Is being really, really productive a good excuse?

Let's hope so. 'Cause if it isn't, then I am just a really slack blogger. But those of you who were around this time last year already know that, don't you?

You know how it goes: work, kids, laundry, kids, illness  , work, laundry... and then it happens.  All of a sudden the temperatures are in the mid 70's.  A breeze is blowing, the sunlight is so clear and green-filled that I just go and lose my head.  We spend every minute we can outside, I chop up lots of fresh veggies and call that "dinner," we institute Family After-Dinner Walk, and my fingernails get all black and gross and embarassing because every time I walk outside I just have to move a plant around or prune or mulch something and I can never remember where I put my gloves. 

Adam and I are discovering that having a one year old and a 3 1/2year old is really just much more conducive to yard work than having a 6 month old and a 2 1/2 year old.  Our boys really enjoyed running around in circles and poking the dirt with sticks, and we really enjoyed getting our gardens ready for the first season in this house where I'm not pregnant or taking care of a baby (hallelujah!) 

Do you remember these tomato trellises from Cottage Living a few years ago?  I fell instantly, deeply in love, and rushed immediately to the Home Depot for 1x2x8's (thereby damaging the dashboard of my leased car in the process, but that's another story...) and had my husband tie them together for me.  In addition to being pretty, they were so effective; by far the best tomato cages we've ever had. 

We decided to try these here for the first time. Mine are definitely not as well styled as theirs were :)  But hopefully in a few months they will be just as lovely.  Adam tied these up while I tied these up:

I think his are prettier, don't you?  These are our Sungold tomatoes-- I'm trying an experiment this year.  Last year I cared for them so lovingly, and they took over the entire garden and provided more tomatoes than we could eat until first frost.  This year, I'm neglecting them a little more, and investing in a pressure cooker so I can can them.  I'll let you know how it goes...

P.S.-- those of you who have grown blueberries in the past-- are those little green button-y things that are left after the flowers fall off blueberries?  If the answer is yes, our three new bushes are looking to be pretty productive-- I might get a whole pie out of them!

P.P.S.-- here they are.  That's Oliver the Greyhound in the background.  He's for sale for the bargin basement price of free :)  He's absolutely beautiful and will steal everything in your kitchen that is not nailed down, including your wooden rice paddle and the half a cake you left on the top of the fridge.