Blessing or Curse? Undecided.

This month has been full of fun and adventure, and I've been away almost as much as at home.  In the beginning of the month I got away to the beach with my sweetheart for a little while, came home and worked feverishly to get the magazine put together while helping my sister prepare to show her soaps at a large multi-day wholesale show.  Although it was all fun and very enjoyable, it's good to be home.  So good in fact, that I'm realizing that it's getting harder and harder to drag me off this hill.  I can't decide whether that's a good thing or a bad thing.  It's just too good here to leave.

Getting everything set up for opening at the trade show.

We got back Wednesday night, and immediately set to work on the orders I got for magazines and those for soap written at the show.  Once that's under control, we'll finish up the magazine and have it to the printer on the first - just like we always do.

Today we had all of mine out and about half of the soap orders ready to go, and after the mail lady picked up a bunch of them, we set out to deliver three others in various parts of the county.  The beautiful weather made the afternoon perfect as we visited the various shops and farms.

Eve's Garden in Millersville

Every mile or so (sometimes much closer) we'd pass a roadside stand.  Luscious tomatoes, fruits, freshly harvested ears of corn, baked goods, homemade jellies and jams, cut flowers, and the occasional craft were set out by the road in all manner of shelter.  All of them are run on the honor system, with boxes or cans to put your money in.  The only "manned" stand we saw was a lemonade stand with three little Amish kids set up under a big old maple tree.  At first I wondered if they'd get any customers at a buck fifty per glass - but then I remembered... tourists!  They'll probably make a fortune.

Along the way I picked up a quart of honey for $12.  I asked the young girl if she knew the beekeeper, and she rattled off the name, telling me the location.

Spring Blossom local honey

Further along, we found some stunning orange-flowered milkweed plants that will look beautiful beside the pond (not hardy here though).  At each stop, we had little chats with the people we'd stopped to see.  Some days, deliveries are a bit of a hassle, but seriously, what a fun way to do business!

Planter outside the student union building at Millersville University

Somewhere along the drive today, I started thinking about how comfortable I am here compared to how it felt to spend the week in Philadelphia last week.  As much as I'd like to travel to different herb conferences and events, the truth is that I want to be home more.  Part of it is that we're so very busy with both of our businesses and going away means working harder to catch up.  The bigger part of it, unfortunately, is that it just feels right here.  The garden needs looking after.  More than that, life here is good.  Very good.  It's hard to beat.
Quite a blessing, no doubt - but a bit of a curse, too.