Cocktails For Everyone

SECOND BABY DELIVERED

TIME TO LAYER

First layer: gravel for drainage.

A big advantage to raised bed gardening is better drainage. One reason is because you can add gravel at the bottom(please don't ask where we got the gravel. I cannot comment on the grounds it may incriminate) and you don't walk on the soil. Soil compaction-OK, I admit sometimes I do, but you don't usually compact the soil by walking on it.

Next Layer: I am calling a Raised Bed Cocktail.
The best massage I ever had was in Memphis by this incredibly strong women named Tamika. I am in love with her. She called what she did a Massage Cocktail.One of her cocktails, and your a massage-cocktail-aholic. If she can use that name, so can I!

The recipes for the Cocktail is:
Earthgro Topsoil ( the bag said organic)




Vermiculite (happened to have some in our garage)




Promix-Ultilmate Organic Mix




Check this out!


It's official! Got this at Menards!

I did not forget my Hero: Dr Earth-for more super exciting info on the Dr see earlier post!



A recipe for success, I hope!

A few more reasons to do a raised bed:

• easier to plant, weed, and maintain because you can walk around them and again, no soil compaction
• earlier and later planting due to faster warm up in the spring and soil stays warm later in the fall
• roots develop better because of low soil compaction(this is a big deal, obviously) , good drainage, and oxygen diffusion
• retains water better

A little side note: I am quickly approaching a really big day. The day I will turn 50. I know I don't look it, and I really never thought that day would come. I had my kids early (babies having babies) and was always the young mom of the group. Now I think I am the oldest Mom in our neighborhood. At least in our book club and every other get together I seem to attend lately. Anyway, in the spirit of one of my favorite sister-in-laws, I am beginning a countdown. Counting down the days until I turn Five - Oh. My sister in law breaks it down to the minute but I am not that good with numbers. I am starting to celebrate my youth(gone), mark the last days of being 40 something and think about how I want to go out. Anyway, I'll keep you posted!
34 days!

Labor and delivery went fine!

It was the week before Mother's day and everything was buzzing around here. My husband was delighted since it looked like the gift I requested could be totally snagged from the hardware store. He was going to enjoy this one.

Once the supplies were obtained, his Man Hands were going to start creating. It was a beautiful thing to watch. He actually started on it several days in advance of the gift giving day instead of hitting Kohl's the night before! Again a beautiful thing....

I am sure you are at the edge of your seat wondering, "What did she request??" Being a committed gardener, I asked for another baby...another garden box! Now I have 2. My oldest box has a brother!

I don't pretend to know anything about building but fortunately, the men in my life do.


This is how is went down:












The most amazing part of the entire project was what happened next.....I found out that people actually listen to me sometimes. Again, a beautiful thing!

I am always reading about gardening and recently, organic gardening. Sometimes I share the incredibly interesting information with those within earshot. Not really thinking that anyone was paying attention. That is where I was wrong!

One evening as I was reading, I called out, "Hey, did you know that the pretreated lumber that you get at the store is toxic when used for raised beds? Chemicals like chromium, copper and arsenic leach out into the soil and food crops? When people build these things they need to create a barrier between the lumber and soil with some landscape fabric. You can preserve the wood with linseed oil. Wow!"

So guess what my organically minded man did? That's right, no treated lumber and he sealed it with Linseed Oil! Talk about a turn on!



I am sure it has something to do with not wanting me to get cancer and need a lot of care in retirement. He already knows how high maintenance I am!

There is still work to be done...I'll keep you posted!

New Glasses

Yesterday I got a new pair of glasses and they have already changed my life!

I have been going to the same YMCA five times a week for many months now. I am focused when I am there and always have in my ear plugs. I am not inviting conversation or new found friendship.

Today, I show up with my new glasses and before I know it, I am being talked to while riding the stationary bike. I must have looked hot or cool or something, because the guy said, 'Hey! What have you got in there (he was referring to my "green" water bottle), Vodka?'
Now keep in mind, I have seen this guy lots of times but today with the new glasses he tries to start a little convo.
Later, while I was working my abs...the machine was making a funny noise. Another guy started asking if it was me or the machine. Ha...no it's the Glasses! I am not trying to say that I look all hot at the gym. But, with the new Glasses, maybe I do? who knows? !!!

Did I mention that both of the guys were at least 70 years old? The glasses break down all age barriers!
Anyway, I can't help it if the earliest I can get to the gym is the same time as the seniors. I have stuff to do!



After the Y, I needed to get a cashiers check made payable to the Clerk of the Circuit Court. It needed to be sent somewhere like... Pulaski County. OK, I got a speeding ticket and I had to go in to the bank to get the check to pay up.
The Teller was surprisingly nice. She even offered to mail the envelop containing the request for Safety School along with the check for my fine. Then, she offered me a cookie!
How Nice! I left the bank thinking, WOW, people are so much nicer since I got my new glasses! Then I had the thought...Wow, what if the teller was nice because she thought I was special needs? I mean, the Glasses are a little unconventional. I think they are cool and I like the "bigness" of them. That way I have more room for the "special enhancement" that these glasses have to offer. But, what if she thought I was "Special" in a not really special kind of way....hummm...




Wouldn't it be great if something like new glasses or a foxy new hairstyle or weight loss could make us more likable? That's absurd, right? But why do we keep grasping for these kind of remedies? Believe me, I have been doing it my entire life. Sometimes it works but eventually it wears off.
So what's the answer? Go see a counselor! Or a more economical option...try to find contentment in who you are and appreciate the simple things in life like: good friends, family and nature (that includes dogs and cats). That's my goal and if it works, I'll keep you posted.

Have a great Mother's Day Weekend! Mine is starting now!

...Garden Box Update...Garden Box Update...Garden Box Update

We are well into week 3 of the Organic Veggie Garden Box Project. Everything is going well and the results are as expected. The magic soil is living up to expectations and there are rows of tiny green plants. Or-gan-ic!




The last little guy to show up was the Sugar Snap Pea. That's OK. He's here now and I love him. Once the little green pods are hanging off the plant I plan to hang out and eat them directly off the vine.





I have hardly had to water since we are still in the rainy season. Just as I say that, the clouds are rolling in and positioning for another drop.

Ahhh, life seems too good to be true! The pessimist I live with, would begin to cry," caution, caution: Life good...something bad could be coming".
I know,I know, I think that way too, but driving around yesterday my heart was full and everything felt all Springy!
The world has come alive!
Trees are flowering and leaves are popping!



My Judd Virburnum has a few blooms that are open. I'll tell you, if you want a little taste of heaven, just take a whiff of one of those babies. Intoxicating! No wine needed!

We are heading into the most important weekend of the year. The day the people I gave birth to and their significant others gather round and pick my brain for all the advice and counsel they will need to get them through another year.
They will be asking things like: Mom, what should I do about this? and Mom, what kind of job, girlfriend, or extracurricular activities should I be a part of? Where do you think I should live and what holidays do you want me to attend? It's going to be a great weekend!



The Mom's Day Elves have been very busy and I'm excited. Multiple trips to the hardware store and lots of pounding. I think this organic gardener is going to be very happy...I'll keep you posted!