SUmmer ain't no bummer...

In all honesty, I was not looking forward to the shock of returning to Los Angeles after a year of camping amongst the natural landscapes of Australia. There were a few things I did to make sure this transition was as gentle as possible.

First, I dedicated the last 2 months to hard work in the deli department, 6 days a week, right up until my last week in Kununurra. I figured that in comparison nothing could be that bad. Second, Daddy Dearest came to "take me home", but not before a few adventures in the Far North Rain Forests of Australia & the south island of New Zealand. Bringing LA to the pacific was a very good idea; the acclimation had already started before I crossed state lines. Finally, I made sure that when I did get home I would have more projects lined up then could get done in one summer.

Now it is Week 2 LA and I have just completed my second project: building my Moms a raised bed VEggie Garden (area), of course with the assistance of big JOhn MEyer! The first project was cleaning out my closet, an equally difficult project but far less interesting. The garden is part of a larger backyard "refresh" so there is more work to come...but I am really excited because this is my first VEggie GaRden (area) & it has proved my love for horticulture...or is it landscaping...or maybe it is just manual labor??

! here we are building 4'x4'x1' redwood v.bed walls. we uSed redwood because it is one of the most water-resistant woods & will take longer to erode !

! i got to rip up 1 ton of grass all by myself. but then we had to wheel barrow it down a bunch of stairs into Johns truck...and the worst was disposing of it at the steamy garbage dump (my first time wearing one of those white workers masks) !

! This is some kind of black out material that prevents weeds from growing !

! At the bottom of each bed we put a layer of gravel for oxygenation & then a layer of the black material !

! nExt was the potting soil & fertilizer !

! Once the beds were filled, Madame came to plant her herbs & Veggies !

! tHen came time for the Salmon Bay pebbles. John & I moved 3,000 lbs of these in two hours. my back still hurts !

! now for the finishing touches !

! beauteous maximus !

! behold: 3 types of heirloom tomatoes, zucchinis, hot chili's, sweet red peppers, sage, rosemary, thyme, chives, mint, basil, LAvendar !