Sorry about last week. Acute fuggititis, to which I am not immune. Country life on the high desert, in all its vernal splendor, continues, un-abated and relentless.
The hummingbirds are back.
The acequia is flowing, still under rotation due to low water in the Pecos, but enough to fill the other side's ditch and still leave about half for us.
We had a couple of light frosts, but the hardy early stuff wasn't injured; tomatos have germinated in their little peat pots on the windowsill. The drip system is fired up and on its timers and everything still works that I have been putting together for the last couple of years.
While the rest of the country reels under the onslaught of extreme weather in the form of too much everything, we here in the Southwest are in a state of "severe" drought; no precip. Dry.
It is actually beautiful weather and we are using our new outdoor areas often, when the wind isn't blowing; it was 85 degrees here yesterday.
I'll keep writing, but first I have to go push the button to publish this.
BRB...
...OK, back.
Some of you may have noticed my diary this week in which I begin panhandling for traveling money to get to Minneapolis in June for the NN11 conference. For some reason I don't fathom, Markos asked me to participate in a forum, just out of the blue with no hint of it coming, and I have an old friend in Mpls who lives near the Convention Center and will house me.
I want to thank those who have already stepped up with some contributions; I am now about a third of the way there, and I hope some others will also be able to help. The airfare is about $420 RT (I only fly on Southwest) and I need a few bucks in my pocket to eat, socialize and buy a few drinks for those that have bought them for me at previous NN gatherings. Being a participant gives me free Registration to the Conference, and, as I mentioned, I have a friend who can house me.
PayPal donations can be sent to chayward@plateautel.net, or email me and I'll give out a USPS addy for other forms of help. Thanks for any help you all can spare. As I mentioned in my , I amfirst rattle of the tin cup already committed to dragging my ass out to Northern CA the week following NN. All my dough is tied up in getting to that, so I am reduced to panhandling, hitchhiking and dumpster-diving to get to Minneapolis and eat.