Our family spent a fabulous week in Chelem earlier this month. It was just what we needed; chill and low stress. We had thunderstorms every afternoon, but otherwise, the weather was beautiful. We stayed pretty close to the beach most days but did venture out a few times. We drove out to Homun to visit the Santa Barbara Cenotes. Cenotes are sinkholes/caves that have filled with water. There are hundreds of them in the Yucatan, and several are tourist attractions. We swam in all three of the Santa Barbara cenotes. The beauty was stunning and beyond words. We also toured a museum of Mayan history and culture one afternoon, and Tim and the kids rented a jet ski for a couple of hours. It’s hard to tell what Pierce thought about Mexico. He was mainly excited about being on a plane again. Reagan loved Mexico and she’s hoping to visit me during my next winter sabbatical.

The farmer’s market is going pretty well. There is no rhyme or reason to farmer’s market sales. One week is great, the next week is not so great. Something sells really well, so I make more of them for the next week. Then they don’t sell. But I do believe I’m beginning to find my people. There are a couple of repeat customers and many people who want to know more about the flowers I grow. I’m still enjoying the learning process. Though I’m only doing one farmer’s market, I feel like I’m working two jobs.

I’ve nurtured this love of flowers for two decades. During the pandemic, I became obsessed with learning more about the cut flower industry and floral design. I’ve dreamed of turning this flower passion into a career for the last three years. The older I get, the more I’m realizing that life is too short to sit on the sidelines waiting for the perfect time to turn dreams into reality. After spending the last nine years in the greenhouse, I will be resigning from Bates Nursery at the end of October. I am going to be a full-time farmer/florist in 2024! I have learned so much at Bates. I love my boss and my coworkers. They’ve taken the news well and they’re all very supportive and happy for me. This wasn’t an easy decision to make, and trying something new is scary (so is the idea of losing that steady paycheck). But now that I’ve made it, I can’t explain the joy, excitement, and peace I feel. I can’t wait to see what 2024 has in store for me and Melmac Florals!

I’ve added a page on my website that is dedicated to the flower business. There’s a photo gallery of my floral arrangements and a contact form for anyone interested in placing an order. You can find that here.