Growth

One week ago today, we welcomed a new addition to the family.  The previous two weeks were spent doing paperwork and waiting by the phone for 'the call'.  With much anticipation and excitement we drove pick up a 4 year old dog that had been surrendered at a nearby shelter.  A few days after meeting him, we had already decided on his name, Mr. B.

Over the past week Mr. B has been and continues to learn and practice new tasks, such as how to walk on a lead, not to chase and bark at cars, and not to charge through doorways.  Since we adopted him from a shelter, we were given no information about his previous life.  Even though Mr. B was a surrender and the shelter could have easily collected information for the new potential owners, they did not.  We decided to give him a try and have committed to dedicated a month to him and see how things work.

After this first week, I am happy to say that Mr. B does well sleeping in the crate at night, he is taking to self feeding easily, does not counter surf, and although it is evident his previous owners let him on the furniture, he is obeying the house rules here and not getting on the furniture.  We are working on walking on a lead using a Halti, as a regular collar and lead were not working because he pulls very badly.  He does not care for the Halti, but is tolerating it.

We have a growing list of behaviors that will need to be modified and checked, so this month is going to a lot of work training.  However, we try to have some fun too.  Overall, it appears that Mr. B is settling into his new environment and enjoying the freedoms of non shelter life.  We have our fingers crossed for him and hope he does well over the next few weeks and can stay with us.

Spring is in the air!

Warmer weather has been visiting the past week and it has been such a wonderful surprise.  Fingers crossed the arctic chill has left and we are on to sweaty summer days!  Tomato plants are coming along and spring garden vegetables will be planted soon.  What are you planning on growing this spring?

If you would like assistance planning your garden, this Saturday there is a workshop at Ten-Speed Greens in Tallahassee.  I have not attended a Ten-Sped Greens workshop, but would really like to.  Although I was originally planning on going, I am not sure if I am going to make it this time.  Additionally, they will have their market open with fresh veggies for sale.  Native Nursery  is also having a free Gardening 101 workshop Saturday.  I have attended this workshop a few times and it is great, if you are just starting out and the employees at Native Nursery are very friendly, helpful, and willing to answer any questions you may have.

This year, I am going to have a few varieties of heirloom tomatoes.  I like the selection at Native Nursery because they are regionally produced and do well in this area.  Additionally, I bought some seed that I am going to germinate.  My favorites are the grape and cherry tomatoes.  They are easier to grow than the larger producing tomatoes and they produce more fruits.  Last year, we did not harvest many tomatoes because the squirrels feasted on them.  Last fall, we built an enclosed raised bed with removable screened panels.  This year, we are going to grow tomatoes in there in hopes of salvaging some.

Picture from Ramcharan, C. 1999

One of my favorite plants that got hit really hard this past winter is Culantro.  For those not familiar with the plant, it is fantastic!  It tastes just like cilantro, but is a biennial herb, so you get the cilantro fresh and year round!  Culantro is rich in calcium, iron, carotene, and riboflavin.  Surprisingly, the three plants I have survived the frequent freezes this past winter, but are barely hanging in there. 

My winter lettuce greens are doing well and with the recent warmer weather have taken off.  I am considering moving my spinach and arugula to a lightly shaded bed in hopes of keeping it growing through spring.  Have you tried transplanting winter greens to keep them going through the spring?  How did it work for you?

Depth of Simple Acts

There is nothing like updating/revamping one's resume to clear out those cobwebs and let one reflect on what they have done and where they want to go.  Recently, I presented a presentation at a scientific meeting and so I decided to update my resume with the information.  Coincidentally, I was sent an email about a position that looks too good to pass up.  What better reason to update the resume?  A few evenings later working intensely and asking opinions/comments/feedback from super supportive friends and I have a revamped resume and fantastic cover letter to boot!

However, the whole process was very interesting.  I found myself looking at my resume in a new light.  Being a supervisor myself and having to sift through resumes every so often, I find that my decision making process has changed.  No longer am I trying to express myself or have the resume be a representation of me as a person.  Those thoughts have become simply trivial.  What I do focus on is visual aesthetics, content, and clear comprehensibility.  Is that even a word?  What I mean is I want someone to see my resume, enjoy reading it [aesthetics], have the content that says 'you need me for this position', and be able to easily understand the information I am trying to convey.  In science that is not always the easiest thing to accomplish.

