This weekend was all about the garden and yard... I am so sore I had to take painkillers last night after spending all day Saturday outside in the hot sun pulling weeds! and there were a lot of weeds.. we filled 2 yard waste bins..insane!..but man did it need it.. then we went out and had happy hour at Scotts with John and Jessica to wind down the night.. Today it was more of the same. Brian brought home a truck load of soil from John's and put it up on the ledge next to the new fence.. planted a bunch of hostas there.. unlike last year we actually got them in the ground before they died! haha.. also finished up my veggie garden.. its so pretty now.. it was neglected and I wasn't really into it last year but I have to the say the last 2 days have been very rewarding.. and also reconfirmed how out of shape I am:-)..but nevertheless it was great and I am so excited to see the fruits of our labor (literally:-)..hehe..

Brian -finishing up the boxes he built for me inside the garden.. I'm so lucky..he built the entire veggie garden from the fencing to the latching door and of course tilling up all the soil.. its so pretty, gets good sun and hidden behind the garage..
Ta da! all done
strawberry plant.. notice the 1 small white berry which should turn red shortly.. hoping for more
2 cantoulope plants.. we'll see how these go.. needs rich soil and I have no idea if mine is.. :-(
First signs of some baby bok choy I put down last weekend

and of course the obligatory tomatoe plant.. I was told this is a bad year for tomatoes since its been so cold ..we'll see how this one does.

and the finished fence! All stained and some hostas.. you can't see them very well because they're small and we could have probably used some more soil up there but they'll get bigger..

Dinner! I think I might try to start posting pictures of some meals I've been cooking lately..trying out some new recipes - well only the ones that turn out of course:-).. but seriously I've found many food blogs online and they're really fun to read if you like to cook so thought I'd try to keep a little journal as well.. need to do better with the photos but here is what I think is a pretty good interpretation of oyako donburi and some miso soup.. I found the recipe online and modified a bit -but it turned out really good.. almost exactly like we get at the Japanese restaurant:-).. the miso soup was good too..made with real miso - no instant stuff;-)..well other then the dashi...

and what do you do when its really hot out and you're too lazy to cook?? antipasto! some salami, proscuitto, cheeses, bread, olives.. easy and good

and finally pictures of the new fence...

before with the fence posts all set..we can see the parking lot of the office building after Brian tore down the existing bushes... :-( not so good..

"stringers are up

boards going up

almost there.. John came just in time to help set the final boards which needed trimming and cutting

tada!.. done.. just needs stain.. all done within 1 weekend.. pretty darn good for a 90foot fence:-) well definitely better then the 2 to 3 years if we're lucky for a 6ft laurel hedge.. maybe someday but for now we have privacy again..woohoo!