Starting a New Adventure: Stay Tuned

Hello everyone:

Well, I'm off on a new project, one that involves the whole family but doesn't involve lavender. (Shocking, I know.)

This school year we're trying something different. We're homeschooling the boys so that we can take off on some extended trips and do some real experiential learning. Our first trip is to South American (Machu Picchu and Patagonia) and we leave on October 19th.

This being the 21st Century, we have a website about our new adventure and we each--boys included--have blogs that we'll be updating along the way. When we're on the road we'll be blogging more often because more will be happening. Also, Robb will be posting photos and the boys will be uploading videos of our travels.

We're calling this project Kendrick World Class and our website is appropriately enough, www.kendrickworldclass.com.

Please check out the website and sign up for our updates. We'd love to stay in touch while we're making our way through this very interesting year.

But We're Still Committed to Older Ventures

As you may remember, my Seed Campaign is raising money this quarter (until Sept. 30th) for the organization that my brother and sister-in-law founded, the Pediatric Proton Foundation.

As thanks for their son Jake's recovery and to help other families who are faced with a childhood cancer, Susan and Jim's mission is to provide education and assistance to parents of children with cancer who are interested in pursuing proton therapy, the effective but relatively unknown treatment that helped Jake beat his bone cancer. The goal is to raise enough money to give grants to families so that they can afford the treatment.

Please visit their website and learn more about the foundation and proton therapy. If you know someone who has cancer (God forbid), especially a child with cancer (doubly God forbid), please refer them to the website.

Remember How The Seed Campaign Works

If you've got to buy things, why not make each dollar go farther and help the Pediatric Proton Foundation and kids like my nephew in the process? If you buy your Amazon products through my website, you can be doing good when so many people are in need (and donations are down for many non-profits.) On my home page, click on "Buy the Book," which will take you to Amazon.

Once you're at Amazon, either buy my book (smile! thanks!) or find another product to buy. Amazon will return a commission on any item purchased to the Seed Campaign. EASY!

All best wishes and many thanks--Jeannie

A Huge Lavender Success

Hello:

I wrote a month ago about my work with a lavender co-op, called The Lavender Project, in a poor Mexican village, Rancho La Colorada.

At that point, I was getting ready for a big benefit for the co-op. Well, I just wanted to report that the benefit was a grand success. We sold out of tickets early on, had about 45 auction items and lots of great margaritas! To the left, that's Robb and me at the party, with Tes Balcomb and Jim Tryon, founders of St. Anthony's Alliance, the U.S. non-profit that has helped The Lavender Project evolve. (They're the normal-sized ones in front with us. The big "people" in back with some make-up issues are puppets called Mojigangas, which no good Mexican party should be without!)

Best of all we achieved our fund-raising goal. We netted after all our expenses, $10,448 US.

I think this is an amazing accomplishment given the state of the economy. Thanks to all of you who made donations (of either money or silent auction items) and to those of you who attended the benefit.

How the Money Will be Used

The goal of The Lavender Project is for the people of Rancho La Colorada to become self-sufficient through lavender so that many of the men who go to the States every year for work can stay home.

The project will use the $10,400 to expand their acreage, their irrigation system, their soapmaking capacity and to invest in beehives and training so they can make and sell lavender honey.

For more information or to make an on-line donation (this money goes directly to the co-op by the way, not to administration costs), visit the Lavender Project website.


And Don't Forget My Nephew! (I Can't)

I've been consumed by this lavender benefit for the past month, but I wanted to remind you that we're still raising money through the Seed Campaign for the organization that my brother and sister-in-law founded, the Pediatric Proton Foundation. (So many good causes!)

As thanks for their son Jake's recovery and to help other families who are faced with a childhood cancer, Susan and Jim's mission is to provide education and assistance to parents of children with cancer who are interested in pursuing proton therapy, the effective but relatively unknown treatment that helped Jake beat his bone cancer. The goal is to raise enough money to give grants to families so that they can afford the treatment.