Additionally, I have found myself reflecting during this resume process.  Each position is like a chapter in my life and I do not often revisit them.  Most of my time is spent in the present or planning for the future.  In the past, reflection was filled with bitterness and discontent.  I was very happy to have let go of some of the bitterness and discontent while reflecting upon my previous work experience.  It was refreshing to look bad at my previous work experience and acknowledge that yes, I was not very happy during those times, but I am very happy now, and without that experience, I may not be here.

Two years gone!

Wow, it has been almost 2 years since my last post and so much has happened.  Like reconnecting with an old friend, I think I will start off with the present and go from there, letting the past year reveal itself as the days follow.  For those who enjoy the blog, I hope to have some new content and offerings and hope you enjoy.  So, stay tuned!  Additionally, I would like to make a more interactive experience so, please comment or contact me if you would like to discuss postings further or offer feedback.

How to fall in love with a small southern town...

Ingredients:

• Sunshine
  
• Warm cool breeze
  
• Your favorite bike [or other means of self propelled transportation]
  
• A day or afternoon to yourself

Directions:

• After sleeping in and thoroughly savouring your morning by drinking a cup of your favorite beverage, listening to the birds greet the sun, nuzzling with your favorite furry friend, and perhaps catching up with a distant friend via skype, you are ready to head out.
  
  
• Determine where your going, perhaps run a few errands... pick up some fertilizer at the local nursery and stop by the art coop to see the pottery exhibit. Remember, you are traveling light [via self propelled transport], so plan accordingly.
  
  
• Now you are ready. Grab your bike [or other self propelled transport mechanism] and hit the road. Put in your headphones, start you mp3 player, straddle your bike, and get moving... you've got places to go and the sunny afternoon to enjoy.
  
  
• As you ride along the uncongested streets lined with live oaks and older homes with established landscaping, feel the sun warming your skin as the breeze gently cools it. You push your muscles, making the bike go faster, listen to your breath, and feel your muscles begin to swell and your body warm from the inside out. Perhaps you can smell the wisteria that has just started to bloom as the white flowers of the dogwoods and silver bells look flamboyant against their leafless tree neighbors.
  
  
• Stopping at the local nursery, you become lost in the aisles of small potted plants. The annual flowers are brightly screaming for attention and the small veggie seedlings are modestly waiting to planted. You take a few moments and settle into a patch of grass to enjoy the sun warming your skin and watch the few clouds slowly move across the bright blue sky. "Why is the sky so much more blue here, so far from the ocean?," you ponder to yourself. Soon the nursery is closing, so you grab the fertilizer you came for and hop back on the bike.
  
  
• You ride, just for the sake of riding. You curiously explore the small, rural, southern town you now call home. Wandering over the railroad tracks, you find a cemetary and traverse the dirt track road. Then, you head out of the cemetary and come upon a fish market that you've been curious about. Passing by it each day on your way home, you were never sure if it was ever open or a relic, like so many of the shops that once populated the small town. But the fish market it open, so you prop your bike up against the building and head inside.
  
  
• After a few questions about what they carry and where it's from, you ask about their hours and then set out again. Daylight is burning and you want to enjoy every minute of it! You head over to the art co-op to check out the pottery exhibit and notice they are having another event in the adjacent old fire station building. You head over to check it out. There are a few nice pieces, but you are not overall impressed. So, you hop back on your bike and set out again.
  
  
• It's getting late and you are planning to attend the outdoor movie tonight at the park by the river. You head home to relax and grab a bite to eat. As you ride home, enjoying the sun and light breeze, you realize it... the joy that is flowing through your body bringing a smile to your face. "This is it," you say to yourself, "this is living... Oh, how I love my life!"

Three Babes & A Dude

Yes, that's right. My coworkers and I have officially signed up for the 2012 Springtime 5k in Tallahasee and our team name is Three Babes & A Dude! The Springtime 5k will be the perfect test of our capabilities for the upcoming Warrior Dash. I am extremely excited for this event because not only is it my first 5k, but I will also get to run with wonderful people. I feel like this is the start of great things to come!

Spring is in the air

The temperature has been fluctuating, but the dogwoods know what time of year it is. Before their leaves flush out, the bare branches of the dogwood trees are speckled with clumps of small white delicate flowers. After a winter of bare tree branches, the white flowers suspended in layers, like they are elevated, are reminiscent of snow, but the warmer temperatures tell otherwise.


The simplicity of nature's beauty continues to baffle me. The small white dogwood flowers are so simple, yet beautiful. Spring is in the air and warmth is on the way!