The new raised beds are beginning to take shape.

May 1, 2015 - Friday morning

29 degrees/clear/calm

Pentoga Road

It's going to be a quick one this morning. The farmer from whom I get my top soil called at 6 this morning saying it had finally dried out enough that he could load the trailer full of compost/top soil mix. Then, I talked to Larry the Mechanic yesterday afternoon and he indicated that one or both four-wheelers will be ready later today. I'm going to need the trailer for that, so it'll be a busy day. 

Thursday was a pretty typical spring day. Highs were in the mid-fifties and it was sunny and breezy. I took advantage of the near-perfect weather and began the day with my usual five mile jaunt. Yesterday was record-setting time as I speed-walked the entire 5.3 miles in a bit over an hour. I've also lost three pounds since beginning the diet with ten to go. As I have every year for the past several, I'm swearing that next winter, I will not add any holiday pounds. They get harder and harder to shed each spring as the years go by.

I worked the rest of the day in the garden, finishing the first raised bed and making two more. The actual construction is the easy part. Attempting to level and align each makes the chore a bit more of a challenge. 

Why I'm redoing the raised beds. Used and half-rotten to begin with, this board was full of carpenter ants.

I miscounted the 1x8's purchased a couple of weeks ago and need around eight more. Hopefully the local lumber yard has competitive prices, otherwise, we'll be making a quick trip to Home Depot in Iron Mountain. I want to complete the beds this weekend if possible.

The third strawberry pyramid was planted. There's just one to go and that should be done today. 

Neighbor Mike and his wife, Germaine, stopped in for a visit last night. He asked if I could show Germaine some pictures from my arctic days. It will be a great excuse for all of us to get together this weekend.

Check out this teeny snail that called my garden home. I felt it between my thumb and forefinger and couldn't figure out what it was until I took a picture and later enlarged it on my computer.

Sargie's off for the next three days. If I get the four-wheelers from Larry the Mechanic, we'll no doubt switch our auto rides to those taken on an ATV. Otherwise, we'll enjoy the beautiful weather on Pentoga Road.

But first, coffee's done and I need to think a deep thought or two before hooking up the trailer.

After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

The bunching onions are doing well. Those we don't eat during the summer are left in the ground and multiply the next season. This is the third year for these.