what's my biggest, man? How come the prude in me comes out now? It wasn't there when I was his age. I don't know if he's asking me this to test to see what I'd do if he drank or if he doesn't want to and is looking for a scapegoat (he declined this and one other party on the pretense that I want some notification and he was asked last minute). If it's either, I'd better step up. We went to a movie instead, and I have other plans for future parties, (paintballing, swimming, golf, a party of his own), so hopefully I'm being a good paranoid mamma.

1st delivery! -chicken truck security- mac users

maggiemae — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 00:44:47 GMT

Tomorrow is the first delivery for '07. After equipping my truck with a hitch, buying 20 new totes, numbering them, and picking up a borrowed trailer today, I'm ready. First thing after am bus run tomorrow, I'll pick lettuce, radishes (provided they're not wormy), arugula, rhubarb, and bok choi. Rinse it all, seperate into shares and pop 'em into totes. By this time, C should be done his exam and I'll pick him and his friend up to help me pop the totes into the trailer and off we go. I hope the pick up processe was explained well enough. Oh, and I'll have to write an e-newsletter to send to all my members. The rest of my 'in-between-time', between bus runs, was spent buying and trying to figure out the battery fencer (mostly with lots of @#$!) I'm using on the chicken truck. I'm not sure R attached it low enough, the Lily Dog pulled apart the bottom of the thing last year and he's got the electric wire about 1' off the ground. It makes a high pitched squeak every couple seconds, and I can't tell if she's driven mad by it, or if she's put off. she certainly doesn't want to go near it when I'm around. I'm going to have to monitor the wire on the bottom. Hey, does anyone know how to put all the email addresses from one grouping in 'mail' on a mac into the bcc window? When I've done it in the past, some of the addresses, not all, don't transfer, just the names. So, I've been doing it one at a time, which is a royal pain.

Water and Lily and flowers

maggiemae — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 19:19:01 GMT

And I don't mean the type you'd find in a tranquil pond. This morning's mission was to count and wash out all the bins (23 shares X 2/share= 46 rubbermaid totes), set out all my barrels that were brought down from the barn loft and figure out where they and my 350 gal tank are going to go to catch what rain we get between now and dry season. There are already 8 set up, with water flowing from one to the other on the south side of the house, 5 more sitting here and there amongst the gardens, and the remainder brought down, 6, I think, will go in the first garen plot (I really need to name them....the plots, not the barrels) and the 3rd. But for the time being, they'll sit beside my decrepit shed. The bins will have to wait til after last bus run, I want to go buy goodies for my little kids on the bus, this will be their last day for this year. S'ok, tho, I'm all hot and sweaty from dragging the barrels and hoses around. Now, for the matter of Lily. Otherwise known as the Lily Dog. She's 9, and so bordercollieish that she's just about lost her life several times to frustrated owners (us, I'm afraid, we've had her since birth). Dont get me wrong, she's part of the family and will always have a place, but dagnabit! (always wanted to say that but thought it might sound like I'm a toon) The girl gets herself into trouble! A couple weeks ago, I put the middle sized chicks (layers), out in the chicken truck. Lily stocked them. I know. she's just doing her job. But she's done it so well that she's ripped, with her teeth, mind you, the strong wire mesh around the chicken truck on three sides. She can actually get in there. This thing was built to be bullet proof (my dear husband), but not Lily Dog proof, I guess. So, she's tied up. Not a dog line wise dog, is she. She manages to get looped, not once, but several times around anything left in the way. Yesterday, there was thunder and the poor dear shakes in her boots at this. When I finally realized it (she picks up on these things 2 hours before we do) and went out, she was so entangled in my two willow arbour walls (that have been sitting up against the barn wall for 3 yrs) that they fell on her and she was STU-Uck! I love my dog, I love my dog, I love my dog. The flowers came from 3 sweet children on my bus who're moving. sniff.

