Hello, hello! Did you see this on Facebook? Mike took a secret time-lapse of us making bouquets. This was a couple of weeks ago. On Thursday we made 118 bouquets in a little over 3 hours or so. That's a bouquet every minute and 45 seconds or so. That's good. Progress.

I love to race and challenge myself. I think that's why Mike and I get along so well. We both love efficiency. We're gaining efficiency this year. We've made progress just in the last few weeks. This week we had no midnights in the sunflower field with the baby monitor and headlamp. We have a beautiful flower farm, which means we're losing a lot of flowers that we just don't have time to harvest. And that's okay. It has to be, this year.

I started working one day a week in Wisconsin. It's so great. Great people, great work. I'm adjusting to being off the farm for one whole day each week. We're making it work. Looking back on the last few months, I just marvel at what we've accomplished. I'm only saying this because I want to recognize how much of it has been due to the help of others. I'm just a bit stunned. It's been amazing. I just can hardly believe all the help we've received along the way. After the initial shock of needing to transform our life, so many wonderful people have helped us along our new path. At every turn, someone good at and dedicated to their work has helped us. Helped us sell flowers, helped us buy a farm, helped us find a new job, helped us maintain perspective. 

I think we mostly don't get to decide what's going to happen in life. We lay good plans, and prepare, but our best skills and character come from flexibility in challenging situations, and learning that we aren't in control. We're just a part of a big, big picture, and each day given the opportunity to fit in and be grateful, or not and be uncomfortable. I've been, and will continue to be my whole life I suspect, both ways. As I get older it's a relief to feel more comfortable in my own skin. Right now, I'm so so grateful for this huge opportunity to grow, and trust and be patient, and the evidence of that trust from the support of our community.

And, oh my goodness, I'm loving our flowers this year. I just love them. And that feels really good.

Here are some photos from our friend and employee, Amanda. She does have a way capturing beauty.

Thank you as always, for your part in helping our family grow flowers.

xoxo
J,M+E

Really, has it been a month since I last posted? Wowza. Well, now that I've finally finished uploading SOME of the photos I want to share to capture the last month, I'll write a little. Starting with the bad news. 

We lost a few sunnies, and ended up with some curly stems due to 40-50 MPH winds a week or so ago. Super bummer. What a sinking feeling to drive out to our field knowing the time and money that has gone into a certain crop, and see the whole of it laying on the ground, after 10 minutes of wind. 

On to all of the good news. 

What a WONDERFUL feeling to book it back from a meeting in La Crosse the next day and see this Gardens of Eagan crew out in said field picking up those sunflower plants and staking them in place. I cried.

We bought an awesome little van. Its name is Clifford. Earl's idea, and I like to support his ideas. I call it Shorty for short. It's a great runner so far, and fits so many flowers!

See?!

We went to the Birchwood Cafe for a meet and greet. It was very fun, and we saw new and old friends.

We had a couple of weddings. I'm loving the weddings this year. I feel more comfortable designing flowers, and am just loving that feeling, and the artistic expression. LOVE my job!

These ladies and I are getting really efficient at whipping together some beautiful bouquets. Emily has been the harvest queen, and Amanda adds the je ne sais quoi. I'm also loving our bouquets, now that we finally have flowers, because they're functional, but also artistic and beautiful. Nothing cookie cutter or boring around here. And, I'm so so happy to have such a great team to work with! 

And then there's this...a new baby cousin. My sister gave birth to Gabriel Andrew on June 20th. A little earlier than expected but healthy and happy mama and baby. He's so beautiful. We just love him.

And then...

I got a job. I'll be working for MOSES, the organic farming organization educating and supporting farmers. I'm so excited. I'll be part-time this summer, and start in the office full-time on September 1st. In the office in Spring Valley, Wisconsin! That's right, dear friends, we're moving to Wisconsin! Yee-ikes! We've gotten a pre-approval for an USDA Farm Service Agency beginning farmer loan to buy the beautiful farm in Plum City in the photos below.

We love it so, and are alternately excited and terrified to make this leap. So many doors have opened, and so many kind, knowledgeable folks have helped us. We're so grateful.

We have some steps to take before it's a done deal, but we're hoping all goes well. We'll be here in Northfield, delivering flowers through mid-September, and Mike will continue to work for Gardens of Eagan through October 15th. After that we'll be working towards going to other side of the river. Next season we will grow flowers and food on our new, hopefully partially certified organic land to continue delivering to the Twin Cities. 

And we hope to do this for many years to come.

Take out soybeans, insert flowers!

Can't you see us here on the front porch rocking in a swing and sipping lemonade when we retire? :)

Phew, no wonder we're tired! So many things to be grateful for. Hope you and yours have a fun, relaxing weekend! We're going to catch up on laundry and make delicious food to eat. And get some work done, of course.

xoxo

J,M+E