Hey! I didn't start this.

Yesterday, I was cruising along, thinking about the success of my first home-based cheese class.  I was trying to relax and catch up on the news of my friends.  I was relatively calm ..... not too twitchy for me ........ and actually contemplating the a new color of walls for my bedroom.

And then ..... I read this.

And now ... I'm hyperventilating.

OMG!  It is August!  Where has the summer gone???? And my list .... where is my list???

OK -- my list must be in the garbage can. Cuz that is what I feel like I have accomplished.... CRAP!!!  I have accomplished CRAP!!!

Major goals for the summer.........

1) Build Summer Kitchen ........ OK, its a work in progress.

2) Build garden loom.  Remember this???  It was a great thought.

3) Pave the floor of the little gazebo.  (I went instead for the natural green carpet look of weeds!)

4) Re-do Jenny's garden... Jenny's garden is an area that I had planted heirloom plants from 1892 era. It has always been a difficult garden to work with and keep weed-free.  We have not touched it this year!!  EVER!!!  Finest specimens of weeds you could find!!  Only thing that can possibly save it now ...... is a match!!

5) Keep the cutting garden weed-free. Emily will tell you the hours that I have had her laboring in the sun ... pulling and pulling and pulling.  Am I there???  HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!!!!!  And after a couple of rainy days and steamy heat ....... OMG!! There monsters out there!!!

6) Do brochure.... the good news on this one, I do have a meeting today with the graphic artist.
 
7) Get the larder stocked for winter. We have been canning fools here at Miss Eff's... but most of it is for the Summer Kitchen.  I have done no sweet corn nor have I touched tomatoes.  True, the tomatoes are just coming on.... but I am worried about having enough produce for the winter.

8) Build Mitzi.  Mitzi is my new art/scarecrow project.  Garden tools for hands, porch posts for arms, old springs for boobs, and beer caps for hair.  The good news is that Mitzi will have lots and lots of hair!!!  We will continue working toward the Rapunzel-look for her.

We have had lots of great accomplishments this year.  We have sold more jellies and jams than ever.  Egg orders and sales have been wonderful. And I actually have money in the bank for next year..... a major plus considering the last two years. Customers come back time and time again for flowers for their homes.

We were named an emerging partner site for Silos and Smokestacks so that is good. We raised $500 for the North Scott Food pantry and have other small, but hopefully, significant ways to add to their coffers during the rest of the year. The Sunday in the Garden with Miss Effie and Friends event was a huge success and lots of fun. And we made awesome ice cream!

We booked our very first on-the-farm wedding for next year.  And I have started with my home-based cooking classes. I will continue to teach adult-education classes at Scott Community College and have been asked back to Prairieland Herbs to teach a class or two again.

But the most important accomplishment has been all the wonderful friends that I have met.  Some through blogging or Facebook ...... some through classes ....... some from just coming to the farm to pick flowers.

So in the dead of winter .... when I'm writing that long list of the things I want to do next summer...... I will remember Catherine and Jen and Kim and Aprillynn and Carla and Sue and so many, many, more wonderful people that have touched my heart and have become part of this little farm.

I am certain .... that their friendships are number one on any list!!!!