Time well spent!

Mapping out the succession plantings.

I spent nearly the entire day yesterday doing only two things! The first was attempting to get an appointment for a Covid vaccination, since our governor announced that those 70 years and older could now apply. The first attempt was made on the official website, but the screen said it would be a 90 minute wait. Obviously, I was not the only Hoosier who had heard the news. So, the official telephone number was called and after a brief message, the “wait” music began. That was about 11:30a.m.

While the short, soothing but somewhat monotonous theme repeated and repeated, I began mapping out succession plantings. This is something new for me. Normally I just make a spring map and a late summer map for fall plantings. But, like may of you may be doing, I’ve been watching gardening videos (everything from flower farming to growing sprouts and garden design) and recently watched a Huw Richard’s You Tube on doing a monthly map. Huw is not only easy on the eyes, but has some really good gardening tips, like his “17 hacks” videos. He made some good points on the usefulness of a monthly map, so I thought I’d give it a go. I may be old, but I’m not too old to see value in learning something that might be helpful.

I ended up doing one for March-April and one for May-June, because it’s mostly just crops going in and not much coming out entirely during that period. (And being the frugal person I am, I’m not wasting graph paper!) Also, I didn’t put the job notes on the left as Huw does, because I prefer using my tried and true 3-ring notebook for that. That’s as far as I got because as 2:30, the music suddenly stopped and I grabbed my phone, expecting to finally hear a human voice. Sadly, the music stopped because I’d lost the connection. Actually, I’d been surprised to stay connected that long, because normally out here in the country I lose a call much, much quicker. Back to the computer, which indicated only a 45 minute wait this time.

When connected, the process was actually quite easy, except for the fact that ALL of the available slots for the foreseeable future were already filled in our county! So, I clicked on the neighboring county and finally was able to book an appointment in February in Muncie. Then I began the process again for my mother, but again all the slots in her county were filled (she lives a bit over an hour away from me.) I finally found an opening in a county adjoining hers, and maybe because she’s 95 her appointment is next week! Having those appointments booked, I breathed a sigh of relief and went back to my maps, but by then it was nearly 5 o’clock and the light was getting too dim, even though the Christmas tree lights clicked on at 5.

Yes, our tree is still up and the nutcrackers are still out, and the lit garlands on the potager’s front fence still click on at 6 p.m. The world is a gloomy, grim place right now, and I need all the colored lights and silly faces (that’s the nutcrackers, not D) I can get. I’m leaving everything up until after my birthday. AND, I’m lighting my cheerful little German smokers whenever I want to. I may just keep them out till spring!

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