It is Sunday, March 10.  There are only three weeks until Easter and 290 days until Christmas.  For some of you, that will give you time to plan your church attendance for this year.  Today we celebrate the birthday of Georg F. Creuzer, James Herriot and Eva Herzigova.  On this day in 1681, English Quaker William Penn received a charter from Charles II, making him sole proprietor of colonial American territory, Pennsylvania.  In 1876, the first telephone call was made (Alexander Graham Bell to Thomas Watson) and in 1975 dog spectacles were patented in England.  It is Independence Day in Dominica, St. Lucia and Teachers’ Day in Laos.  The 5-day Cotton Festival starts Tuesday in Memphis, Tennessee.

Due to circumstances beyond her control, the lovely Elaine is currently receiving the magazine “Martha Stewart Living” in place of another magazine she had been getting.  One of the interesting things in the magazine is a calendar at the beginning titled “Martha’s Month.”  Is it really so essential to know how she plans to spend her month that a page is dedicated to this?  Having reviewed the calendar, I think not.

Let me give you some insights into her world.  On the first she had a reminder to remove the evergreen boughs from the garden beds.  March 7 was the day to cut the quince and apple branches for forcing.  She will be ordering gladiolus and dahlias on the 12^th.  The schedule calls for her to distribute compost on the 16^th; however, if you have been reading the newspaper articles regarding the battle between Macy’s and JC Penney, I think she started the distribution a little earlier than scheduled.  Other important items are touching up the paint on the house trim, planning pool openings and applying triple super phosphate to the flower beds.

I am speechless.  I thought the quince and apple branches got cut much later in the month.  But seriously, I could not believe this drivel.  She talks about things like making birthday cakes for Truman and Jude.  Besides not knowing who Truman and Jude are, why do all the people reading her magazine care that she is making cakes for them?  Do we really care that she is going to gold-leaf eggs and decorate for Easter?  I wonder how many readers ran out to buy gold-leaf for their eggs?  We did not.

I thought that maybe I could do a calendar here each month.  It would be somewhat repetitious, but it would give you some insight into my days.  For example, each day would start the same – get up, scratch myself, use the bathroom, eat breakfast and review the list of chores left by the lovely Elaine.  The rest of the calendar would be mundane, routine chores like cleaning the bathroom, dusting and vacuuming.  Just so you know, every Monday is laundry day.  I do try and vary things so that I don’t get into a rut.  Some mornings I use the bathroom, first, and then scratch myself.  Some days would include running errands like returning items that we bought and then did not want for a variety of reasons.  Or going back to the store for items we forgot during our weekly shopping jaunt.  Or runs to the bank or the gas station or a doctor’s office or any number of other places.

As you may have already guessed, my calendar would generally not be as exciting as hers, but then I don’t have to take down the storm windows and put up the screens like she does.  And, I couldn’t tell you the last time I tested soil nutrients or fertilized with mineral powders if needed.  I use medicated powder after a shower, but not based on soil testing.

So let us go forth into the coming week, secure in the knowledge that Martha will have the peas planted by Friday.  Enjoy the week and remember that even though we are not in Laos, you can still take a moment to recognize teachers.  In fact, if you were able to read this, thank a teacher! Or, as they say in Laos, khawp jai.