Time does funny things. We often use a calendar to set boundaries. The year ends, another begins, there are nice breaks in which to rest up and recover and prepare for what is to come.
For gardeners - and garden writers and speakers, I am quickly learning - the boundaries are really imaginary. Our lives are more of a continuum, with no real endings or beginnings, but, instead, phases that we pass quickly through.
When I think of the garden, harvest and preserving is followed by clean up, assessment - then right into planning, ordering, making decisions, and, before I know it, planting. September and October blur forward and it is February. It makes my head spin.
The same applies to blogging, writing, preparing for and providing workshops. Though I did take a bit of a sigh of relief last November, there was no real break; plans were being made for events in 2016, quickly followed by creating new workshops. Don't for a second think that I am complaining about any of this; on the contrary, I am really enjoying this new, continually busy and satisfying "career".
We are just a few days back from a really special 28 hours. Susan and I packed our car and departed for Morehead City on February 3 (intermittent rain falling, and trying to keep in front of a nasty squall line marching eastward). We are so fortunate to have been hosted by a friend from the past, Lynn Brugnolotti (our daughters played in a youth orchestra together in their high school years) and her husband, Dominick. Our arrival evening dinner was delicious, the hospitality warm and comforting.
The next morning we headed for Crystal Coast Civic Center (during some really serious rain!), where I was warmly greeted by Master Gardeners Sara Watson, Shawn Banks, and Susan Suggs, just to name a few of the many friendly folks we got to meet. I led the audience (over 140 in number) through my own particular journey with tomatoes.
Following some excellent questions, I was so fortunate to meet many attendees during a book signing for both Epic Tomatoes and Growing Vegetables in Straw Bales. It was gratifying, fun, and, to me, just a very special event.
We said our goodbyes to all, and as a bonus, gave Dominick a lift back to Cary; our far-ranging conversation made the rain-soaked ride go by in a flash.
So now, with wonderful events in Apex and Morehead City, NC as pleasant memories, Sue and I set our sights on Seattle. Of course speaking at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show will be great. But better still will be spending time with our daughter, Sara, and her husband, Adam - and our grand kids Aiden and Aaron. We can't wait!
Here, thanks to Susan Suggs, are a few pics from our Morehead City trip.
