This is a picture of our raised-bed square foot garden.  You can see three of the six wooden box planters. These are each mounted on a metal support we made, making them about at my chest level. They have one irrigation system with an automatic control. Each box has a sprinkler mounted in the center.

This is a close-up of the mulch I spread to try to keep the weeds at bay. We put down a fabric barrier and covered that with wood chips, but that was about three years ago. The weeds were growing up wherever they wanted. I sprayed them with KilzAll weed killer, then actually weeded the ones that were sticking up, and then I spread 16 large bags of cedar blend mulch. I will keep a close eye out for weeds growing up through this.

At this point, with the suddenly warm weather, the lettuce and broccoli are finished for the spring. Maybe I can get some seeds started for a fall crop. The spinach plants – seeds sowed directly in the garden as a last ditch effort – are still alive, but aren’t thriving. Something is eating the leaves and I really think the temperature is too hot at this point.

Here is what I have now –

Celery

Spinach

Cantaloupe

Zucchini

Tomato plants in the long planter

Tomato Plants in the nook planter between the back of the house and the screened porch

Red sweet onions

Plans are to start more celery and more radishes in time. Unless we see something locally we want to plant, this will be it for the spring and summer garden.

RJ Bennett – LinkedIn

Catherine Lee – LinkedIn

Jeff Jett – LinkedIn

Jeff Jett – LinkedIn

Jeff Jett – LinkedIn

RJ Bennett – LinkedIn

Jeff Jett – LinkedIn

*Disclaimer: Some of these photos are taken by the people given credit here. These people, as I do, love to display the work of talented photographers who may, or may not, have listed their names.

The Telegraph

This isn’t a picture of US at Lunch Bunch, but I chose it because it kind of shows you we’ve been through everything together over the years.

The core bunch is Kay, Linda and me. My husband became an honorary member several years ago and he now enjoys being spoiled by all three of us, plus others who join us from time to time. He refers to us as his “harem.” We allow him to make snide comments as long as he mostly concentrates on eating while we visit. :0)

Today was our annual Christmas gift exchange. We get nice things for each other and it’s very enjoyable, but it’s not the gifts – it’s the FEELINGS that go with them – the showing each other we care – that are the true gifts.

Every Friday we catch up on what’s happening. Sometimes we have things to celebrate. Sometimes we have sad news. Over the space of some 30 years there is little we haven’t shared. Having good friends is beyond price and something for which I am truly grateful.

BEFORE –

AFTER –

As usual, I found a bunch of things I didn’t know I had. I threw out a bunch of stuff, relocated other things, then cleaned up the rest. I also cleaned out the basket above and to the right of this that holds the cleaners I use on a daily basis.

I found a mystery ‘thingie’ that neither my husband nor I had a clue what it was, so I pitched it. I had bought supplies I didn’t need because things were such a mess. I now have a bin in the pantry that holds replenishment for the things we use most often.

Now I’m going to go put my feet up for a while – drinking coffee, reading more of my current book, and patting myself on the head before I dig in again on processing our DVD collection.

Great Performers Academy

I seem to have a brief window where I can actually communicate a bit!

I hope all of you are doing well. We’re doing fine, except for me tearing my hair out that I can’t do my normal stuff on my computer. I have to admit I’m getting more cleaning done, since I can’t access the Internet most of the time.

My husband ordered a card that we HOPE will solve my problem. Otherwise, you may be able to hear me complaining from here!

Only have flashes of intermittent Internet. Part coming that we HOPE will fix me tomorrow. Until then, I’m having withdrawal about not being able to write on my blog. Hope everyone is well.