Dixie

To celebrate Memorial Day, and apparently a much belated Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I took a whirlwind trip with a well-traveled friend down to Southern Utah - known as Utah's Dixie. It basically involved a tent, 3 days, about 1,000 miles of driving, 4 fantastic National Parks and seven great hikes. HooDoos, Arches, Cliffs, Rivers - and many shades of red rocks are the familiar sites I have come to love throughout my childhood. There is something really comfortable about the warm dry desert air and the vibrantly colored sands. While it was certainly a doing vacation, there's always something relaxing about connecting with the desert. The natural simplicity and warmth combined with childhood memories spawn an enthusiastic love for Utah's deserts and national parks. Fortunately, my friend was patient with my childlike enthusiasm and tourist-board like excitement. I came home to my porch's vegetable garden. Which, unlike me, was exposed to unseasonably cold temperatures while I was away. I'm hoping my tomatoes will survive. But I'm most excited to report that one bean seed and two broccoli seeds sprouted. So I continue to tend to the forced nature on my front step, I'll keep you posted on the other seeds soon to sprout (it's almost as exciting as the desert!).

Email Update

I just moved into my own apartment at the beginning of the month. I'ts a two bedroom, and I'm debating on whether to get a roommate - it's my finances that will ultimately determine if I do. I have to say it's really nice to have my own space. It is the beginning of the gardening season here, we just finished a plant sale and the tomatoes and just about everything else have just been planted at work. Work, though, is still work - I'm hoping to join the grad school track in fall '07, too

I have started a garden on my own balcony, as well - I'm hoping to make it a jungle of veggies that I'll eat. I'm pretty excited about it, but doubtful that all of the things I'm trying to grow will turn out - it will be awesome if they do - I'll have tons of food. It's odd that I'm totally motivated by the idea of eating it, and much less so to put flowers and stuff in - I love the utility of a vegetable garden. I'm going to be planting strawberries in a hanging container today and seeding broccoli, lettuce and carrots --- I'm super excited! it's weird.