Rainy night post

   Very little new tonight, but I feel a sense of obligation I should post SOMETHING :) Still waiting on an update regarding the status of our documents, as they've been there a good 3 weeks now. In the meanwhile, we've been ohh'ing and ahh'ing over the lovely pictures of Benjamin ! 

   Mr. P. has been hard at work in the garden. After almost 13 years here, I have given up on trying to plant in the tilled up part of the yard. I can't keep ahead of the weeds and the soil is just beyond poor quality. Very sad. To help with my grief (and to utilize a chain saw and other power tools...) he has made me some gorgeous raised beds and I've been having a ball. The weather was super warm a few weeks back, and being mid-April already, I thought that the cooler weather stuff would be a waste of time to plant now, so I tossed some beans & squash in, then some zinneas, gladiolas, sunflowers, & cukes. And I am not sure we've hit 60* more than twice since then. *Ahem* apparently the lettuce would have done ok. ^_^   Meanwhile, the zucchini is c.o.l.d.! So today I ventured out to Short Pump in search of row cover (and can I just WHINE mention how insane the traffic is?!?  Seriously, why is it bumper to bumper traffic at 2:45 on a Monday?) I did call ahead, & I was surprised Southern states, which is half the distance to drive, didn't carry it.  So I checked with Strange's,  and after I managed to get the gist of what 'floating row cover' is across to whomever answered the phone, I hiked out there, retrieved it. We enjoyed some Arby's on the way home (gotta love the 5 for $9.99 roast beefs) and called it our adventure. I could have easily spent hours (and a pay cheque) wandering through  their nurseries though.   The temp actually came up a bit this afternoon & tonight it's raining rather steadily, so I'll see how it looks tomorrow to actually rig the stuff up.  (*cough cough* AND TAKE PICTURES!) 

A bit of a local shout out, Lavender Fields Farm, which is a Virginia Century Farm and now certified organic (and run by lovely folks!) is having the second weekend of their annual herb faire. Sarah & I ventured up there last weekend-busy but fun, and I snagged some nice herbs (one of this & one of that,  I just didn't feel like starting from seed....however if you need a zucchini, let me know....those germinated by the hundreds I think!)

The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. 

Deuteronomy 28:12