Great suggestions! Thanks so much!! The lawn will definitely need lots of "love" but my main concern is definitely organic matter to prepare the planting beds. I'm trying to remind myself to start small and have completely prepared beds rather than have a finished design in my heart and have everything die. We're about 15 minutes from the coast of Delaware Bay... and 1/2 hr from Lewes & Rehoboth Beach areas... not alot of seaweed (unless there's a certain time of year that it happens). One big agricultural "business" here is chicken farming! I've got a lead on chicken manure but don't want to do it yet. How long should a pile age before it's mixed into a new planting bed? It seems that everyone mulches in their grass clippings... but I'll keep my eyes open in the neighborhood... that's exactly what I need to get a compost pile going! Fresh grass on top always looks better than a nasty pile of newspapers & kitchen scraps, but it's going to be a few months before the grass is ready for mowing! We don't really have any leaves in our new neighborhood. Should I shred the newspapers? I'm a couponer and have quite the pile of newspapers that I put into the recycling bin every week. (I haven't wanted to make an "ugly spot" in the back of the yard.) I definitely have some gardenweb research to do this week! :) Watermelon sounds like fun to try!! I'm assuming that the right amount of compost & organic matter would help tremendously in growing some awesome peppers & tomatoes! (Keep reminding myself.. small scale until I know what will grow!) I wonder how carrots would do? In the sand? So much better than PA rocks!

The oleander is the variety they sell at WalMart on clearance when it has a touch of scale and is potbund. I realized today that technically I protected the oleander because I sprayed it with Wilt-Pruf late last month. I'd like to hit it again before it turns cold again. I killed a gloriosa last year with no protection or special siting. It was buried under snow and ice for upwards of 3 months. This one hasn't had snow on it for more than a day because all of the snow on the ground is melted around it. We only had 7" of snow in December, it will be gone tomorrow, but it's been consistently cold, 10 straight and then 12 straight days below freezing with a monthly low of 8. Could've been worse.

Ours was utterly quiet, although not unpleasant :). Both kids were off doing their own NYE celebration so the house was nice and calm. We ate dinner, chatted, then he went to sleep early and I read for awhile. Boring? Maybe but also a moment to cherish being secure in our lives and with so much for which to be grateful. Actually, our New Year's reminds me of the lyrics to one of my favorite Carly Simon songs, Misfit: There are plenty of late nights If you want to stay up for them You'll just want to find yourself a friend And tie a couple on in a night spot Draw pictures of your soul, win the jackpot Pour tears in your beer It's hip to be miserable when you're young and intellectual In a bit you'll admit you're a misfit Come on home with me We'll turn on the TV About 10 o'clock we'll turn off the light Not every man was born to stay up late at night There are plenty of boats to catch If you notice all the sails in the wind But you better look hard my friend In case you catch a ride on the wrong one In the distance is the one you belong on Oh the water is wide It's hip to be miserable when you're young and intellectual In a bit you'll admit you're a misfit Come on home with me We'll sit under a tree And if you get the itch I'll supply the scratch Not every man was born with a boat to catch It's hip to be miserable when you are young and intellectual In a bit you'll admit you're a misfit A misfit

In my experience bay laurel is a strong grower and not adversely affected by heavy pruning so I think it's safe to go ahead and cut it back as much as you think it needs and you'll get lots of healthy new growth very quickly. Keep us posted on how it's doing.