Poor Man's Roundup

Last weekend after the snow melted, Bernie and the Girl and I ventured out to mark out the soon to be veggie plot. It looks big. I like it. We sprayed lines on the ground with marking paint and comtemplated how to kill the grass in the expanded part. Mother Nature is still being stingy, it's 50 degrees and spitting rain off and on today, and it snowed again Tuesday night (melted again Wednesday), so Roundup won't 'take' as the grass isn't actively growing yet to absorb it. Plus, I'm trying to go organic in this garden from the very beginning. I decided to smother the turf instead, which will take 2 or 3 weeks I suppose, but Lord knows I won't have time to build the raised beds before then anyways. We laid out some old tarps and tacked them down w/ rocks, boards, the arbor, and patio furniture. Isn't it lovely? Our neighbors just love us:

In other news, my seeds downstairs are going crazy. The onions got another haircut today and are looking happy. Note for next year: start pumpkins a couple of weeks (at least) later than everything else. They are going crazy!:

I decreased the timer for the lights again down to 10 hours a day to help keep things in check as I think the pumpkins are going to outgrow their flats before the weather allows me to plant them out. I think the lights were on 16 hours a day to begin with (just a bit over-enthusiastic perhaps?) and a couple weeks ago I took it down to 12 hours a day. Poor, confused plants. They're going to think it's changing to fall rather than spring. Well, they'll have to get over it.

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Broccoli Land Speed Record

I'm behind in posting my seed starting progress. On Wed, March 16th, about 8 weeks till last predicted frost, I started my pepper seeds. I planted two cells of Jalapeno, two of green bell peppers and 5 of the colorful Carnival Mix bells. I always plant 2-3 seeds per cell and then thin to the strongest survivor. So they are all up and happy now: I was planning to start my tomato and broccoli seeds a week ago on Tues, March 29th (6 weeks till last frost) but didn't get around to it until Friday, April 1st. Close enough. Mother Nature's behind this spring too if you ask me. It snowed last week, for pete's sake! Last night, I went down to water and check on things, and the Romanesco Broccoli seeds are already up! That's got to be a broccoli land speed record, right? Three days? The package says they emerge in 10-21 days so I am feeling pretty dang good about my wicked horticultural skillz. Here's a pic of my eager little broccoli seedlings:

Try it

While many folks have started New Year’s Resolutions for 2022, I have been looking for My Word. Admittedly, I could use improvements along the lines of traditional resolutions like getting more exercise, eating less sweets, or managing money well, but I also know myself enough to know I don’t and won’t abide by these just because we hang a new tally sheet on the wall indicating the reset of the annual cycle. What I love about a new year is the excuse for a pause. A practically mandated time set aside for nostalgic self-reflection! This looking back, along with the hopeful feeling of potential for what is to come is an enjoyable tradition for me (I’m blessedly past the stage of loud, boozy, people-y New Year’s Eve parties). Yes, instead of traditional resolutions, I’ve adopted a more recent trend of choosing a word to focus on for the upcoming year. I find self-improvement goals for a new season easier to remember if I settle on a word or phrase that is lately on my heart.

Stay Wild

Deep Breath. Here goes. And it’s gonna be sweary. You’ve probably heard the phrase “Life begins at 40”. I’m there. I’m a few years into the decade, but already deep in the vibe. A shift is happening, and my mind is blown by the “aliveness” of it all. Here’s how it happened: I’m a woman, wife, mom, daughter, sister, friend, entrepreneur, creative dreamer. I was also recently diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), primarily Inattentive Type. “WTF”, you ask? I know. Don’t get me started; I’m still getting used to it myself, and it’s a long, complicated story filled with questions, doubt, research, doctors, naysayers, anger, acceptance, and lots and lots of hope (repeat). It’s a fucking revelation . Here I am, at age 43, wondering why I’ve always felt anxious, socially awkward, misunderstood, and possibly legit crazy. I have been questioning myself for years. Decades. Trudging through life, wearing (too) many hats, grasping at fulfillment, and still

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