For Future Veggies comments: 60

In the now-quiet house, the animals appear again, venturing back out into the center of the spaces. After a weekend of the most beautiful weather I've even seen in my entire life, yesterday dawned cloudy and cool, a welcome margin of gray into which we decided to fit some spring cleaning. I opened the newspaper and was excited to see that a recipe for pizza inspired by one I'd made last spring was included in an article about asparagus and pizza (thanks Deena!). We cleaned the fridge, got some groceries, made some dough, went to the lumber store to buy some cedar boards for our new raised beds, went back to the store to get more boards (naturally, we can't count), and spent the day puttering happily. Andy took the old roses out of the parkway (sorry old roses, but I know you were unhappy) and built one of the beds. There will be three total, each 4' x 8'. We'll plant vegetables and flowers. It's the only real sunny spot we have. Half of our neighbors came by while Andy was out there, one by one offering opinions and advice. Kind of funny. We just smile and do our thing. Whatever I dream up, he'll figure out how to make it work. I bring the plan (and the pizza); as long as he has his playlist, his puppers, and a decent IPA, he's off and running. I sit on the steps with a sketch pad and seed catalog, and study the light. Tulips blooming. Waylon Jennings. Potatoes, eggplant, lettuce, peas.

Comments

Gardens on the brain. Talked about mine today too. I love garden dreaming (and the men who help us bring those dreams to fruition!)

what a delicious-looking pizza! dreaming of gray skies and cool soil.

What a lovely day, love those kind of lazy-get-stuff-done-relaxing days! Must try that pizza too, it looks just like spring to me!

What a way to spend some time - thinking plants and enjoying pizza! Wow - that pizza looks seriously good. You're definitely a couple of weeks ahead, no sign of clematis flowers for us, just yet! Enjoy your rest-of-the-week - it's stormy and very wet over here, and none too warm either!

I hear a song... I like the rhythm, and the lyrics.
(And the portrait of Clover... tempted to carry it in my wallet, tell strangers 'here's my sweet dog... she's up north, for the season... gosh I miss her.')

Sounds just how a spring day should be spent.
I adore the photo of the kitties snug in "their" bed :)
Amy

Hey we made cedar raised beds this weekend too - it was a generational endeavour my 60 yr old hubby and our 12 yr old son. Ours are 3 by 8 - we cant reach as far. We followed idea in Sugar Snap peas and Strawberries book by Andrea Bellamy - great local Vancouver gardener. We put in compost and leaves and soil so will only have shallow root plantings this year. Have planted cosmos seeds, beans, tomatoes, pansies, marigolds, bachelors buttons, parsley, coriander, basil and white bleeding heart in one bed. There is room for more veggies and am thinking on that The other bed needs more soil - we cant count either - and has currants, raspberries, blackberries and tayberries to be planted in it. The beds form an L around our mini macintosh apple tree. The grass around the tree needs to be turned into soil and we will plant forget me knots. Gosh it was happy times working in the garden, Like you I did the planning and watched the building.

Your gardens are so pretty! What is that beautiful viney flower on the picket fence? I'd love to know!

I love your photos. They have such a "mood" about them.

The pizza looks great! And will probably be making an appearance on my weekly menu. We usually stick with onion, bell peppers, and mushrooms, but asparagus, shrimp, and mascarpone sounds wonderful.

Oh so that's what a cat nap looks like. And Bramasole steps! Nice!

I have to ask - where did you get the vintage light above your bed, or do you know what they are called at the least? My grandmother's house had one above the bed in the spare room and I can remember being a child thinking an over-the-shoulder-reading-light was the greatest invention ever. I've always wanted one of my own, but have never come across them anywhere else.

How come everything you do seems so beautiful to me?

My husband needs a playlist and an IPA too - but somehow seems to peeter out before the work gets done. Men.

Gorgeous viney picket fence and Andy in the background is nice too. :)

LOS GATOS AMOROSOS DESCANSANDO Y CALENTITOS....
Y ESE PERRO QUE ME PARECE DIVINO...ES UN TESORO!!!!!!!!
COMO ME GUSTARIA DARLE UN BESO..
SALUDITOS-
ME GUSTARIA QUE ME CONTESTARAS A MIS COMENTARIOS.

Clover Meadow looks like such a regal lady dog in this photo! i'm thinking of buying a share in a CSA instead of trying to grow veggies in this tight GA clay. will garden vicariously through you!

Love the cats napping and of course the puppers is adorable too. :)

We garden our front yard too because our backyard has way too much shade from our 50+ year old trees. Its fun to be out and talk to neighbors or people just walking by. During August we make sure they walk away with some goods too. Its fun to share! Enjoy. Your day sounds lovely~

While searching for Clara dresses, I stumbled upon yours via Ravelry. I've been here before, but it's been quite a while. For some reason, I ended up just reading baby posts and sat in my classroom during lunch SOBBING as you described the things the babies birth mother asked you to provide her baby. You said you were going to write to her and possibly remain part of her life... have you? I MUST subscribe to your blog now to follow your story, you and your future baby are in my prayers.

Isn't having a husband like that The Best thing in life! I have one who has been making my dreams come true for 33 years now. I don't know what I'm going to do without him.

Beautiful photos, as always. There is something comforting looking at the pictures you take, reassuring, it's as if they say, everything is as it should be.

**blows kisses** Deborah

Gradually, over four years, we have transformed our parched Northern California front yard into a GLORIOUS bedded space. All we need now are gravel walkways - you used pea gravel in your back yard, is that correct?

The neighbors averted their eyes at first, but now, can't stop from staring at the monstrous artichoke plants surrounded by catmint, tall, cool, lavendar flowered catmint.

What a perfect scene of planting and drawing. Sounds lovely.

great going! my husband gamely brings all my "requests" to life, too. It's a great arrangement :) Can't wait to see the veggie beds in use. I love that they're out where everyone can see them.

xxx

Raised beds 4 x 8 are great! We have two in our backyard, with additional space in a neighboring bed for more vegetables. Nothing is better than harvesting your own food! Dogs are such wonderful assistants for our projects; over the weekend--during that beautiful weather we had here in Portland--my two dogs were constant companions while I worked in the yard. The younger one liked to hide herself next to a tree or under a shrub and look out at me--sometimes all I could see was one eye studying me! Too funny!