ok, this is a rather old post and Emmhip got wonderful advice and probably has it all under control by now, but since laundry is discussed, I just wanted to add how great a satisfaction I feel when I'm caught up with it. Here it takes a bit more time, especially in winter when a load may take up to 3 days to air-dry my drying racks and clothes pegs are enough for up to 2 1/2 loads. (Yesterday the built-in hamper was overflowing, so I did 2 1/2 loads and that emptied it. This morning the clothes hanging outside were still wet and it is snowing so no chance of them drying today. But, since it's so cold and snows they keep the heating on, so the whole morning I keep bringing them in and draping them over radiators and chairs. It is noon now and half is done. I think I can get it all dry and folded by the time DH comes home if they keep the heating on.) When the house is messy it feels great getting a load in the washer, like something is getting done while I am free to work on other things. We also unpack right into the washer the minute we get home from a vacation. DH is to thank for that. My natural tendency is to lounge a bit, have a bite, a shower, a nap - in that order - and then begin to unpack. DH unpacks fisrt thing, cleans the suitcases and puts them away, and then has a shower and orders a pizza. Coming back from our last vacation we stopped for a late lunch/early dinner on the road a bit before entering the city and this was the best for me, since upon arrival I could take care of everything without feeling hungry. In fact, I can do nothing when I'm hungry, while DH can't do anything after he has his dinner! Maria

I very rarely have an original quilting idea but when I see a picture of a block or quilt I really like, I like to tear it apart in my mind to see how I would make it. For this one, I just happened to already have the blocks of little squares made....and a few more I didn't use. :-) What I made with the left over little square triangles will more than likely be used as a medallion for a quilt for which I haven't been inspired.....yet. Picture is coming.....(this is one of the things DH has to do for me til my eye can see better) SharonG/FL

Wow, not real sure where to start. This is a late start for a garden to be really productive this season so I guess my first piece of advice would be to slow down even a bit more and relax. When overwhelmed and trying to covr all the bases fast we usually only makes things worse. Focus on getting the beds good and ready for a little bit of planting now and shoot for a full fall garden. Not sure what the deadline for planting would be at that elevation. On the bed - normally raised beds don't have or need bottoms and work better without them. But if you know for a fact that gophers are a problem then the chicken wire will work fine as long as using 2 layers of it will still allow for good drainage. Lack of good drainage can cause more problems than gophers. But I don't know of any reason why it would require any sort of special coating and adding one may only create more problems. So these beds filled with you native soil, correct? Any idea of the amount, the volume, so you can determine what percentage of amendments may be needed? But you have already planted in them? So amending them now will be difficult. Plus how could you treat the chicken wire if the beds are already filled and planted? Bit of a cart before the horse there. :) So what seeds have you planted and are already up? When and how do you plan to add all the amendments if the bed is already planted? Soil amendments: 3 large bags of fully composted chicken manure - needs to be added and mixed in well at least 3 weeks prior to planting.. 2 bags of Kellogs Amend - unknown 1 large bag of worm casings - a fertilizer rather than an actual amendment so use it as such IF the plants need extra nitrogen. 2 Bags of Miracle Grow Peat Moss (I plan to return, I've read it makes soil soggy.) - do not return as it is likely the best thing on your list for soil amending but it needs to be mixed in well before planting 1 Bag of Vermiculite - can't hurt and might help but again needs to be well mixed throughout before planting 1 bag Jobes Tomato and Vegetable Fertilizer - ok if needed 1 Bag of seed-starting mix (for direct-sowing seeds in the raised beds?) - no, direct seeding is done in native soil not seedling mix. Save and use it for starting transplants 1 Bag of Bonemeal (for blossom end rot, yes? - no not for BER but good for soil because it is very slow to decompose. It will gradually decompose and provide any needed phosphorus. BER is not a calcium deficiency issue and that claim has long been disproven. It is a soil moisture management issue and another discussion for another time. so i guess my primary question is - When and how do you plan to add all these amendments if the bed is already planted? Fertilizers - you already have that covered. Tomatoes and eggplant - have you already bought your transplants? If so are they already planted? Dave

Just beautiful. I have so much to learn from you ladies, the posts are very inspiring.. someday I want to grow up and quilt like you :)