I almost typed "March" and if I hadn't been so busy lately planting my food garden, I would honestly think I was still back in March. Putting a major grant proposal together is one of the big time-gobblers this month. I submitted it last week and have to wait until the end of next to see if I was successful. Since our program budget hinges on getting the funding, I wouldn't mind if y'all thought really good thoughts for me and the 123 Grow program. Then, I got a bit wrapped up in creating a Facebook presence for our non-profit; you can view it through this link if you are a Facebook member, and become one of our fans. If you haven't bought into FB, that's ok too --- the other person of our two-member committee to create this web presence lovingly calls it "Facecrack" for the addicting, time-sucking qualities.
Then, as I intimated, gardening has really risen to the top of the priority list this month, including helping the parents in my program as we contributed a big presence at last weekend's community plant sale, where the temps got really close to 100! We made $275 in sales, and the temps are back to normal for this time of year in the Sierras, so life is very, very good! I have soybeans, bush beans, snow peas, eggplant, five kinds of heirloom tomatoes, yacon, strawberries, dill, bronze fennel (for dyeing wool), calendula (also for dyeing), two kinds of basil (the Opal variety may end up in the dyepot as well), red peppers, lemon cucumber, Jerusalem artichokes, mixed greens, rhubarb chard, sorrel, and corn all in the ground, along with several flowering plants, including a bush lupine about to burst into bloom. This year's spring weather has blest me with the prettiest blooming of roses in ten years, and my raspberries are flowering as well. There are blueberries, cherries, pears, and apples all setting fruit, but it all adds up to a lot of time outside instead of in front of the computer. I know... excuses, excuses.
It is the height of spring where I live, and I promise to take lots of photos over the weekend. We have the old Slate Range Camp in sparkling shape for the annual family reunion we will be hosting.
I have been knitting and crocheting, though all of my projects seem to have made slow progress through this month. It looks like a handful will reach completion in rapid succession, with my five potholders for the Potholder Swap arriving at the finish line first. They are pentagonal, a variation of the Granny Square stitch, and double thickness, using basic washcloth cotton. I will be sending them off in the mail tomorrow, but am basking in the sense of accomplishment. Crocheting is much harder on my hands than knitting, I had to make ten to get five, and they won't lay flat, but I do know from past experience that they will wear well and do a great job for their intended purpose -curving around the handle of a hot pot and protecting your hands. I suspect that the baby blankie will be the next FO. Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.
