Hi folks. I’ve got a simple request to make to y’all. It’s not knitting-related, but it’s important. It’s also maybe not what you come here to see, so I’ve included some pretty pictures of my how my vegetable garden’s going these days.

Look! Some pretty leaf lettuce! I think the spotty ones are my favorite. So cute!

Here’s the request: If you haven’t done it already, please go get your Covid vaccine. (If you’ve already gotten your vaccine, YAY!)

Blueberries! It’s our first year trying blueberries and I can’t wait to see if we actually get any fruit. Fingers crossed.

Here’s the thing about the vaccine. Sure, it’s a personal choice, but your actions really affect everybody. For example, my kids are both too young to get the vaccine, so even though both my husband and I have been vaccinated, we have to continue to quarantine the way we have for the last year. My oldest kid is 3 years old, and he’s only interacted with 4 kids in the last year and a half (and two of those interactions were 1-time outdoor playdates with masks). That’s not healthy. My youngest is 6 months old and hasn’t met his grandparents yet, not to mention his aunts and uncles. That’s just sad.

A small forest of bok choy. We’re eating a lot of stir fries these days.

Once we have enough people vaccinated to create herd immunity, people like my kids (or other folks who can’t get vaccinated for medical reasons) will be able to go out in public again. My boys will be able to… I don’t know… do something crazy, like go to school, visit the library or just go to McDonald’s for a Happy Meal.

Peas! Supposedly they’re going to have bright pink flowers and purple pods!

And, it’s super easy and free to get vaccinated! I got my vaccine at Walgreens. I signed up online and went in to my local pharmacy. There wasn’t any line, and I got a cool red bandaid. Win/win. And these days, most places are allowing walk-ins for people over 16. Just google “Covid Vaccine (your city)” and I’m sure you’ll find a place nearby.

One of my beds, soon to be overflowing with produce, assuming I don’t mess it up. Front to back: radishes, carrots, potatoes, kale, and sugar-snap peas.

And, finally, the vaccine is super-safe. Millions of people have taken it, with only minimal side effects. If you’re still concerned about safety, there is a ton of really great information out there. Sawbones is a really excellent podcast that talks a lot about Covid and vaccinations. And if you want to go straight from the horse’s mouth, the CDC is a great resource.

Sure, it’s not the most fun, after all, who likes getting shots? And, if you’re anything like the people in my family, you’ll be pretty under the weather for 24 hours. But it’s really important. It’s important to the economy, it’s important to schools, and it’s important to kids and other people who can’t get vaccinated.

And dear lord, I want to go to a yarn store!