Snowfall

This is one of those North Dakota days where the snowflakes float down gently as if there is no hurry to get to the ground. They are big, fluffy flakes that remind me of ski trips and hot chocolate. So what if it is spring? Tucker sleeps on the floor, unconcerned. The farmer is wishing for sunshine and windless days to finish putting up the high tunnel greenhouse in the garden. He is planning on tomatoes, lettuce, spinach and carrots, as well as rows of onions. I asked about flowers, but he said "You can't eat flowers". Spoken like a true farmer.

I am waiting to hear if the physicians who interviewed with us in March wil join our group. One is a surgeon, the other in family practice. Both seemed like a great fit, and both would add needed services. Should they say yes, we will have recruited six new physicians in two years. I am optomistic about the future.

Wine Day

Today we bottled 18 gallons of wine from the 2012 grapes. It will sit for a year before it is ready to drink. I love the color. The flavor varies with the kind of grapes and the yeast used in the fermentation process.

The farmer attended a seminar on the high tunnel greenhouse he has in the garden. The frame went up last fall, and the plastic cover will go on this week if the wind and weather cooperate. It will extend the growing season, make it easier to weed and water, and hopefully keep out the deer. If we grow extra, we can sell it at the farmer's market on Wednesday nights. I'll still keep my day job for now.

Visitors

This has been a busy week. We had two physicians visit the clinic to see if they would like to work with us. I love giving the tours and meeting new people. I realize how glad I am for the choices I made in coming here. I was very pregnant and had no family nearby. Now it feels like home, and my co-workers feel like family to me. The babies I had here are grown and doing interesting things in the world. I love my life, but what I have may not be right for everyone. So I wait, and hope, that my physician family will soon have new members.

The quilt shop will be opening again at the end of the month. I have not sewn much in the last year. My quilt from the kimono fabrics is taking shape. I will hang it in my sewing room. Today I will enter prescriptions in the EHR. The pile has grown as I have been busy doing other things. The farmer is attending a seminar on his high-tunnel greenhouse. We will have tomatoes, peppers, carrots, and of course my favorite...peanuts. The seed order was finished this week. Busy spring approaching.