"Red wigglies"

maggiemae — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 04:00:45 GMT

That's what the grade 5/6 teacher of our local elementary school called them when she phoned me and asked if I wanted their class project- a worm compost bin. I told her that I'd love the compost for my tomatoes, but already have a bin. After some begging I relented. We use lots of veggies and can use the compost. So, I offered to come in and show the kids how to seperate the worms from the compost, give them the full experience, from start to finish. In I went, expecting a bin full of worms in the end, since they've had them the whole year. Shoulda known when teach said they'd been putting in their banana peels and using the finely shredded paper from the office (coloured). The few worms left were yellow and sickly looking. But MAN! did they have fun. What a good project to do with boys. Actually, there wasn't a clean pair of hands on a boy or girl by the time we were done. We piled the soil on an opened garbage bag I brought in piles about 6" high. They were to skim the top layer off, handful by handful. By the time they were done, they were to have a pile of worms, because with each layer, the worms (who don't like light) crawl (slither? wiggle?) deeper into the pile. Mostly, the worms were sifted out by their fingers, cuz their priorities were differnt than mine. They wanted to find worms and eggs, I wanted them to have the delayed gratification of picking up a pile o worms. The job got done in the end, and I'm babysitting the bin for the summer. Perhaps I can nurse the little guys back to health, or put some in there from my other bin if they don't survive. By fall, I will take it back to her class and gently suggest they not put poison laden fruit peels and dyes from paper. Fun fun.

Green or not so green

maggiemae — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 03:46:01 GMT

So psychology interests me. I like those tests that tell you what type of person you are, whether it be super analytical, totally introverted, like to have your ducks in a row or chillaaaaaxed. I've always thought myself an extrovert with a bit of intuitive. Today, after some discussion with someone who I know is intuitive, and at the very least, deep. He's a regional mgr of a mid-sized feed and fuel company, which sent him on a 1 month university course in Eastern Canada. The personality types was what they taught at the beginning of the executive something-or-other course. We were talking not about this course, but about mosquitos. Everyone was giving me advice on how I could avoid being bitten whilst out in the garden. You know that email. No bananas. Yes dryer sheets. Yes deets. "Pooh" says I. I eat a banana a day, don't do deets, nor dryer sheets and still don't get bitten. (I think someone should write a song based on that last sentence.) And all the people that were talking with us laughed, nodded and said "yeah, you're green", knowing full well that I'm a bit of an eco crusader (actually, they think I'm stark raving mad, with all my organics and save the trees nonsense) . It took about 5 minutes for us to figure out that we (the first fellow and I) were talking about different subjects. He figures I'm a yellow. I rejected the idea, thinking he was saying that I've gone 1/2 dead (what self respecting green person would accept being called yellow, I ask you?). Apparently, yellow means something along the line of Intuitive. Ha.

Blogging goooood.

maggiemae — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 20:43:35 GMT

K, so posting that I was feeling unmotivated motivated me. I just weeded 3 buckets full, and a quadrupal row of carrots. Fed it all to the layers. ta da da dum!

Procrastin A-A-tion!

maggiemae — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:45:15 GMT

am bus run done (not late, as I was yesterday). Kids off to school, but not before E decided to leave my little chicken thief out (the Lily Dog), and so I waited the bus for a minute so that he could tie her up. Chickens fed (all 3 bunches of them: old layers in the coop, young layers in the chicken truck who're too small to put in with the older ones...next week, and the fat little meat birds who're eating me out of house and home). Dishes done. Water tomato babies (they're growing up) done. That's it for productiveness, so far. Yesterday was good. I filled the gaps in the brassica crop rows with some I'd seeded into trays, and cut up all the toilet paper rolls I've saved (thinking of starting a SAVE THE TOILET PAPER ROLL! campagne, I need more) into 3rds and planted them around most of the brassicas to deter cut worms. Weeded the brassicas while I was at it. All this while it rained. But today, it's sunny and the birds are chirpy and I don't feel like going out there. What's up with that? On the 'to do' list is counting the delivery bins for the CSA, going and buying what I need for bins, cashing a bunch of cheques that have finally come in (yay!), weeding, weeding, weeding, setting up the rest of my watering system, going over to a coworker's (another bus driver), who has a pup trailer for behind buses that he'll barter veggies with me for the use of it. I've even got my muddy pants on from yesterday. Motivation is not the word of the day, I guess.

