I had sort of a brainstorm a few months ago as I was rushing to harvest some worms in time to ship them off. My arms were covered with sticky worm compost up to my elbows, and I was trying to keep my hand away from my face and hair. My nose started to drip, and for lack of any other way of dealing with it, I was simply blowing air at my nose to get the drops off the end of my nose.

Finally, I finished the job, wiped my nose on my sleeve, and discovered that I had a bloody nose. I went inside and looked at myself in the mirror, and was so impressed by the combination of worm compost and blood on my face that I laughed and told myself, "Well, you're having quite the dainty moment, aren't you?" Right then it hit me: women who work outdoors gardening, doing animal husbandry, carpentry, masonry, cement work, or whatever else they do that makes them sweaty, dirty, and stinky, are often quite proud of their accomplishments, and rather revel in getting really good and dirty.

I decided that it would be a good idea to solicit stories and photos about those Dainty Moments on our website. I have talked to quite a few women, and they've all loved the idea. I've even gotten a few really good stories already, like the horsewoman who was cleaning out a pasture, and tossed a shovelful of manure out of the pasture through the wire fence, but unfortunately, the manure hit a wire "ribbon" and richocheted right back at her.

I feel that it is of vital importance that we take pride in our dainty moments, because I truly believe that it is our society's quest for a dirt-free, mess-free, sweat-free, easy existence that is largely responsible for the damage we have inflicted upon our natural environment!

Ellen