Anhata!

I was wondering how you were doing. Sounds like you've been really busy! Glad to hear you're feeling better, too. I think the tomato seeds probably will keep--I planted some this year that I bought three years ago and then lost in several subsequent moves. Most of them seem to be germinating just fine. I also sent some seeds to my mother in Kansas, who has yet to plant them but is still planning to. We'll see how that goes.

We're working on expanding our veggie garden over here, too. It'll be going from 12' x 15' with no real paths to 26' x 28' with much better-defined beds and paths. I should end up with 5 long beds with 2' paths between them. The old garden bed has been pretty well cultivated with the addition of compost and sand and my digging down about 18" throughout to break up the clay. Hard work, but the plants really seem to appreciate it. I'm hoping to do that in the new garden area, too, but slowly over the next few years. My husband heard me talking about tilling and said, "why not just dig?" That is, until he finished digging and filling in a trench about 3' wide by maybe 8' long and 18" deep. He agreed with me after that (though he was very sweet to tackle that!) For the rest of the new bed, we've put down new topsoil and we should be renting a tiller this weekend. The plants will just have to make do this year. Still need to put in the new fence, too.

The plants themselves are doing just fine under grow lamps in my guest room closet and outside on sunny days. I'm trying to start most of them from seed this year, since it worked so well for tomatoes last year. I think I'm going to end up with about 20-25 varieties of tomatoes, which will be great. I love homegrown tomatoes! I've also got cucumbers, a couple of different kinds of broccoli, corn, peppers, eggplant, a couple of cantaloupes, cauliflower, lettuce, celery, and green onions. I'm hoping to start a few more veggies directly in the garden, even if it is getting a little late. I think now is prime time for planting most vegetables around here. I've been slowed down a bit by medical concerns and helping my SIL, who just had her third child. Babysitting is much in demand (not like I mind). I need to start my hanging baskets sometime soon, too. I had a fuschia last year and loved it! Gorgeous flowers.