Cool photo Catherine! It reminds me of that silver angel hair that they used to sell at Christmas for decorating. Beautiful!

We grow three raised beds about 4 ft wide and twelve ft long surrounded by a fence to keep out deer and other critters. Tomatos,cherry and large, beans, peppers,pumpkins, summer squash, zuchini, cucumbers, brocholi,lettuce,radishes,peas,carrots,beets,leeks,parsely, spinach,acorn squash,are some of the things we fit in them. We have to fertilize and turn them soon for we plant cold weather stuff around April 17th. We can, pickle, make zuchini bread,and give left over tomatoes and things to people at BIW where my husband works. It helped many during their strike time. We have to water often but never worry about rot and can always reach to weed. Then there are the perennial beds. One is a maltese cross, four circle sections, four triangles to make it. One L shaped border we must build it up to a raised bed. One four sectioned Side border and a low section to heal in plants in winter for the raised beds are too cold for some to survive in. Fall we throw wire frame work and garden quilt to protect tomatos from frost to extend our season for frost usually comes Sept 1st. We have a strawberry pyramid and we are trying a big strawberry this year usually we grow sparkles or Ozarks. We grow blueberries and have a fruit orchid. I love fresh herbs so will be growing those too. I am trying historic irises and lots of new daylilies this year for new stuff. I really like my Mother's garden design for I am not fully able bodied having a knee injury I must not squat so the raised gardens with the paths are designed with cement centers to stand on without hurting the garden soil and to sit on to weed. It means I can still garden and that means alot to me.

Hopes... that I can balance school a little better with the rest of my life. I have a few methods for that I want to try out, because if I'm not careful, Organic Chemistry eats my life and causes lots of stress. That I can learn to slow down and be more patient, and listen more, not just to myself or to other people but to what's around me, and to where my life is going. I hope I can see the opportunities I'm not expecting. That my health will continue to improve, and that I can keep from obsessing about my weight. I'm actually reasonably fit, but the numbers I read off my scale are not what everyone else's are by a large margin, and it bothers me. I hope I can learn to accept my own build and stop applying numbers to it, even if it is hard to find clothes. I hope I can look at the good side of my build (I can swing a pickaxe with the best of them, and I may never have a broken bone in my life). That this year is less stressful than the last. I shudder to think of what it would be like if it were more so. That my transfer to University actually goes smoothly; I've been at two four-year universities before, and had to drop out. I just hope that this time the stars are right, and I'll finally get my degree. That my garden does as well as I want it to, and doesn't struggle with little stunted plants. I hope that I've really found a few secrets which will make a big difference, and that this year I'll get the armloads of tomatoes, okra, and cucumbers that I've always wanted. Lots of hopes. Funny how the more life seems to stamp out the flames of hope, the more little sparks flare up in its wake. --Alison

Happy Tuesday! Margaret, I'm so glad it made it to you. I was a little worried that the chocolate would be smooshed by the time you opened it. But, even smooshed chocolate is yummy! :) And I thought the Groumms were so cute. I bought some for you and me and for another swap, lol! I also received my Hopes and Dreams today from Shirley!! In my awesome box were 3 of the CUTEST!!! turtles you ever did see. I'm pretty sure they are not going to make it outside, they are already sitting in my bay window...looking perfect! :) A recipe for Cinnamon Roll CAKE! DROOL! I love cinnamon buns, and this cake recipe is right up my alley. The only problem is I'm going to wait till Saturday to make, if I can wait that long, lol! And not to mention all the wonderful seeds! Jobs Tears Columbine: Rocky Mountain Columbine: Yellow Queen Tomato: Dolly Parton (I really need to grow these! The name is too cute! ) Yellow Hollyhocks Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate (I grew this last year and it flowered right up till frost, so I got no seeds. THANK YOU!) Cabbage: Golden Acres Tomato: Cherokee Purple Blackberry Lily Shirley, thank you so much for such a thoughtful package. I really need to go and update my want list. Shirley just filled a bunch of them! :) THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!! Bunny, hope your feeling better! I have had an on again off again ear/sinus infection for the past 3 months. I think it has a lot to do with the crazy weather we have been having. I'm so sick of antibiotics, especially the ones I've been on. They make your mouth taste awful! It last for more than 5-10 minutes after you take the darn things...GROSS! Talk to you later! vina