Thanks for the kind words.The veggie garden really isn't that much work,now that it is up & running.It did take me just over a year to put together though(& I'm still not fully done,as I want to add another greenhouse this year).I first had to cut down a huge dead oak tree & shred/chainsaw up all the limbs.Next came putting the fence around the garden.Then it was on to building each raised bed,double digging the existing soil(I have so much clay in the soil here)& finally filling with topsoil/compost.I would construct one bed at a time,plant it & then start building the next bed.I built a total of 24 full size beds(each 50sq ft)for the veggies,one of which is set aside permanently for asparagus.I also built 3 small beds for herbs,that are 20sq ft each.I'm trying something new this year,rather than having a compost pile,I am leaving 1 bed fallow & dumping all the compostable kitchen waste onto that bed.Also whatever gets grown in a bed i.e. corn or beans etc,gets run through a shredder after harvest & put back on the bed to act as mulch. I do have my fare share of pests to deal with.Right now I have a huge problem with flea beetles on the turnips & cabbages.I also always have mole crickets,cutworms & later on corn ear worms.I've decided that I'm willing to take losses & so just plant extra.I don't use anything stronger than dish soap/water solution or BT for pest control. Hope this gives some encouragement for anyone currently growing veggies or thinking about starting some.It is still such a great feeling being able to walk out to the garden & harvest something for dinner :) Once again thanks everyone for the kind words & I'll try & snap a few more pics

Hi Martina, it was very kind of you to answer my message considering the date of the original post. I checked out your photos on Instagram and, O, my God, you have such a beautiful collection of tropical plants. You Anthuriums are mind-blowing! I collect Calatheas myself but it's a bit challenging considering I live in Colorado which is not really a Calathea-friendly state. I have to work extra hard to provide enough humidity and other care to make sure they are happy. I was trying to find Calathea Princeps that you had in your old garden for quite a while now but to no avail. Is it possible to find Calathea Princeps and other exotic Calatheas in Florida garden centers or nurseries? I also saw another Calathea on one of your photos. I think it's either Villosa or Pavonii. What a beauty! Would you be kind enough to consider maybe trading or selling me a rhizome? Now I'm one of your followers on Instagram. Thank you very much. (I attached your photo of Calathea I was talking about. I hope your don't mind it )

Entertaining is a lot of work. I start setting the table a week ahead of time so I can get an idea of what I want to do with table decorations and can run out and buy whatever I need if I need something. I do deep cleaning several days ahead so I will only have surface cleaning at the last minute. I do all food prep the day before and surface clean and last minute prep day of party. There are lots of breaks...work a couple of hours sit for an hour or two. I hate it when friends who don't like to be bothered say "it's so easy for you". No it's not easy....granted I don't get up tight but it's a lot of work! It sounds like your family recognized all your labors and appreciated them. That's what makes it all worthwhile. Glad the dogs didn't come and I love, love, love dogs but there's a time and a place.

Probably the only way I would take at walk at that time of day is if I stayed up all night. LOL Good job, Kat but try to stay dry.