HFM

Now that I have all this time on the weekends, I can get on to the very serious business of finishing things. With some cooperation from the weather, I was finally able to finish the tiny patio for the tiny grill: Complete with tiny concrete brick and paver table: Finished! That box on the left is a tiny planter I made a couple years ago. I will get that planted when I get some more potting mix. Maybe next weekend... I also spent a lot of time moving a lot of dirt from the big pile I created when I did the brick path, to a low spot on the side of the yard. Finished! Here's how the yard has shaped up: Ready now for some Earthboxes, a lemon tree, and some lavender! And a hanging chair in the corner, by the panda.

Just wanted to post a picture of this beautiful strawberry rhubarb pie (homemade crust!) that AJ made me for celebratory brunch on Sunday. Can't think of a better way to celebrate having finished that damn MBA than a slice of this pie and a glass of champagne!

In between (numerous) weekend rain storms, we've been working on the landscaping in the back yard. These photos are a little hard to see, but I took some of the especially insect-damaged timbers from the old back part of the house -- stuff too big and too damaged to do much else with -- and created a raised area for a swing in the back corner and a raised garden bed next to the new wall: Big thanks to our houseguest Corrie Jo for her ideas! She is a genius. That is a fact. We planted some dahlias in there, and some California poppies. And six snap peas. Because snap peas -- even just a handful -- are essential for summertime happiness. Meanwhile, the radishes, lettuce, and carrots in the gutter are very happy: And the sedum in the other gutter is also very happy: Thank you to Momma Arave for the advice on transplanting the sedum into this gutter! Another genius! While Corrie Jo was here, enjoying beautiful weather in the hammock and directing my efforts at landscaping, I also got s...