by the chimney with care.

Karen carved with the kids this year, we have a Jack O’Lantern.

I worked with TJ to brew hard cider this year. I re-sugared the last batch for in bottle carbonation and packed it up. Should be sparkling in 10 days.

I thought LEGO blocks were expensive! I live on a hillside. The water was puddling on the lawn and making it swampy. I wanted a curb to keep the water flowing around the lawn not through the lawn.

Photos: Curb

Abby is looking much cleaner and happier after her visit to the Puppy Pretty Parlor. Remember dogs smile with their tails!

“Daddy, I am shabby, take me to the Puppy Pretty Parlor!”

Abby is getting a little long in the hair and nails department. It is time for her and the boys to visit Jen at the Mutt Hut.

“Honey, get me some fresh parsley” does not include driving!

Often these rescued mutts are too cute for words. That is why every smartphone has a camera.

The ‘tern room is complete, had to wait to reveal until after she saw and approved. The move in has begun. It will be a summer full of tales, I can just tell!

Photos: ‘Tern Room

Before and after I stoned the full garden area.


The Oakville vision was not yet realized! I needed to define the garden area with a bed of pea gravel. I hope it helps with the erosion problem that was moving Box 6 away from the fence and downhill.

Finally, 2 yards³ of pea gravel and 50 feet of plastic edging later, the garden is defined.

The chive plant liked the change. It tripled in the time it took to edge, gravel and refill. I connected boxes 2 and 3 and boxes 5 and 6 together to cut down on irrigation time.

Inspiration: Oakville
For Hire: Garden Box

The Fabled Garden Project has another phase this spring. I cut in an edge to encircle about 10% of the back yard. The garden boxes are now in a sea of this pea gravel.

Plenty of Landscape cloth went down to prevent weed growth. Hopefully it will still look good at harvest time.

Photos: Garden Boxes Season Two: Getting Stoned
Photos: Garden Boxes Season One
How To: Behind the Scenes

The Crocus has Spoken!

Now it is Spring, so get out there and look at the sunshine bounce off the lake. Put more mulch on the beds (Jim!). Power wash winter off your garden boxes. Slap a coat of water seal on it and set the front porch furniture up.

I was folding the laundry today and the dogs started barking like crazy. I looked out the window to see who had come to the house. Not the neighbors I was expecting.

Normally I like to post the crocus announcing Spring. Unfortunately, The crocus is merely clearing its throat and has not yet Spoken. Soon?

Happy Spring at any temperature!

Bears!

Yes, we get deer at Cedar Lake, but we get bears too.

I was watching the dogs this morning and took this picture in the side yard. The fresh snow caught the morning bear visit in tracks.

When is your next visit to the lake?

The Big Picture: Bear Sign