Outside My Window…   my gardens are shaping up nicely.  The snapdragons that wintered over are looking particularly lovely.  And best of all, my Texas Star hibiscus is finally sending up new green shoots.  I’d been worried that moving it last month might have killed it, but it’s lived up to its description of a “hardy native.”

I am thinking…  about how quickly March flew by and how much I accomplished.  It seems like taking on the DCMGA newsletter (see April 2018 issue of The Root) has spurred me to make better use of my time.  I hope that trend continues.

I am thankful for…  Spring, warmer weather, green shoots, colorful blooms.

I am hoping… I get Quicken finally caught up and that tax filing goes smoothly.

I am reading…

• The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes (Bestseller Code 100 book challenge)
• The Pleasure Trap: Mastering the Hidden Force that Undermines Health and Happiness by Daniel J. Lisle (Book Club for Plant Based Eaters)
• A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule The Future by Daniel H. Pink
• Building The American Empire, Volume I: A Narrative History to 1877 by Harry L. Watson
• Jeff Gordon: His Dream, Drive & Destiny by Joe Garner
• Fast Food Genocide: How Processed Food is Killing Us and What We Can Do About It by Joel Fuhrman

I am busy creating… an wedding gift afghan for a cousin.  In March I crocheted a granny square lapghan for another cousin who turns 60 on May 1, along with retiring.  It took about a week to make, crocheting in the evenings.  I’ll ship it to him later in the month.

I am hearing… the washing machine, Bill clacking away on his keyboard, and the neighborhood garbage truck.

Around the house…  a lot needs to be done, as I’ve concentrated on Quicken, the DCMGA newsletter, and outside projects most of March.  I’ll need to find a day (soon!) to devote to some serious housecleaning!  Also, the bonus room wall still has not received the final coat of knock-down finish.  Bill has been busy with outside projects also!

Around the garden…  and yard a lot has been accomplished.  The holly bushes along the front sidewalk have been removed, 6 rain barrels bought, 1 rain barrel sample pedestal made, 120 cement blocks delivered and distributed, the compost bin area of the new fencing has received two coats of linseed oil, 3 blueberry bushes have been planted into large containers, and perennial have been added to the front and back flowerbeds.  All that in two weeks!  We have been busy.

Before

Removal

After

120 cement blocks

One rain barrel pedestal prototype

In other news…    the cardboard is laid down and the outline set with the cement blocks for my new veggie garden.  I’m not sure quite when I’ll acquire the soil/mulch to fill it, or even how high I will fill it (might only need one level of blocks rather than two), but I’m excited to have it laid out.

One of my favorite things…  my new garden cart.  I love it!  It was a huge help in moving around those 120 cement blocks!  It even dumps.

Our Weekly Overview… 

 Karen:  Monday morning the first issue of the DCMGA newsletter was mailed out to both members and another list of non-members who have signed up to receive announcements.  I have a chiropractor visit in the afternoon.  Tuesday is an all-day event at Global Spheres where I help assist with the Propagation Class for the 2018 Intern Class.  I’m looking forward to helping, although not the hours – I must be there at 8 a.m. and won’t be done until about 4:30 p.m.  I’m taking in my two spider plants so they can be trimmed by the interns and also taking in zinnia seeds that I gathered from my beautiful large zinnia plants last summer/fall.  It should be fun.  The rest of the week will be focused on Quicken / Taxes.

Bill:  Bill is working from home all week.  Evenings he’ll be continuing work on the rain barrel pedestals; although I think Monday night he plans to go to Sam’s Club to buy a battery for the Neon, which I discovered was no longer working when I went to move the car Friday morning.

David:  David will have his usual week – college classes/homework and progress on his Atomic Space Race game.

Here’s a picture thought I am sharing …