Welcome Back, Winter!

This week, I had Tuesday off, and could have driven to Norris to be with my weaving buddies.  I could have seen Lanny's knees!  Ann's rugs!  Met Sarah!  But I decided to hang with Leo at the loom.  The shag rug is on its way, though it might not be done in time to get to Nashville by next Wednesday, Matt's birthday.  I will make an effort, though!
  The rest of the day, because it was so beautifully cool and damp, I was outside gardening.  The garden between the street and sidewalk is restored and replanted, but a photo would be boring.  Because it's an experiment, I only used seeds to save money.  I was angry when the sewer guys destroyed it, but knew that it was only seeds and dirt, though I did pay for the dirt the first time.  The second time, the dirt came from the back yard, excavation from the walk way.  And here's what the walkway looks like:
  I need a lot more gravel to set the pavers in place, but I think I need to buy it from a place that brings the truck to my yard.  Buying more bags isn't financially wise, it seems!  This is 15 bags!  And I can hardly carry them, so I want big burly men to deliver it to me.  Next payday!
  I've filled in the flowers in the flower bed next to it, and have decided that I've reached maximum capacity.  I can't buy any more plants!  No more room!  I need to lay down the mulch and just sit back and enjoy it now!

  As for the vegetable garden, the tomato seedlings went in yesterday, as did cantaloupe, cucumber and eggplant seeds.  Lots of lettuce seeds, too, were put in as the rain began in earnest.  It's beginning to look like a real garden, finally, but I can see I'll have to expand next year.  This photo's not very good, probably because I was shivering!  But with the tomato cages and bean stakes, the place looks like some verdant sculpture.
  You'd think a single person wouldn't need a bigger veggie garden--at least that's what I thought--but I can see I should have made more space for vining things.  I don't have room for pumpkins or squash.  Maybe I went a little overboard on the eight varieties of tomatoes, though!

  And then, there's the front yard.  Now, just between you and me, I'm trying really hard to at least be in the running for the neighborhood's Beautification Award.  The sewer guys decimated the front slope, but it was pretty full of weeds, anyway, to be honest, and I'm not sure what to do about it but weed whack it.  The flower beds on either side of the sidewalk, though, have been a joy to create this year.  I've kept the echinacea and yarrow and roses from two years ago and planted around them.
  Well, I'm trying to get blogger to post the video I took of the front garden, and it looks as though it's having problems.  I have to go, but I'll check back tonight to see if it works.  Meanwhile, have a lovely, cool day, weaving, gardening or whatever else you want to do!  --Maggie