More Kudos and rejoicing

Today I attended a master gardener association executive board meeting, with the Children's Garden Plan and budget proposal in tow. (The items I have been laboring on this past week.) I presented to the board the design, its purpose and the ballpark figures necessary to complete the project as a whole and...I was actually pleasantly surprised that they decided with enthusiasm to give me money to move the project forward. The paltry sum I had been hoping for in the back of my mind was blown away. I think I was slack-jawed there for a moment or two. Wow. They gave me nearly a third of the total costs. Wow. And in this economy. Triple wow.

So the upshot of this is, the project can get started this spring! And it also means I need to apply for a grant for another part of the funds. Luckily, the Pres. of the Association is more than willing to help me do this--and she has someone experienced in writing grants to give us advice on how to proceed.

So all good. I still can't believe that they like it as much as they say they do. Maybe I don't believe it because it hasn't fully sunk in what it all will mean. This is a huge project. (Slightly under 1/4 acre.) Wild.

Kudos Deserved!

I just found out a little while ago that my eldest daughter placed 3rd in Meteorology at the Regional Science Olympiad, AND that her school placed second. SOO...they are going to the State Science Olympiad Competition next month. Whoo-pah!!

Garden Crazy

Bwah!! I'm happy. I'm excited. I'm flattered. I'm stressed. I have one week to finish my budget proposal for the new childrens' garden plan and then I have to present it to the Board at an executive meeting. I'm off into unchartered waters. If all goes well the president of our group wants to apply for a grant for the money. (This same president thinks my plan is "terrific!") This is wild.

No worries. No pressure. I'm just a volunteer. Everybody likes a good volunteer, right?

My new mantra: I will not be stressed; I will not be stressed; I will not be stressed. Maybe I'll even convince myself before next Monday. You think?!?

Tending

As usual I've been keeping myself moderately busy, but not always with the most important things. For example...I have been spending (Ah-hem, wasting) time on FB. Unbelievable, yet true. This is not to say that I am completely lost. I have managed to maintain the laundry and dish chain. I also have managed to read approximately one dozen books (not all of those were frivolous fiction) in the last two months. Part of me would like to think that my patronage of the county library system is helping to keep a few people gainfully employed--that's ego for you.

Through the usual course of events, I was thrilled to become a Master gardener and five minutes later become an Advanced master gardener--thanks to procedural and paper lag. The end result is still the same and I am still pleased. Also along these lines...

I am pleased and fretful about the children's garden plans. I received a green light to move forward making the initial plans, garnered some support and enthusiasm from fellow gardeners, and now have to figure out the nitty gritty budget to present to the "executive board". This is a bit intimidating as I was not expecting to do this part at this stage and without any other obvious support/help. It's one of those situations where you have to ask the obvious question "How did I get into this mess in the first place?" The obvious answer then is "I jumped without looking." (Head thump.) I'll work it out. I hope.

While the garden outside has lain sleeping, I have not been idle. Mentally, I have been growing, pruning and finding a path back to myself. I know a few would ask---where have you been? It's complicated, but I think that finally I am coming out of my mourning. I told a very special friend that I feel I am coming back to myself. The fact that she said she had noticed my 'coming and going' fills me with both sadness and joy. Sadness because I will never fully know how my mourning affected those closest to me. Joy because I have such a wonderful a caring friend still there after I've come out of the rain.

Snowy again

A little while ago I finished digging us out from about 6 inches of the white stuff. My arms feel a bit like jell-o, but I'm good. I guess this is one way to begin "spring training", right? It was/is gorgeous outside with the sun shining.

I think the girls have had a pretty good snow day today. They played with their toys, on the computer, had a friend over and are out in the snow right now, soaking up the sunshine. Not bad. I think this their 5th "snow" day this school year. (I'm not counting delays.)

The List

This January, I have been pretty busy doing a lot of little things that add up to a lot. So since I haven't had a blog entry in a while...how about a summary list to catch you all up.

1. Staying home out of the cold and the snow (mostly) while kids have delays and snow days.
2. Doing the daily unending domestic chores that keep us all moving on with our lives.
3. Finishing a children's garden plan for the master gardener association.
4. Going to a delayed holiday party for nature center volunteers, that was so funny and wild I came home with a goose-egg and a good humor about it.
5. Reading a lot and listening to some books on CD. (Something I, usually, don't do but am finding it useful)
6. Helping both daughters here and there with fund raisers for band and girls scouts.
7. Finishing up little old projects here and there.
8. Getting into the new year by playing with a new Facebook page--at friends' and family urging. (Laughing at my young neighbor telling me her mom is too old at 40 to have a Facebook page.)
9. Finally, loaded my new iPod shuffle with a few favorite albums. I feel accomplished now--after all I have had it since Christmas Day. (eye roll)
10. Volunteering with joy at the Lilly Nature Center--it helps keep the winter blahs at bay.
11. Kicking back of an evening and enjoying the company of my family.
12. Beginning to plot and plan my attack on the yard and gardens for the spring and summer.
13. Trying to decide if I can afford to go see one or more of my friends out West this year. Seriously, I've looked at dates and plane tickets more than half a dozen times since Christmas.
14.Generally, being happily introspective and joyful for all my blessings in this rotten economy.

BRRR!!

I knew I should have bought thermal underwear this year. I failed. What was I thinking?! This week the weather people have me running for cover (preferably under my feather bed) with the temperatures they are projecting for this week. Thursday they are predicting a high temp of 2 degrees. Wow. While I am glad I don't live in Minnesota this week, my heart goes out to our friends who do. One question: I love you, but are you insane or what?