March Already?

Ok, so when I said weekly, I meant, um, bi-monthly. That's about the same thing, right? Yeah, maybe on a geologic scale!!

So I have Spring Break this week, and I'm still trying to figure out how we got to Thursday already. Sheesh! I am planning to work in the garden today, run some errands at Michael's at Target, and maybe catch up on my old scrapbook, but for now, I have to update the blog. We've done a LOT in the last couple of months, and I even have pictures! So when I'm not teaching at Mesa Community College, or working on homework for Iowa State, I'm working in the yard.

Just as an update, I have been offered a contract through the summer at MCC. It's only 20-30 hours per week, and it only lasts through September, but it's a good start on my way to long-term employment at Mesa. My job is going to be to do a feasibility study on a culinary/hospitality program at MCC. They don't have one yet, but the president is pretty hot to trot to implement such a program. MCC is gearing up to open a new campus that will feature a Northern Arizona University presence, who happens to have a BS in Hospitality Management. Hmmmm, I think I am seeing some possibilities here... :) I will get to help develop a culinary/hospitality program curriculum as well. I think I have some recommendations for their faculty!

Back at home, we're actually to the point where we are growing things now, and that's pretty exciting. (Plants make things look really polished, and less like a construction site!) Our Friday night soirees have been going well, and it's even been cool enough to burn the chiminea. The only problem is the air pollution advisories. Often these high-pollution days mean no-burn days, and that chiminea feels pretty good when you're sitting around drinking cold ones.

We've put in a brick walkway to edge the lawn (when it gets installed), we've planted herbs, tomatoes, corn, squash, peppers, onions, peas & melons, and we've put up some lights on the patio. We got a new cover for the hot tub (which looks SO much better!) We made a stovepipe for the chiminea, purchased a few tablecloths, dishes, and flatware, and even done some research on acid-staining the floor. We're looking at replacing the A/C and furnace in a couple of weeks, along with re-doing the electricity, as the new A/C won't run on our old panel.

So, we're moving right along, and hopefully we'll be mostly done by the time summer rolls around. Then we'll move the projects inside. We got our Mucha posters dry-mounted, and Travis will be making a frame in his woodworking class. The tapestry we bought in Cuzco is in the midst of being mounted, and once we have the electricity done, we can put in ceiling fans.

Wow, we have been busy! No wonder I feel like I haven't stopped for the last 2 months. The rest of the semester will certainly fly by, and it will be time to take a breath, and a statistics class at ASU! That's right, I'm taking stats so I can take research methods in the Fall. I should be done with my Master's in about a year and a half... here's hoping things continue to go well!

So let's get to the pictures, eh? I'll throw in some highlights of our trip to Chicago, as well. I hope you are all doing well - take care and drop us a line when you get a chance!

Jenny the Maniac