[Kathy in Alaska]

Good...you didn’t really need to be shoveling snow. Are you checking seed catalogs for spring? Do you save some for the next year?

[Publius]

In 1911, Scott Joplin, age 43, finished his opera “Treemonisha” with piano accompaniment. He failed to find a publisher, so he published it himself at considerable expense. He began the hard work of orchestrating his opera and trying to find financial backers for staging it.

In 1912, Joplin published only one rag, and it’s in his rondo format, ending with the opening “A” theme.

Joplin: “New Rag”

[Drumbo]

One of my pastor’s sons wants to help me with my garden this year and he’s trying to purchase some heirlooms from catalogs, but I’ve only purchased corn so far. I may get some more exotic peppers from my friend in Denmark this year, but haven’t given it much thought. Until three weeks ago I wasn’t sure there would be a garden this year, and if I have to sell the homestead to pay legal bills I still may not plant - but, I’ve got a month nor so before I have to commit, and in this market, even if I try to sell it’s likely to be listed a very long time. It’s one day at a time right now, but there’s been some very good days lately!