Edamame~~Edamame~~Cuke~~~Cuke
Carrots~~~~Carrots~~~~Peas~~~~Peas
Onions~~~~Carrots~~~~Lettuce~~Lettuce
Onions~~~~Carrots~~~~Carrots~~~Lettuce

That is the layout of the garden that I have decided on. I checked a companion planting site and don't see any issues with it. The only crops they said shouldn't be planted together are peas and onions, so hopefully I have those far enough away. I really don't see any other way to get them farther. If you think I have made any bad choices, please let me know quickly since I will be getting quite a bit of this in the box in the next week or so. The top of the garden is East, and the fence in the picture. Our house is a few feet away to the North. I am also planning to put the tomato boxes along the side of the house, though not too close as I want to make sure they have the appropriate sun.

So I am planning to plant the remaining peas, as well as one crop of carrots, onions, lettuce and radish in the next few days. Then I will wait a week or so and plant the remaining crops of onions, carrots & lettuce. I am hoping that will help the harvest stagger just a bit so we always have fresh veggies. Edamame, squash, cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes will go in when it is warmer. I am not sure when exactly yet. I have to check the mountain for snow!

My plant varieties:

Little Marvel Pea
Rainbow Mix Carrot
Medley Blend of Hybrids Summer Squash
Radish Mixture
Lettuce Blend
Salad Bush Hybrid Slicing Cucumber
Onion sets, tomato & pepper plants will be bought locally
I requested edamame seeds but if they don't arrive, I will order some Midori Giant.

I love peas

especially ones in a pod. ;)

So far still only peas have been planted, but here is some current pictures of the garden. Can you guess which square has been planted?

A boy and a box

A couple weeks ago Rob built my box with some help from me and Damien. It was a bit of a tougher task than we anticipated, complete with a broken drill bit! Turns out a pesky knot in the wood was stronger than the bit and busted that sucker right in half. Luckily no one was harmed in the making of our lovely redwood garden box. :D

The box is currently sitting where that chair on the right is. I filled it with a mixture of equal parts Grandma Z's organic compost, vermiculite and peat moss. I have quite a bit left over so I have decided to build 2 triangular tomato raised beds.

Today I finally mapped out the definite layout for planting. I have been wavering back and forth on how many squares of certain crops to plant. I finally just put my foot down and decided them once and for all. If we have too many of a certain veggie I will just share with my friends. I also planted the first crop of Little Marvel Peas. The second one will go in next week, so that we have a continuous harvest of yummy peas.

I will get a picture of the current box later when my camera batteries are charged, and also list out the crops and when they will be planted along with the layout. For now I am snuggling a sleeping toddler.

Oh, I almost forgot! We have also decided to tackle the swampy area in the yard by making it fruitful rather than just "dealing" with it. So, we are going to use some pavers and make a curved raised bed of at least a foot. In that bed we will plant raspberries & strawberries. What a delicious solution! I can't wait. Special thanks to my neighbor for showing me her garden and helping me come to a much better solution than icky gravel to deal with the drainage issue.

Knot in the garden

but I was earlier. That is about all the humor I have right now though, so enjoy it while it lasts. I have been working on getting the garden going the past few days. Saturday I spent shopping for supplies, yesterday I spent building the box and discussing with my neighbor some ideas, today I hauled bag after bag (including a 3.8cu foot one) all by myself and mixed them all and filled our raised bed number one. Shoot I had a fancy name for it and I forgot. I will remember it and post a picture of it. I have some pics but I need to get them uploaded, and I will post a more detailed update as well.



My Grandpa is very ill and was moved to hospice today. My Mom & sister are flying across country right now trying to get to him before he passes. I am positively devastated. I love him so very much and can't imagine how my Grandma must feel to be losing the love of her life who she has been married to for 65 years. I wish I was in Florida with them right now. I am trying to stay busy here instead with manual labor hoping the physical ache can take away some of the heartache I feel.

I still knit

Some things for trades...

Mama has a brand new 'do

I donated my almost butt length hair to locks of love. Don't I look sassy? ;)

I'm a sucker

For a good vacuum that is. I have been wanting a Dyson forevah and a day. Maybe it is my turn to win one. And for such a good cause too. I saw this awesome contest and knew I had to enter. Win a Dyson “Pink” Vaccuum in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month You should enter too!

Rock Me I'm an Alias!

I saw this funny meme on Erika's blog and she tagged everyone who read it. So, here are my contributions.

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car) Sammy Expedition
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie) Phish Food Chocolate Chip
3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name) Smah
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) Black Zebra
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, hospital where you were born) Robin Kennedy
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first) Mahst
7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink) The Pink Apple Martini
8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers) Edward Herman
9.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ) Lee Neal
10. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter) Lambert Louisville
11. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower) Autumn Daisy
12. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”) Strawberry Robey
13. HIPPIE NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree) Coffee Cherry Blossom
14. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”) The Knitting Rain Tour

If anyone is still reading my blog, consider yourself tagged! Leave me a comment and I will come see your uber cool new alias!

My favorite kind of sandwich

Bananafish labor of love