And now for something completely different....

The Green Summit has, as I said earlier, started me on to a number of new research ideas. But I did have a few projects and plans already in the works that are bearing fruit of one kind another. So, here are a few stories from various fronts.

V & I bought tickets for the Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker show in Flagstaff. This was, for those of you who have not heard, our birthday present to each other. Our birthdays are 4 days apart and - we're fairly certain - this is the first birthday we've spent together since 1987. So we figured some moderate extravaganza was in order. Turns out that this was the best plan we may have had in many, many moons.

Flagstaff this time of year feels SO NICE. We still see temperatures over 100 every day and while the lows are finally dropping off a bit at night, it is still typically 75 for the low. By now, the whole summer thing is just done. PLEASE, LET IT BE DONE! But Flagstaff is almost 7000 feet up, so 75 is the HIGH for this time of year. (*sigh*) It was lovely!

But this trip also clearly 24 hours of randomness that I apparently was needing. Just one quick story to illustrate. While we were waiting for the doors to open (sound check ran VERY late) we met the "Resident Elder and Mayan Traditional Knowledge Scholar at NAU" (see her pic here) who was waiting for her bus - which also was running very late. We talked for almost 15 minutes and, when I mentioned that I've just started growing some herbs and traditionally medicinal plants, she invited me to come back up to attend her Mayan Herbology class in October. She said that, if I e-mail her before I come, she will bring me cuttings from her garden! Flagstaff is, of course, a small town and things work a bit differently there. But, still. How random!

Of course, mentioning growing things, the basil, dill and chamomile are all still growing away. I'm finally seeing a parsley sprout. The 4 types of new oregano (that I ordered with the Lifeline seeds) are all sprouting after only 3 days in the window sill boxes! And I have some Stinging Nettle, Marshmallow, and Evening Primrose already making appearances there as well. They are growing so much faster than I was expecting. I hope I get the beds ready on time!

Of course - and this is the big news I guess - I may have some help with that. Based on a meeting today, HTH may have found his very first, full time employee. If all goes according to plan, he will start on Monday. He wants 40 hours of work a week, but HTH may not have that in technical field work, so he will also work on house projects. Maybe I should go sketch out my plans for herb beds...