If you want to know everything about the science and the art of growing lavender, there are any number of books you can consult. This isn't one of them. If, on the other hand, you want a fascinating and sometimes scary tour of the female psyche, then pick up The Unlikely Lavender Queen, a memoir by Jeannie Ralston. The glamorous Ralston was leading the glamorous life of a freelance writer in glamorous New York City when she met a rough-hewn sturdy guy by the name of Robb who was a freelance photographer with glamorous assignments for National Geographic. That meeting was pretty much when the glamour stopped and love began.
     Seems that between his globe-hopping assignments, Robb wanted to go back to his native hill country Texas, turn an old barn into an architectural showpiece and oh-by-the-way grow lavender by the acre, a crop on a par with speared tobacco when it comes to hand labor.
     Unlikely is a tale of perseverance, a sometimes desparate search for knowledge, astute marketing with a focus on getting to know the customers, and a dastardly neighbor or two. Although she was born in the South, Ralston became a hard-driving, fast-living, career-minded New York City woman who thought tough, acted tough and talked tough. The tough talk, in fact might be a little much for some Lancaster Farming readers, but I know there are others who, like me, will enjoy this story.
     You can buy it at any online book seller. I found a used copy on Half.com for about $8 including shipping. Or, you can actually get this book for free. If yours is the first email to reach me with your name and address, I will send you this book with my compliments. This offer does not apply to anybody who works at 1 East Main St. or 8 West King St.. (You know who you are.) 


     I'm going to the Pennsylvania Farm Show tomorrow night. I'm going to have a baked potato for supper. And I'm not going to leave the potato growers' stand until they give me their secret recipe.


     Would I do this just to get into the Consumer Electronics Show? It Depends...   http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/tased-for-fun-at-ces/1abql3wt3