Please visit their website and learn more about the foundation and proton therapy. If you know someone who has cancer (God forbid), especially a child with cancer (doubly God forbid), please refer them to the website.

Remember How The Seed Campaign Works

If you've got to buy things, why not make each dollar go farther and help the Pediatric Proton Foundation and kids like my nephew in the process? If you buy your Amazon products through my website, you can be doing good when so many people are in need (and donations are down for many non-profits.) On my home page, click on "Buy the Book," which will take you to Amazon.

Once you're at Amazon, either buy my book (smile! thanks!) or find another product to buy. Amazon will return a commission on any item purchased to the Seed Campaign. EASY!

I've decided to change beneficiaries every three months instead of each month. So until the end of September, a percentage of your purchases will go to the Pediatric Proton Foundation.

All best wishes and many thanks--Jeannie

Another One For My Nephew

I'm writing from a beach in North Carolina (here to celebrate my parents' 80th birthdays). My adorable nephew Jake is here too. He's now 4 and is full of spunk and life and we all couldn't be happier. (The photo to the left of Jake and his mom and dad, Susan and Jim Ralston, was taken of a couple of days ago.)

As thanks for their son's recovery and to help other families who are faced with a childhood cancer, Susan and Jim have started their own non-profit called Pediatric Proton Foundation. The foundation's mission is to provide education and assistance to parents of children with cancer who are interested in pursuing proton therapy, the effective but relatively unknown treatment that helped Jake beat his bone cancer. The goal is to raise enough money to give grants to families so that they can afford the treatment.

Please visit their website and learn more about the foundation and proton therapy. If you know someone who has cancer (God forbid), especially a child with cancer (doubly God forbid), please refer them to the website.

Remember How It Works

If you've got to buy things, why not make each dollar go farther and help the Pediatric Proton Foundation and kids like my nephew in the process? If you buy your Amazon products through my website, you can be doing good when so many people are in need (and donations are down for many non-profits.) On my home page, click on "Buy the Book," which will take you to Amazon.

Once you're at Amazon, either buy my book (smile! thanks!) or find another product to buy. Amazon will return a commission on any item purchased to the Seed Campaign. EASY!
I've decided to change beneficiaries every three months instead of each month. So until the end of September, a percentage of your purchases will go to the Pediatric Proton Foundation.

Thanks for Your Support in June

One of the highlights of my appearances at the Blanco Lavender Festival (which was a blast, by the way) was meeting Andree Brunk, the grandmother of Samantha--the darling girl in Miami who was the inspiration for June's Seed Campaign. If you remember, her mother Michelle Coffey-Garcia had started Samantha's Purpose to help children with cerebral palsy.

I'm happy to report that through the Seed Campaign we are able to donate $226 to Samantha's Purpose.

Thank you so much for your help.

My Lavender Life in Mexico--You Can Help

As many of you know, I've been working as a consultant for a lavender farm in Mexico. It's a community co-op, in which all the people in the pueblo of Rancho La Colorada are pitching in to grow lavender as a cash crop. The co-op's goal is to become self-sufficient through lavender so that many of the men who go to the States every year for work can stay home.

The lavender co-op is at a point where they need money to expand their acreage, their irrigation system, their soapmaking capacity and to invest in beehives for lavender honey. To raise these funds, I'm helping plan a big benefit for The Lavender Project on August 6th in San Miguel de Allende.

You can help in two ways. One: go to the website for the lavender project and make an easy, on-line donation, if you are so moved.

Two: I am looking for people with vacation homes who can donate a week's stay to the silent auction at the beneft. If you have a place at the beach or mountains or a pied-a-terre in Manhattan, say, please be so kind as to donate a week's stay. You will get a tax write-off (the donation will actually be made to a non-profit out of Albuquerque, St. Anthony's Alliance, that started the lavender co-op in Mexico) and you will know that instead of sitting empty, your vacation home will be helping people who are working really, really hard to help themselves.

Please let me know if you can make such a contribution (or any other type of donation--your art work, say--for the silent auction or as a door prize).

