Well, hello there.

So, this is awkward, I said I'd be back to tell you about how wonderful 2013 is... and 4 months later I'm finally getting back to you my trusty blog.  You'll happily wait for me while I'm off finding more interesting things to do, and I am sorry.  Let's recap so we can break the ice and catch up like old friends:
In January I didn't exactly act like I was enjoying unemployed time, in fact at one point Wade told me I was busier then than when I actually was employed?  So much for that paid vacation...  Instead, I got elected to the board of directors (as president) of the Sustainable Urban Agriculture Coalition (SUAC) and it promptly took up a lot of my time, but I loved having the flexibility to be able to volunteer to do something I loved.  I was also thrilled to finally be on my first board of directors.  That, combined with a lot of soul searching and interviewing of past colleagues led me to do something I never thought in a million years I would do - launch my own environmental consulting practice, 3 Little Birds Consulting, LLC.  Yes, the name is an homage to the Bob Marley song that makes me feel at peace, but also our 3 chickens.  I even made a cool logo, business cards, and a website.  The launch took a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, and help from friends and family who reviewed endless versions or provided IT support (thanks Jimmy!).

This new adventure has let me have the free time to do more to promote urban agriculture in our county, but it has also let me get to know our neighbors better now that I have time for a trip to the zoo or botanical gardens, cookies in the afternoon, or tea before breakfast.  It's also let me make new friends, and see old friends more often and that has given me a sense of peace that I haven't had in years.

In February I signed my first client, then another.  I am making about as much as I am spending on business right now, so I'm not breaking out the bubbly, but it's a start.  I've been talking to so many people to look for work, learn about being a consultant, and just plain catch up with the world (January was a bit of a much needed time out for me).  Our friend Marilyn came to visit and we had so much fun - we saw manatees, pigged out at the farmer's market, and enjoyed biking around town.  After that our friend Kellyn came to visit for a bit and we made a trip down to Anna Maria so Kellyn could enjoy the beach and we could have a fun dinner with Mom and Larry.  For our 7th wedding anniversary, Wade planned a trip to the local state park, Honeymoon Island to celebrate.  We saw armadillos, a gopher tortoise, our first baby owl (and we wanted to take him home), and more osprey than we could count.  We had a great hike and a wonderful picnic lunch.

OMG - a baby owl!!!

In March, I did some of my first work for my new client, which took me to Miami and I actually enjoyed being back there, rather than the usual dread that accompanies my time there.  I took it as a sign that my change in jobs has had beneficial impacts at a level deeper than previously realized.  It's funny how you don't really know you've been unhappy until you wake up one day and realize you're in such a better place that it's changed your definition of happiness.  I also took a trip for another client to scenic Destin, Florida and fortunately Wade was going for work too so we could carpool.  It was a long drive (over 6 hours), but it was fun to see Wade in his element and for us to be taking a work trip together.

In April I started feeling really guilty that I hadn't paid attention to you my dear blog, but I've been frustrated that I don't have a good camera anymore to capture things to share with you.  Wade's parents came to visit for Easter and we had a wonderful Easter brunch with them at Mom and Larry's house.  We also made a lot of progress in the yard and things are lovely and in bloom.  We laid down a fresh layer of mulch and we've been asked to be on a garden tour or two this year.  The urban agriculture work has consumed even more of my time (still volunteer) but it's been great networking and good practice for the kind of work I hope to get paid for some day.  I'm trying hard to be patient with myself about getting new clients and have to remind myself that the first year is always the toughest.  Hopefully business will continue to grow.  For now we're trying to live as frugally as possible to get by on my severely reduced income.

So, my dear blog, I will have to get over the shame of crappy pictures and just get back to blogging.  I've been asked to write an article for a food magazine this month and it's gotten my creative juices going again - today I just knew I had to blog again, so here I am, please forgive me for ignoring you.  Also please excuse my crappy grammar or typos, I just needed to post something to break the ice and get over the shame of being away so long.  It's nice to be home again.