ARGH....and the garden is growing...

Well, sorry for the extended blogging break there. My shoulder has really been acting up...apparently, the nerves in my back/shoulder don't care for a stand alone mouse, rather than the integrated one I had with the laptop (still needs a power supply and some other minor repairs). I have had this problem before, but not in years (coincidentally, it stopped about the time I got my first laptop. Hm, wonder if there is some connection???). It kicked up as soon as I started using DH's pc (and stand alone mouse). And it gets aggravated by vibrations (ie, lawn mowing with a push mower, distance driving, etc). So I've been in pretty much a constant state of low-grade pain during the days, and higher level agony at night.

It makes sleeping difficult. Fortunately, the only thing that lets me sleep is a muscle relaxer...ugh. I hate taking pills, but my back/shoulder 'pinging' all night doesn't allow for restful sleep, not at all...

So I've been trying to limit my time online, as well as my time with the mower/doing yard work. Tonight we're going to do some work in the garden, and more tomorrow morning while it is still cool. It has been close to 90, so between heat and humidity, doing anything out of doors after about noon is downright uncomfy...

But, the heat and humidity are good for the garden, which is going great guns now. I've got one complete and total FAILURE...my two rows of heirloom Hutterite Soup beans. Not ONE bean came up. Had *no* problem with any of the other beans, so I am not sure what the problem is...if it is soil/moisture/depth of planting...regardless, we will be planting something else in those spots...Gotta have *something growing there.

The tomatoes are popping blossoms out every which way...the peppers are limping along (totally unimpressed with them this year, unfortunately), the potatoes started to have a minor problem with the beetles like they did last year, but we caught it early enough, we hope. Sprinkled them with some Viper powder (good stuff!), and that tends to put them off of the potatoes.

My lettuce and spinach (planted late) are just now really coming up, and there's not much of either of them showing their heads. Not sure why, but that's the way it is. LOADS of carrots and onions allllll over the place. Corn is doing well, too...we're planting some "Lazy Housewife" climbing beans and squash/zucchini around them this weekend. We're also planting some more cukes, pumpkins, and melons, and hilling the potatoes. God willing the timing works out...

El Husbando has to work on Monday (which, him being a vet, really stinks), but at least he gets holiday pay...gotta try and find the bright side, right?

I lucked out at some garage/yard sales, lately, and scooped up some good deals for the children and the house. Hopefully, I'll have somethings to photograph and put up here. Most of them are low-cost, but trying to keep the costs down and the projects moving along...y'all know how *that* is, I'm sure...

We're working on some raised beds for perennial herbs and asparagus, as well, but those are long running outdoor projects...lots of scavenged material going into building those, let me tell you!

The birthday party went well, and there was much rejoicing over the wonderful books and delicious cake (a lemon-raspberry concoction she requests every year). Just finished the last piece of cake yesterday, as a matter of fact.

I do hope you all are preparing for a productive, wonderfully restful weekend...

I'll be posting more as time/my shoulder permit...