in which a second season is begun

Well, it's garden-planting time again. I am really trying to get better at growing my own food. A useful skill. I am learning that it takes a lot more than I thought to get a garden off the ground. Last year I had to build the bed and I thought that this year, without that added task, the going would be easier.

ha. ha. ha.

Well, part of that is the weather. It is still darn cold here in N. Idaho. We had snow coming down yesterday (wet snow that didn't last til noon, but snow nevertheless). But mostly it is my lack of knowledge and lack of the appropriate amounts of time! Mom has been a wealth of knowledge and very patient; it has been really really nice knowing that I can call her and ask questionswithout feeling like a complete idiot. She's amazing. I swear she knows everything. She has some really genius ideas for this year. Last year I helped her take care of the vegetable plot at the demo garden and this year she talked the garden club into letting me take care of it on my own(under her guidance, of course). They must have been pretty desperate for workers! :)
So that right there has doubled the space I have to play around in - and doubled the workload, too, but I don't mind. If I am ever to have a green thumb it's going to take lots of practice.

I started some flower seeds inside for the first time this year. I have little tiny zinnias growing merrily in my windowsill. It amazes me how quickly they spring up! I think it took them two and a half days. There are lettuce and kale and chard growing in little plugs on the lower sill. I finally have a few days together off from work, so I will be able to get some peas and carrots in the ground this week. I can't wait!