There’s never a dull moment at the farm.

I’m sure it’s the same in your neck of the woods; every time you think you’ve got life neatly lined up, it decides to do the cha-cha on your plans.

For the Chinese, this is the Year of the Dragon.

For our farm? It’s been The Year of Water.

And not in the relaxing-by-the-beach kind of way.

It started when our bladder tank leaked (if you’ve been following along, you’ll remember that little saga).

Then we discovered our water system hadn’t been serviced since we bought the house.

Oops.

In our defense, we’re city people, turning on the tap was always a magical, unlimited experience.

Who knew water systems need yearly checkups?

Then came the septic pump-out (another new joy of country life).

A few weeks of peace followed before the drains started to slow… and then the tub began to backflow.

Please … haul back your imagination … it wasn’t that kind of backflow.

Thankfully, it was just kitchen water.

Still, there’s something deeply unsettling about water reversing course in your home.

Of course, this happened at the end of a long workday.

Thank goodness the outdoor shower was still working.

So, there we were, channeling our inner campers, which reminded me exactly why I don’t camp.

When you’re rationing toilet flushes and leaving the post-dinner dishes in the sink, you realize just how luxurious “modern plumbing” truly is.

It wasn’t too bad for me and Steve. But for my clean-freak princess daughter?

Forget it.

I think she was moments away from driving three hours to Manhattan to crash at our friend Joe Goddu’s. (Joe, if you’re reading this, you owe me for talking her off that ledge.)

And just when we thought things couldn’t get any more exciting, the half bath in the mudroom, the one with that weird little toilet-blade contraption (you know, for when you don’t want to dig pipes into the floor), joined the rebellion.

What’s the saying? Bad things come in threes? Well, we’ve officially met our quota, and then some.

Thankfully, we were the plumber’s first appointment the next morning. He was fantastic — neat, tidy, and efficient.

He snaked the clogged drain, replaced the toilet motor, and shut down the outdoor shower for the season.

And, the cost?

Let’s just say … there goes our trip to Israel this year (sad sighing). (It wasn’t booked, but Israel is on the bucket list.)

Everything’s working again, and I’ve never been so grateful for indoor plumbing.

Fingers crossed the oven holds out until after the holidays.

(More) Farm Happenings

Registrations for our Winter Wreath Workshops are coming in fast and furious — one session is full and some others are nearly full!

And we’re also coming up on the Halloween deadline for preordering our Cut Flower Seedling Kit.

These limited-edition kits are perfect for anyone who’s ever dreamed of having their own “mini flower farm.”

They also make one-of-a-kind gifts for Christmas, birthdays, or Mother’s Day (especially since pick up will be around then) .. so you can check a few names off your list early.

Yesterday, my 200 Dutch iris bulbs arrived (yes, 200!), and I’m still waiting on the peonies and tulip bulbs.

If you’ve ordered tulip bulbs from me, I know how you feel, I’m just as impatient. But don’t worry, it’s still early for planting tulips, so there’s plenty of time.

And a little secret just between us: I may have ordered more ranunculus corms yesterday.

Once I set aside flowers for subscriptions and weddings, there wasn’t much left for sharing, and, honestly, just like peonies, you can never have too many ranunculus.

I’ve got something special in the works with this new batch that I think you’ll love… stay tuned!

(Sorry, no extra corms for sale this round, they’re all spoken for.)