It seems like almost everything in my yard carries some form or another of significance. Even when I am spitting, swearing, and throwing garden tools while pulling mint and mint roots, the smell will waft through the air and I am reminded of when we first looked at this house. It seems so long ago and that feeling of not believing the house is finally ours has long since passed. The few things that were planted here when we moved in have a way of bringing me back to those first few moments. Every time the daffodils and snowflake bloom in the spring it takes me back to our first spring here and the sheer delight I felt to see these beauties that I didn't even know existed in the yard. The balloon flowers to follow were equally exciting to see. The things I brought with me are constant reminders of the beginnings of a fascination that also tagged along. Some items were purchased while learning my way around the retail scene and from the days when I just plucked anything pretty off the shelf and haphazardly threw it in the ground. I must confess, I still find myself doing that sometimes. Other things brought home were gifts from family and friends eager to find something fitting to give to let me know they were thinking about me. My mom tried to get me interested in gardening almost all my life so when finally, at twenty-nine years old, I became interested she couldn't wait to dig up half her yard and send it off in the trunk of my car... every time I visited. My neighbor and I sort of inspired each other through the beginnings of this hobby and I still have chunks of this and that she would bring over. Still others are the remnants of plants I grew from seed the first year I had my little greenhouse. Of my current plantings, since we moved here, each one reminds me of a moment that makes me smile or in some cases laugh. If it isn't a lesson learned such as, don't buy thirty two of something you don't have a clue where you are going to put, it is a connection I made while browsing the nurseries. Some of these have also come from family and friends again as gifts. Out of all of my plants, the one that means the absolute most to me is a ball of pink sorrel. My favorite and most bestest neighbor in the entire world gave it to me when we first started gardening together. It is the first chunk of this or that I received from her and boy I have brought it back from near death too many times to count. I think it helps to know now that it isn't shamrock, which is what she was told it was, told me it was, and we had been calling it for five years. We barely knew each other at the time and both of us had little interest in gardening. I know why I got into gardening but I can't tell you what happened from there. We just hung out and worked in each others yards and somewhere along the way our love for gardening and each other grew. We have since moved and are no longer neighbors but we are still friends and keep in contact regularly. She still brings me chunks of this and that when she gets new plants and I the same. Yeah, I am a little sentimental I guess. I have a long term memory a mile long to store and cherish those little moments. Ask me about anything I grow and I'll have a story. While I hope my skills improve and my yard becomes more lush as the years pass, I hope that one thing never changes. For me, that is what makes all of the work worthwhile!

I agree 100% with what Eduarda said about wearing gloves. Prevention is the best solution to the problem. I have also found that if I wash my hands often and use a soft nail brush, cleaning my fingers and hands to remove all dirt (and bacteria) that my fingers don't crack and get sore. Really! The best cream for hands & feet is Crisco shortening. Just a dab is all that you need. The best oil for healthy, glowing skin, especially when you're out in the sun all day, is Pure Virgin Olive Oil. I used olive oil on my babies years ago. No diaper rashes or skin problems of any kind. I also use it to "set" my nail polish. And as a bonus, I get smooth fingers and hands. The odor dissipates quickly. I rather like the smell myself, however. I use Olive oil to clean pet's ears. It doesn't burn and really smothers out ear mites, too. I put a dropper of olive oil on ears of corn to get rid of corn worms with beautiful results. Good stuff, Maynard! Try it! You might like it! :) Now make me use it! I forget half the time and then, boy am I sorry!!! :( ~ sweetannie4u

I'm thinking of specializing in berries, since our market is only during the summer. Planted some strawberries this year so have a June crop but most years they aren't ripe June 1. Also planted 3 different types of raspberries and 1 thornless blackberry (our wild blackberries are the extra-thorny type), plus 3 different types (2 plants each) cultivated blueberries to complement our wild blueberries (which haven't produced much in the past 3 years but now look like a bumper crop this year!). So, you have to think about your market season, and make sure you have something *every week*. I might be able to pad out the end of the season with jams and jellies, but beginning of the season the jars are almost a year old - unless I freeze fruit and make jam in May. I am growing the typical high-season veggies to try to fill in while my berries get established, and b/c I never know how the wild berries are going to do each year. Plus I can a lot so if they don't sell, I can always use tomatoes, peppers and cukes. Going to go easy on the squash - everybody has it. I'm also trying to do a few different varieties of hot peppers (though last year no one wanted to buy anything hotter than a serrano so next year might just plant enough for us) and the heirloom tomatoes just to try to make my stuff stand out a bit more (plus we like them). Also planted some snow peas and edamame. Trying potatoes and onions too this year - even if I don't get a harvest before market ends, I figure I can sell green onions and new potatoes, and let people know they can always come directly to me in October for the mature crop (plus I had ripe peppers still being harvested last Oct), that might also draw them in for the apples (trying to renovate the old orchard) and pumpkins, winter squash if I have room to plant any this year. That sounds like a lot (and it is), but once I have enough berry plants ripening in different months to assure a continuous summer harvest for market, I may just plant enough high-season stuff for our own use (which is still a lot if I want to preserve it), and maybe some asparagus for early market (the chard, kale and peas are still puny - I planted late b/c of weather, but we'll see how they sell this year). I'd like to get all my cash crops in perennials if possible. I don't think you can specialize in just *one* thing b/c the seasons are just too short.

Badgergirl, your granddog looks very similar to my baby, Bella, who lives with my STBX POC DH. I miss her terribly. She has black spots like a cow, though, but has the same smile as your sweetie. Pits (and Rots) are incredible dogs. (My Rot, Shelby, died a few years ago. I still miss her little dances.) They're so smart they'll do anything to please their owners. They're great natured, but because of their quick intelligence, easy to ruin. They learn what makes the owner happy, and if it's horrible, how are they to know? Their owner is happy and safe, and that's all that matters. I'm all for the death penalty for those who train these smart, loving dogs to be aggressive and dangerous. I'll get off my soapbox. They're fabulous. 'Nuff said. Fori, your baby looks like he got caught doing something! That's a funny place, a log! My Morgan sleeps on a cold tile floor. She can tear up a bed in less than 10 minutes. I started buying comforters at the thrift store, which she'll fight with, roll around with, and eventually sleep with a paw or sometimes her head on the blanket. They'll last about 6 months. My foster Pugs sleep on the comforters. They're just weird, sweet, funny little dogs who could do a bed, I'm sure, but they don't care as long as they're together. Thanks for the bed links, though. Morgan is 12-14 years old and I'd like to get her off the floor!