An Honor From A Wonderful Hotel

I recently got a call from a new JW Marriott resort that will soon open up just north of San Antonio. The hotel wanted to send out copies of my book to give travel writers and potential customers a sense of what makes the Hill Country so special. I was very honored that they felt my book would convey that essence; the package they sent out with my book included Hill Country Lavender products. Very nice.

Two weeks ago, Robb and I had the opportunity to tour the resort and were amazed at the vision and the details. It will have 2 PGA golf courses, a tequila bar, stunning views and, most importantly as a mom, a mini-water park that will qualify as kid heaven I'm sure.

Thanks to the Marriott for really "getting" and supporting my book.

All best wishes and many thanks for continuing to support my book AND the Seed Campaign--Jeannie

Off to the Blanco Lavender Festival

It's hard to believe it's time for another Blanco Lavender Festival. I can't wait to sit in the lavender fields again and see all my lavender friends.

I'll be speaking/signing/goofing off/whatever at Hill Country Lavender on Saturday, June 13th at 10:30 a.m. (Click here for directions and more info about Hill Country Lavender's schedule of events.)

At 2:00 on that same Saturday, I'll be speaking at the Old Blanco County Courthouse, on the square in Blanco. (Click here for more details on all the festival fun).

I think you'll have a blast at the festival; it's a great time to revel in lavender and to see the Hill Country at its best.

Seed Campaign Recipient for June

Some people just have the right attitude--like the parents of Samantha Garcia. Samanta was born premature four years ago and developed cerebral palsy; her parents looked at this not as a tragedy but as an opportunity to do something meaningful. That's when they created Samantha's Purpose, a non-profit that provides financial assistance to the parents of children with special needs who require therapy but are not eligible for governmental assistance.

I'm proud to be donating funds from the Seed Campaign to Samantha's Purpose during the month of June. She and her parents prove that often you can't change what happens to you in life, but you can change how you look at what happens to you. This is a theme of my book, but to be honest I think Samantha's parents demonstrate it better than I ever did!

Remember How It Works

If you've got to buy things, why not make each dollar go farther and help someone else in the process? If you buy your Amazon products through my website, you can be doing good when so many people are in need (and donations are down for many non-profits.) On my home page, click on "Buy the Book," which will take you to Amazon.

Once you're at Amazon, either buy my book (smile! thanks!) or find another product to buy. Amazon will return a commission on any item purchased to the Seed Campaign. EASY!

Thanks for your warm and gracious support--Jeannie

Hollywood Here We Come

I've got some amazing news I want to share with you.

A producer/writer (Pam Long with Gloryland Films) has optioned the film rights to The Unlikely Lavender Queen. Yeehah! She has a great track record writing and producing films for the Lifetime Channel. Of course, this doesn't mean that there is definitely going to be a movie. It just means that she's going to write a treatment and/or screenplay and try to sell it to either a TV network or a studio.

Keep your fingers crossed and I'll keep you posted. (Also, send good thoughts out Hollywood way that Viggo Mortesen will play Robb and that I get to visit the set!! Purrrrrr.)

Thanks for all your support!

Jeannie

"Three Books in One," Reviewer Says

As a writer it's so satisfying when someone really "gets" your work. I'm honored and thrilled that my book has received the following write up on the website, Women, Clarity and Power.

Jeannie

'Unlikely Lavender Queen' by Jeannie Ralston

There's no substitute for a good book. It brings us back to our quiet selves, to the present moment, to the paper between our fingers. And it can send us away from ourselves, into places and lives that we may never encounter in real life.

Here's one for you to pick up: Jeannie Ralston's The Unlikely Lavender Queen: A Memoir of Unexpected Blossoming. It's a really wonderful read. (And I'm very picky.)

Jeannie Ralston was a chic young freelance writer in New York City when she met and married Robb Kendrick, a National Geographic photographer. She follows him to Texas and before long they begin the state's first commercial lavender farm. At first, the rural life stymies her urban self-image and stalls her career goals. But ultimately, she embraces her life in Blanco, welcoming visitors to cut their own lavender and advising other aspiring growers.

