Kate--I retired in 2009 and set out to redo our rose bed you see in my pic. I am building every spring a raised bed "Just one at a time out of concrete block 88" wide and 30 ft. long)to equal 4 raised beds when I am finished. I will be working on bed #4 this spring and will send pics when the job is done.--Ron --PS--Here are two shots of our garden 41/2 years ago. This first pic is of our garden looking at them from the back of the house. "> This next pic is from the back of the garden to the house. ">

desertsteph - that was a really funny email LOL Is your friend still in Alaska? What part do they live in? I would love to visit one of those beautiful tropical islands featured in House Hunters Int'l shows, too. Such a departure from where I live now. I've also always dreamed of living on the east coast like Maine (where Jessica Fletcher's show was supposed to be set - Cabot Cove). We lived in CA from 2001 - 2004. Nine of those months was spent in Susanville, CA - actually Leitchfield (we called it Leech Field) :) I don't know how desert-y it is compared to where you live but I did not like it. I think it was also the circumstances. Just a few miles from a maximum security prison...hubby worked nights so every noise outside my window was an escaped convict ready to come get me ;) I had to do a 'spider hunt' every night before going to bed. They loved to congregate at the corners of the wall & ceiling...I guess they were having AA meetings (Arachnoid Anonymous) ;) Black Widows in my wood pile inside. That was fun. Had to heat entirely by wood. No dryer - thank goodness for a washer! My living room became my 'dryer'. I was so happy when we moved back to Sacramento. But, even happier when we came back to Alaska. I had been here since 1972 so I consider it 'home' but I have second thoughts on days like today. Come summer...and all this will be a distant memory...Alaska's siren call to woo us into staying put - then, BAM! Winter pushes Summer away & bullies us for 5 months! I didn't take the photo below but it shows the mountains in town...this was an outrageously beautiful day! It's days like this that make us forget what winter can do. :)

The posting window appears strange. I am having trouble in that all words keep on going right past the advertisements to the left of the page, so this post may well resemble one typed on a typewriter with the return carriage. We are being hit hard. Husband left for office at 6:30 and it was clear. He was hopeful - I was not - no way am I that lucky! Can't even see the car. Our Eskie of course loved eating the snow and scarfing down as much as possible before I dragged him back in. I am not even going to try and shovel until the snow stops otherwise it would be pointless. I did brush off the gas meter though because it was already seriously covered and there are so many wires. I chopped as much ice as possible on Mon. and Tues. but some of it was just too thick. I too took shovels full of water from the sidewalk in front of our house where it slopes right next to the electrical gizmo that I avoid due to the dog and possible electrocution. It gets very icy - hence my concern about someone falling. Then there is the catch basin - not in front of our house - that I am going to have to deal with. It is just being able to dig down deep enough to find it. If I don't OUR sidewalk gets totally flooded. The City knows about it - they have seen me in action but no action has been taken - not a surprise! Yes, the potholes are a nightmare. I found a new one the other day that was almost a sink hole - and it hadn't been there 2 days earlier. Fortunately I missed it because I actually watch the road - otherwise I would have had major tire/rims/undercarriage damage to the car. The sidewalk plows have not come by - usually they do just after I have shovelled and manage to make our situation worse by dumping a lot of the snow from "those that do not shovel" on to our sidewalk. I was so annoyed the other day that I rolled down the car window and yelled at a woman who was moving all of her snow right into the centre of the road. The edge of the road - go for it - despite the fear of fines that are handed out to just some people - but not to the centre of the road making things even more treacherous than they already are. But then we don't break the law - look where that gets us! Seriously, if my ticket to NY was a points seat I would cancel it and pay the $100 reinstatement fee - but sadly it was a seat sale purchase. The fellow who comes from a service to check the house and car (necessary) doesn't shovel and kids sure don't. The fellow across the street has a 14 year old son who stays with him on the weekends. He had hoped that his son would help him shovel - forget it - the kid stayed inside texting. I am afraid that I would not be able to deal with the entitements of kids today. Now if only the dog could shovel - other than shovelling the snow down his throat! He could clear an area fast but of course suffocate in the process. I do appreciate your offer to shovel - now if only you lived in Toronto. Keep safe. I hope that Cherryfizz doesn't get hit too hard and that you don't get more than you bargained for. Guess who wants to go out again. No wonder - drink a ton of water, eat snow, come in, drink again - rinse and repeat.

No, haven't had snow on my screen, or outside, either! Donna, The weatherman mentioned a possibility of a flake or two in Tampa. I don't see it happening. It's supposed to get down to 34 tonight and tomorrow night in our area.....makes it tough for those attending the Strawberry Festivals. SharonG/FL