Instant Gardening Gratification

There is nothing that can bring a gardener instant gratification more quickly than mulch. It magically makes a messy bed tidy and covers a world of mistakes. This weekend D and I decided to make a path of stepping stones from the garage door to the patio; we have already found that with my planting and the kids playing on the patio all the time we were wearing out the grass here anyway. Mid-way through the project I thought I had made a big mistake. It just looked horrible with top soil mud, stepping stones thrown around and then the plants I wanted to move to the area just didn't seem to work. I am sure the neighbors thought I was nuts pacing around the yard with my shovel hunting plants that could be moved. In the end it all worked out fine and we finished in time to "tour the yard" and plan next weekend's project. Where is all that rain we were promised? I am waiting for it so we can slow down for a weekend. Pics are of the area in question before the path project and after. In the after pic you can see white flowers----cyclamen! Another beauty I can grow outdoors here.

News on the boys: M is trying to out-talk his brothers. G is in music&motion classes at the Y and loving it. E has two loose teeth on the bottom. And the boys found a friend to play with across the street--- he fits perfectly in age between E and G. Lets hope he likes to play outside a lot.

that's all from the left coast!

love and hugs and keep holding on--spring is coming!

B