The Unlikely Lavender Queen is actually three books in one.

First, it's the Texas version of Under the Tuscan Sun. Writer heads to the country, renovates old farmhouse, finds the life of her dreams. (I an a sucker for this story, in all its incarnations. I've read the Italian original, the French version, the Australian version, and now the Texan version. And I live the Wimberley version.)

Second, it's a how-to book for entrepreneurs. When Ralston accepts responsibility for running the lavender business, she goes at it full throttle. There's a thing or two or three to be learned from her marketing savvy.

Third, it's a woman's memoir. Ralston's life, like most women's lives, is complicated. She accedes to her husband's desires over her own, and is left alone with the kids and business much of the time as he travels the world on assignment. She faces post-partum depression. She gets over-involved in the local community, all the while bemoaning the fact that she's not getting any writing done. Ralston doesn't whitewash her life. The lavender fields may be picture-perfect, but her life is messy and contradictory. It's a struggle to acclimate, both literally and metaphorically. And in the end, when she reaches that unexpected blossoming, having succeeded in building the lavender business and growing to love it, her husband decides that he is going to sell the farm. Are you kidding me?

Is it a flaw or a virtue that Ralston keeps following her husband's lead? Obviously, between the end of this memoir (they move to Mexico) and the publication of the book, she did manage to return to the writing life and produce this book. Now, that's a part of the story I'm really curious to read.

(BTW, Ralston will be leading a "Lavender Queen Tour" of the Texas Hill Country on June 12. I'm tempted . . .)

Who We Can Help in April

Someone Special We Can Help

For eight years, I've watched family friend Isabelle Carpenter of Austin deal with her diabetes with grace and poise. When I learned that Isabelle, now 11, will be honored at this year's gala for the Austin Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund (JDRF) on April 18th, I wanted to take part in the tribute.

During the month of April all funds earned through the Seed Campiagn will be donated to JDRF, in Isabelle's name. JDRF is a wonderful national nonprofit organization dedicated to translating scientific advances into longer, healthier lives for those with diabetes.

I've been so impressed through the years with Isabelle and her attitude. She is such a solid, articulate, joyful girl and I know how hard her whole family has worked to raise awareness of juvenile diabetes. It's my honor and pleasure to do anything possible to help.

We have other friends who have been dealing with juvenile diabetes and we would love to make the road easier for all of them through research. Please send this to others, especially if you know someone with diabetes.


Remember How It Works

If you've got to buy things, why not make each dollar go farther and help someone else in the process? If you buy your Amazon products through my website, you can be doing good when so many people are in need (and donations are down for many non-profits.) On my home page, click on "Buy the Book," which will take you to Amazon.

Once you're at Amazon, either buy my book (smile! thanks!) or find another product to buy. Amazon will return a commission on any item purchased to the Seed Campaign. EASY!

We Did Good in March Too

In March the Seed Campaign was rasing money for the Association of Women's Business Centers, a non-profit devoted to helping women entrepreneuers through training, mentoring and financial opportunities. I'm happy to report that through our efforts the Seed Campaign is able to donate $462 to the organization. Let's hope this helps many women entrepreneurs grow their businesses.

With this month's total, the Seed Campaign has raised more than $3,700 for various causes since September. Good work! Thanks for your help.

Don't Forget the Lavender Tour

I recently sent out a special e-mail announcing the details on the Lavender Queen Hill Country Tour on Friday, June 12th, which will take readers to many places mentioned in my book and co-incide with the Blanco Lavender Festival. Several of you have written in the last few days asking if there was still room. We've already had a number of sign-ups (yeah!), but yes, there's still room.

As I said, I have a maximum of 28 people for the tour, so it will be a cozy bunch riding around the Hill Country in our own special mini-bus. I know it will be a blast.

We'll get to see so many places together, including the stone barn that Robb and I renovated (above).