Putzin'

maggiemae — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 20:50:04 GMT

I love growing things. I've just gone out and planted in the HUGE new garden. It's got 4 double rows of peas, interplanted with green onions, 5 rows of zucchini (yes, 5 rows!)...more on that in a bit. 4 rows of different winter squash, a row of muskmelon, a row of slicing cukes, and one of pickling cukes. a row of pumpkins, a second planting of leaf lettuce, romain lettuce, bok choi. And I still have 1/4 of the plot left! It's still chunky with clumps of grass, which, I'm sure will be the bane of my existence by the end of season, but what the hey. I thought we wouldn't get anything out of this space this time last month. It was under water (photos in my album). I'm thinking that after I till the remainder up a bit more, I'll put in a few extra spuds and maybe carrots. The zucchinis are partly for the CSA shares, but also, I got an invitation from Sue's husband to send the blossoms to his restaurant. They would reap $3/flower. He is part owner and chef for "THE" restaurant in his city. They flour and fry them, or stuff them with something for a sidedish. I just have to find a way to ship them so that they will be fresh fresh. In the other gardens, I see lettuce, swiss chard, radishes, broc, caul., and cabb, spuds, peas, spinach, carrots, beans, corn, tomatoes, onion, garlic, arugula, and bok choi all up. Unfortunately, so are the weeds. We've had such heat in the past few days, then some really good rain. The tomatoes are loving the worm castings, so I hope I can take more from my bin when they need it. The tumblers have flowers already, and the other, bigger varieties are in the ground (approx. 100 in all) with copious amounts of horse manure. I feel good about this year. My water system is all but set up, people are all but paid up (ahem. SOME feel it necessary to leave things to the last minute!), my truck's going in to get a hitch put on. All that's missing is a trailer. We have one, but it's awfully big..a horse trailer. We'll see. sigh. good stuff.

Sue's gone

maggiemae — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 05:27:39 GMT

She went peacefully on Thursday morning. 19 months is what she had to gather her life together, 'put her affairs in order'. She and had birthdays 2 weeks apart. Her journey in that 19 months has made me question life, spirituality, myself; my worth, my value to those who love me, my value to her. Her sister tells me today that in all difficult things there's light. That's what I want to be left with.

My beautiful Sue

maggiemae — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 05:22:06 GMT

To my sweet, sweet friend, Sue. I know that you are, and will remain here, in my heart. Memories of you and us have been constant through the past few days. Memories so many that I couldn't possibly put them all down here. I want to share a few, though, because they are bursting from me. I remember the first moment that you sat next to me and declared that I should come, do something with you. I don't remember what, but that's not important. It's how you said it, I just knew in that instant that you were something special. You shone. You made me want to shine too. From there, everything was exciting for us. I think we invented each other. Boys, music, new friends, dances, secret discoveries, hanging out in your back yard or at my cabin. You and I giggled so hard we cried. You taught me to love and to not worry, and that I should be proud of whatever decisions I'd made because it's what made me who I am today. So wise, you are. I know that having our own families and geographical distance has carried us away from each other but I've still felt you, thought of you often. I think of bangle bracelets, red, red nail-polish, tricle pie, a car called "Purple Pumpkin", late night walks, your beautiful shape, back-lit on a bridge in Bern Switzerland, good byes when you went away to grow up and shy greetings when you came back. I remember hot dogs with copious amounts of ketchup, and grown up meetings for a drink with Marnie, and school-girl crushes on boys who didn't know how to handle us because we were an undeniably indestructible unit. I remember hanging out with the crowd, on the sun-lit hill at Scona, joking, laughing, teasing, our pet names for each other "Pooh" and "Margs", receiving your letters from far away, in Switzerland and Japan. Every day, I count you first, when counting my blessings because you've been so good for me. I love you, Sue.

still waiting, yet funny how life carries on...

maggiemae — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 18:36:14 GMT

We thought that that night was it. Now, we wait. I don't know if this is some cosmic way of giving us all time to digest the death of my friend, or just life, not letting go. Anyway, waiting sucks. Life in general, tho, goes on. Driving school bus is back on the list as "just a job" but an OK part of what I do. At least it's a constant ("Good morning", "sit down", "get that out of your brother's ear", "don't be a thing-taker, Zac", "that's a nice song, Chloe, maybe not at the top of your lungs?"). I don't love it, but I don't hate it either. The seedlings are up. I've got tomatoes, cauliflower, cabbage, basil, orange thyme, parsley, sage, rosemary, and flowers. It's been fun teaching D, a new friend, to plant. She feels all "domesticated". In return she dies and prunes (my term) my eyebrows, giggle. They were nonexistant in color before, and I'd never jump into that on my own, but hey, it's kinda fun having a little more expression to my face. R is full of good energy today. I think we're finally figuring out a way for him to stay put and work, rather than running to the next town for the next job. It's funny how when one opens themselves up to the positive, it comes. He's got such big energy, that once harnessed, it'll spin our heads watching him go.

