Jennifer, I just got back from the wildlife garden, and I think I saw a couple of Passion vines over there. Madge was with me and she was very tired, so I did not check closely, anyway, if they are Passion vines, do you want them? I know of no way I can tell if they will fruit.

Loved your Ron vs Rat story, Amy! Since we don't have any here, except possibly the older and wiser one, our equivalent is squirrels. They have caused so much destruction to our neighbors and us! Neighbors spotted them coming in and out of the shop attic--$%^. GDW had sealed an opening with screening, but it must have come off now. He has traps set, but nothing yet, and really haven't seen the squirrels lately, either. We'll see. I am not a friend to squirrels.

I was delighted to see a patch of passion vine spring up here, out in the rocky shallow sunlight area--it grows untidily and rather rampantly--right now it's about 15-20' sq. and it can spread however it wants, suits me fine; It's the white variety, Alba.

I've been so busy with other things (painting and flower beds), I guess I'll be shooting for a fall veggie garden. Time just totally got away from me.

Do any of you know when blister beetles make their appearance? Last year I had quite the herd of them on the clematis vine. Ate it to the nubs--which was okay with me since it was an invasive type. Besides, I'd read that their larvae feed on grasshopper eggs, so I didn't bother them. Who knows what beastly pest will invade this year--fingers crossed that grasshopper population won't be as bad.

Will any of you have any extra basil for SF? I'm behind the 8-ball on that, too, although still plan to plunk some seeds in outdoors.

Oh--I meant to comment on your upcoming presentation, Kim! Yay--you go, girl! Is Canva easy to use? Am impressed with your skill!

Look at all of those beautiful plants, Larry!

I will say that I'm glad to only have one tray of tomatoes to move in and out. Much easier and quicker than past years.

I'm enjoying downsizing. Honestly, I think I'll grow veggies according to pantry needs in the future. I canned so many tomatoes and beans last year that we're good for another year. Without the boy home, we just don't cook as many casseroles, enchiladas, soups, and chilis that use pantry items like that. He would literally eat half of whatever I fixed. Even if it was for 6 to 8 people. I guess that's how it is when you're a young man. You can eat a lot.

Everyone is different, tho. This is working for me right now.

I watched Seasonal Homestead's latest video and it seems she has the same thoughts about that as well.

I really do enjoy that channel. Her voice is an issue for me a bit--she tends to slur her words a lot. I'm sensitive to that. My own voice on videos makes me cringe too.

I really want a cold room like they have. I wonder the cost of running that. It's a good video. They did the pantry challenge and didn't grocery shop for 3 months. It was super interesting to see how they used their foods. I would love to try that, but Tom wouldn't be happy about it. And we are foodies and enjoy eating out a couple of times a week.

This weekend I'll start sunning the peppers some. Only a tray of those too.

Last night I planted the Heirloom Beauties sunflowers. They were way too big and could possibly snap in the wind before they get rooted in and strong. So, I put giant food cans around them like with my tomatoes. They were really too tall for that even. So, I started planting them in trenches like I've done with tomatoes. We'll see how they do. There are some volunteers that are coming up as well. They'll probably be healthier plants. Haven't seen volunteer zinnias yet, tho. Has anyone else?

The raised bed with the stunted henbit is almost clear now. Just two more raised beds to go. It's hard to explain how that henbit looks. It's yellowed and shorter. It started coming up in the fall. It is henbit, tho. It's a pain to pull too. The bigger and healthier henbit is much easier.

I took most of my seedling out for a little sunshine today, one tray I took out later, and came back into the house to rest a bit and fell asleep, that tray got a few hours of sun, but it looks okay. I have almost all of my seedling up potted, but I will have to leave most of them outside for lack of space in the house. I wish I had done better in school, because each year we say 12 tomatoes and 6 peppers are plenty for us, but I just keep missing those numbers.

I use to try to plant something on Good Friday to use as a reminder of the reason for Easter and Good Friday. I have gotten away from that practice, I think I want to start doing it again. Some years I would plant a bulb of a bush because some Good Fridays were too early to plant a sensitive plant. I think that I might get away with planting a tomato, or maybe a flower that Madge likes. The next day we celebrate Madge's Birthday, maybe I could buy a plant and we can plant it together. I would have to do all the work, but I think that I would like that. Madge is still having problems walking, and she ask me to drive her around the yard today, but she got cold and wanted to go inside.

I think that I am about through with seedlings, I may have to up pot a few before planting time, which normally comes late for me because of late frost in this valley. I am not through hardening off yet, but most of that is just taking the plants from the porch to the sun. I think that I have 20+ flats to take in and out.

I want to show my daughter how to make sweet potato slips, and maybe make a light shelf for her. I have a flat of Covington sweet potatoes in the neighbors greenhouse and have already pulled 69 slips for him and others, I will start on my slips soon.

Madge is going to the beauty shop this morning, then we are going out to Ft. Smith to eat and pick out something to plant for Good Friday. We may get something to plant on our fur babies grave, we really miss that little boy.

I ask Madge to show me how to make coffee. Here I am 80 years old and cant remember ever making a cup of coffee, I can only remember drinking a few cups of coffee in my life, I was never man enough to drink it.

Not much to talk about. It's been a very long day at work. A very loud and busy day. Tomorrow will be the same....and the morning of Sunday will as well. My jobs have me very busy Easter weekend....and the week before.

THEN, on Sunday evening, I'm going to the garden just to be quiet and work in peace.

I'm a little sad that I won't see either of my kids this weekend.

Anyway...I hope you all have a good weekend and get to spend some time in your garden.

Jennifer it is so hard to be away from our kids on holidays. I am blessed to live fairly close to my daughter. I too enjoy the peace of the garden. Since my niece moved home with her 4 kids it’s harder to come by lol. I am training myself to get up super early and get in the garden before anyone wakes up. Larry I hope you and Madge found something good to plant. My granddaughter and I were very busy Friday planting and watering. Of course playing with puppies was part of our day.