All sign-up details are on my website! It's easy to reserve a spot.

All best wishes and many thanks for continuing to support the Seed Campaign--Jeannie

A Good Time for This One

So many worthy causes! So many people in need! So little time! Every month it's difficult to decide where I should be sending Seed Campaign funds. But this month, I've chosen a group whose work is especially critical in these times and fits nicely with the theme of my book.



I Love These Win-Win Scenarios

Since I know how life-changing running your own business can be, I've decided to donate this month to the Association of Women's Business Centers (AWBC), which helps more than 150,000 women entrepreneurs across the country with training, mentoring and financial opportunities.

AWBC believes what I found out myself: When a woman runs her own business, she can not only reinvent and energize her own life but also she can have a huge financial and psychological impact on her greater community.

The money we can raise in March through the Seed Campaign will help women get their businesses off the ground or keep them going--at a time when every community needs every financial engine possible to maintain growth and jobs.

Please click here to find out about AWBC's excellent work


Every Dollar Works Harder Through the Seed Campaign

Everyone is being careful with their money these days, so make every dollar count for more.

If you'd like to buy my book to give as inspiration to an entrepreneur (along the lines of, if I can do it anyone can) or if you simply need to buy something on Amazon, your money can go farther to help women business owners.

Remember how it works: Go to my website and click on "Buy the Book," which will take you to Amazon.

Once you're at Amazon, either buy my book (smile!) or find another product to buy. Amazon will return a commission on any item purchased to the Seed Campaign. EASY!

Previous Successes!

I'm happy to tell you that last month we raised $224 for the Ruby Slipper Project in Atlanta. That's the organization that does home or room makeovers for people going through transition. I'm so pleased that we could help this wonderful group in any way possible.

Also, above, you'll see the photo of my darling nephew Jake with my brother Jim presenting a check for $1,043 to Cure Search, the children's cancer research organization--donated in his name and made possible by all of you in the month of December.

Thanks to all of you for spreading the word about the Seed Campaign and my book. It really does work!

More Info on the Lavender Queen Hill Country Tour

Here are a few more specifics on the tour I'm going to be doing of places mentioned in my book.

It will be a one-day tour on Friday, June 12th--to coincide with the Blanco Lavender Festival which is June 13 & 14. It will be a very full day, featuring a stop at our old stone barn (above) and lunch at the Blanco Bowling Club Cafe and dinner at the Welfare Cafe.

I'll be sending out a separate mailing with all the specifics and the details on how to sign up. Stay tuned.

Thanks so much for all your help and enthusiasm--

Jeannie

We're on Nightline

This Nightline segment has to do with our new hometown, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where we landed after our lavender adventure in Texas. Take a peek at our house here in Mexico and our family getting ready for school. By the way, the house the realtor is showing in the opening of the segment is our place.

Click here to see the Nightline video.

Cheers--Jeannie

From Nicaragua to Atlanta

Hello:

We're all probably painfully aware that purchasing power isn't what it used to be, but I want to remind you that through my Seed Campaign, you can make every dollar mean more!

Last month through the Seed Campaign, we raised money for a mission helping orphans in Nicaragua; this month Seed Campaign funds will go to a cause closer to home--one that truly embraces the meaning and power of "home."

Books for Orphans

I'm happy to report that in January, we raised $234 for Abrazando Cristo, the mission based in Lake Charles, LA, that has devoted itself to helping educate children at the San Cristobal (Nicaragua) Orphanage.

A couple of weeks ago, I had the chance to meet the woman who suggested that I give to Abrazando Cristo through the Seed Campaign. Her name is Laurie Cormier and she has traveled frequently to Nicaragua to work with the children.

Laurie tells me that the money we raised will go to buying books for the orphans. How appropriate is that? "You just can't imagine the wonder and joy on these kids' faces when they see books," she tells me. "They have such respect for them; they don't have many at all."

Let's hope that this money can buy lots and lots of wonder and joy!