Little me

maggiemae — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 16:19:53 GMT

I took a hit this year. Well, a year and a 1/2. It's been almost that amount to the day that my best friend from highschool told me she has cancer. This girl, this woman, friend, mother, sister, daughter, wife, she is a beauty. Oh, don't get me wrong, there's flaws. And, oh, how we never seem to find them in the dark hour of death? I loved her flaws, tho. Well, maybe most of them. Some of them drove a wedge between us somewhere between new husbands, babies and the NOW. Her sister and she had one such wedge. I say 'had' because I think those wedges dissappeared when we found out how sick she really was. The sister is overwraught now, sees only that the time of mending is over, that she didn't do well enough to repair the rip in their relationship. I know, tho. I know that the conversations that we've had in the past 18 months were my second chance, at being in love with my old friend. She and I. She and I built eachother. We knew eachother at a time when we were being invented. There were boys and mischief and discovery of the tonics of escapism. There was lying and hurt and the coming back together to for an indisputeably indistructable unit. We saw the world. The one we lived in and that there was one outside our own world. I had to say good bye to her before, when she went away to grow up. I cried then. I cry now. To borrow the flavour of another ...I cry because today, my friend dies...I cry because her children's mother dies.. I cry because a little flame-and oh, what a pretty little flame-goes out...I cry because her parents are old and shouldn't see their daughter die right in front of them...I cry because I don't know if I will be allowed the privilage of seeing her girls grow to be young women that look and sound just like her, even tho they had so little time with her...I cry because I am afraid... I cry because I don't know what else to do while I wait for the phone to ring...I cry because I'm on the outside of her circle, looking in, wishing I did better...I cry because our mutual friend is angry and I know why and I feel the same-yet all I can do is be sad...I cry because when I look at trees I think of her-and when I drink tea- and when I eat hotdogs- and when there's childrens poems, run amuk-and in the cold (how the jamaican in her hates the cold!)- and pretty much everyday for silly little reasons...And now, when there's death...I cry because it's not bloody fair..... I love you Sue

Beautiful day

maggiemae — Fri, 05 May 2006 15:03:40 GMT

Sunshine always puts me right. Woke up @ 5:30, beginning to be a habit (sound like everyone's parents?). I'm choosing to let it be a good thing. Either I get to snuggle back down in the blankets or get up and stare at the world that's been going on w/o my consciousness. Today I chose the former. I'm thinking that if I put my plans into black and white, I may even follow thru this time. Plans to slow down, to see the nitty gritty of stuff around me. I plan on walking today. We have a little willow forest that has been calling my name for a few days now. Then, the real world creeps in. 'gotta finish painting my girl's bedroom today so she can move down there', 'gotta plant the garden', 'gotta....' . the wee bit of hippy in me wants to walk away from it all and wander. Too late. I grew roots. I love the growth in my life, don't get me wrong, just need a breather. The outside is calling. Next stop, go to my new friend, Ryan's farm (he's all of 15, and SO enthusiasitic about farming) to take some chick feed to our chicks he's caring for. Combining wonder for this world and the same-old, same-old is where I'm going with this, me thinks.

Building Community

maggiemae — Wed, 03 May 2006 17:13:08 GMT

Here, each of us sits. Blips, really. But when one speaks of such consequential stuff as making human connections and eating, what we think, say and do suddenly become critical, all important. Those are basic needs. Of all the struggles we face on this Earth, and Lord knows there's plenty, being intentional in our works seems to be the biggest. Getting caught up in the works themselves is what we seem to keep coming back to. So, in effort to be distinct, well focused, INTENTIONAL, I'll say my current focus is the subject OF the works. Us. People. Connection. And the vehicle for this connection, in my case is vegetables. I know, weird. But there you go, vegetables are a staple, weird or not. Funny how a simple drive to create from very little (a seed) pushed me in this direction. From my experience in growing a garden has come such wonders; sustenance for my family and others, art (growing a garden can be extremely satisfying to the eye. it's ever changing, beautiful in shape and color, alterable, and ever so complex right down to the molecular level), working outside my box, connections with like-minded people, the opportunity to learn and teach, strength where I thought I'd lost it, and love. I encourage you, my friends, to grow with me; explore how we can connect with one another; learn and share. I think we can create a positive, friendly community that supports local food producers and their consumers to connect. I think that these connections, small as they may be in and of themselves, are paramount in the BIG PICTURE of taking care of our health, and that of the earth. "When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world." - John Muir, American naturalist, explorer, and conservationist