This year, we decided to make two changes to our veggie garden: 1. build a raised bed set-up (to get above the clay layer, provide better drainage, and stymie encroaching grass). 2. try starting some things as seedlings.

I consider the raised bed a huge success (guarded by a cute yard gnome in the upper center of the pic):

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I always knew I had almost too many interests in my life: sewing, painting, writing, reading, singing, and so on.  It's often a major balancing act to give each interest enough attention to succeed, on top of the day job, upkeep of the home (thankfully shared with E), and being social online and in person.
( Lately, I feel like the plate is wobbling around, tossing things aside as I try to balance it. )

I haven't posted about the kitty antics for quite some time, mainly because there has been some sad news.  Miss Orlando passed away in early November.

( The whole story...warning! It's really sad, but I felt I needed to record it somewhere. )

The last three months have seen their share of events, but I haven't found the time to recount them in the form of a longer blog post.  So I shall try to catch up by topic - starting with the biggest news on the home front...

Yep, Eric and I finally got married all legal-like.  Our first date was on November 10, 2001, and we'd always joked that we ( Read more... )

Life's moving along at it's usual busy Renaissance Festival pace. We're coming up on the third weekend of Fest, and the Court Revelers are having a blast this year already.  Our three new rookies are not only enthusiastic, but very talented and able to roll with anything we throw at them.  Our hazing is generally mild - things like singing an older ( Read more... )

Ah, summer - that magical time in Minnesota when we can enjoy fresh-picked local fruit and vegetables...

This year, Eric and I decided to try our luck planting a vegetable garden, and the yields are starting to really come in.  We've been harvesting Bibb lettuce and "Musclin" garden greens in small bits for salads since early June, but both crops ( Read more... )

By now, everyone's heard my stories of the varied birdies, squirrels, and bunnies that are attracted to our backyard bird feeder.  Well, it seems the presence of all these birdies, squirrels, and bunnies has attracted a new visitor:


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The kitten shall henceforth be known as "Dexter."  (As I commented on Facebook, I'm now sorely tempted to get a girl kitten and name her "DeeDee," but I think Eric and the senior cats would all leave me if I did ( Read more... )

We just adopted a new kitty from cloudscudding 's friend (who had inherited an abandoned mommy cat).  We were reluctant to get a 2 month-old this close to Fest - worried about leaving a little one alone with the other cats for seven weekends, but we just couldn't resist this little guy:


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A couple weeks ago, Eric and I picked up a hanging bird feeder for our backyard.  We figured we'd get a few birds here and there, and that would keep crazy Miss Bonkers entertained, if nothing else.  (She's been following us around the house non-stop lately ( Read more... )