There's No Place Like Home

This month, money we can raise through the Seed Campaign will go to a clever, innovative cause in Atlanta called The Ruby Slipper Project.

The project grants interior design makeovers to families dealing with trauma, including teens aging out of foster care, evacuees from Hurricane Katrina and others going through transitions. Such as a high-school senior battling cancer, who just got a brighter, cooler bedroom where she can recover, thanks to the project.

The project believes that when someone is dealing with sickness and other problems they need the haven and security of home to keep going.

Click here to find out more about The Ruby Slipper Project's wonderful work.

A "Lavender Queen" Tour of the Texas Hill Country

I want to announce a special event I'm working on: I'm putting together a tour of many of the beautiful and meaningful locations mentioned in my book.

I'm planning to offer this 2-day tour just before the Blanco Lavender Festival, which is the weekend of June 13-15. We could visit Rose-Hill Manor, the Welfare Cafe, the Blanco Bowling Club, Krause Springs and--I hope!--our old stone barn where the story takes place.

Let me know if you have any interest in this excursion. I'll keep you posted on what's being planned and what the cost will be. Should be a blast!

Keep It Coming

Hope you'll continue to support the Seed Campaign by buying your Amazon products (and any more of my books you may need!) via my website.

Remember to click on "Buy the Book" on the home page of my website and after you get to The Lavender Queen book page on Amazon, you can do other shopping from there.

Thanks so much for all your help and enthusiasm--

Jeannie

Good News in the New Year

Hello:

Isn't it nice to start off the year with good news, especially when there's so much gloomy news around?

Not only did we raise a nice amount for CureSearch in December but my beautiful nephew Jacob is doing much better in his struggle with cancer.

Thanks for the Prayers

I reported at one point that Jacob's MRI scan showed a dark mark on the place on his spine where there was a tumor last year. The worry was that the tumor had come back.

After much anxiety and a biopsy, doctors found that the bone mass on his spine was NOT cancerous. We're wildly relieved, as you can imagine.

Prayers certainly do work. Thank you so much.

The picture above is of my family and Jacob's family last year during his cancer treatment.

Thanks for the Donations

I'm happy to report that December's Seed Campaign efforts have raised, $1,034 for CureSearach, the wonderful organization that is looking for a cure for childhood cancer.

This breaks down to $300 in direct donations to CureSearch in Jacob's name and $734 in commissions from Amazon.

That $734 means that more than $11,000 in merchandise was bought on Amazon through my website. This is tremendous. And SO appreciated!

Please contact me if you still want to make a direct donation to CureSearch in Jacob's name.

Click here to find out more about CureSearch's wonderful work.

A New Year of Giving

This month, January, the Seed Campaign will be donating to Abrazando Cristo, a wonderful Roman Catholic mission program based in Lake Charles, Louisiana, that came to the aid of people in Nicaragua after devastating Hurricane Mitch and continues to work in Nicaragua and Honduras. One of its main projects is helping to educate children at the San Cristobal (Nicaragua) Orphanage.

Abrazando Cristo came to my attention through a member of the Southwest Louisiana chapter of the Pulpwood Queens book club (a national book club with some 200 chapters). The chapter has raised money for the mission and many members have even gone down to Nicauraga to help with the project.

The Pulpwood Queens book club--specifically this chapter in Louisiana--has been very supportive of my book. And I'm happy to embrace one of the chapter's cherished causes.

If you have anything to purchase at Amazon, please go to my website first and click on buy the book. Then from my book page, you can puchrase anything else on Amazon and the money will go to Abrazando Cristo's work.

Click here to go to my website:

Special Event in January

Speaking of the Pulpwood Queen book club: I've been invited to take part in their annual convention on Jan. 15-17 in Jefferson, Texas.

If any of you are in the area, please come out and say hello.

Click here to learn more about the Pulpwood Queen's convention.

One more thing. Please check out a column I wrote for Huffington Post about Holiday sharing. I hope it's a sentiment we can all keep in mind during the coming year.

My Huffington Post column

Fondly--

Jeannie Ralston