This week is flying by. I've been busy, busy -- digging and planting. Then digging and planting some more. Plus lots of tilling. By hand. Whew. It's hard work! But there is progress in my project of expanding the shade garden beds in my yard. Under the trees where sickly grass grew in pained, straggly patches, I have transplanted hostas and ferns, native columbine, solomon's seal, and wild geranium. My neighbor noticed me digging and offered her ostrich ferns -- she has them thick as theives over there, nearly to the point of invasiveness. They sure are pretty though -- a thicket nearly five foot high. Since I have a total three or four ferns in my whole entire yard, as big as it is -- she didn't exactly need to twist my arm. She just pointed out where they were a nuisance and let me have at it, while she went back into the house. I did have a small moment of hesitation when I wondered if I was going to regret introducing a potentially aggressive species over on my side. When it comes down to it, I guess I'm willing to take the risk because they're going to be a heck of an improvement over the patchy grass tufts and weedy dirt I currently have under my shade trees. And of course... they were FREE (just checked online -- found some priced at $50 for 10 ferns). Plus, this is the kind of fern that can be harvested and eaten as 'fiddleheads' -- so I'll know what to do with them if they decide to take more than their fair share of space. But, who knows if they'll even take off anyway....

I also broke down and did indeed divide my hostas, again. While I purchased some new hosta plants this past weekend, it was clear they were not going to be nearly enough to cover all the area I'm targeting. I was actually thinking of jumping in the truck and getting more, and then the cool hand of reason patted me on the back and pointed out the hostas planted from previous years. So, I grabbed the shovel and got to work. I think I have now divided them about as much as they can take this year. If I need to purchase another few plants to finish my project, so be it -- at least I did save some money once again by stre-e-e-e-tching my current plantlings.

With all this planting I am now desperate for rain. Things looked really promising earlier today, and I rushed this afternoon and evening like a madwoman to get more plants in the ground ahead of the apparently approaching storm. But so far ....nothing. Well, we surely could use it around here. Looking at the doppler radar online for our area shows rain all around us, and a bunch of near misses, even rumbly thunder -- but no rain in our immediate area. Blargh, if we don't get some precip tonight I'm going to be irked....

As for the vegetable garden, the kids and I ran out there yesterday to have a look-see. The onions are very happy, and the potatoes, which had been bitten by frost last week, seem to be rebounding, thank goodness. We planted four tomato plants (with many more to come), and some cucumber. We also weeded some, plus I 'hilled' the potato rows a bit-- and watered everything down with the hose (nothing like a real rain though -- that's what it could really use).

On the spending front, still writing checks around town, although it's tapering off a little. Sort of. Except for today I guess --since I actually found myself clothes shopping. Something I rarely EVER do. In fact, I think the last time I shopped retail for clothes for me was, hmmm, probably about this time last year, when I needed an outfit for a spring event. Well, once again, warm weather arrives and here I found myself needing another outfit for an upcoming event. So off to Target I went this afternoon, and managed to pick up some warm-weather slacks and shirts and things that I can wear this summer -- and to this thing I'm doing this weekend. You see, I've registered to take a three-day, intense training workshop this coming friday through sunday, which, upon completion, will enable me to apply for a particular part-time position here locally. Yes, I'm pursuing employment, folks -- a job. And I want to make a good impression (might even seek a haircut tomorrow -- more $$ outlay, but could it ever use it ). Anyway, we'll just see how it goes....