Hello and Welcome!

This is my first blog post.  I've been thinking about creating a blog to share my many passions for a while and today I decided to start!  Yay me -hahaha

My goal for this blog is to share knowledge and thoughts on the things I'm passionate about and have learned over the years.

The things that I am passionate about are:

• Family
• Doodle Dogs
• The Beach
• Sea Glass
• Gardening
• Cooking
• Enjoying Life

As I sit here today in my office, which is currently doubling as my greenhouse, I think about what I want to share with my readers.  Since it has been extremely cold this winter in Southern California, top of mind for me today is my "green house."  I normally start preparing for my vegetable garden in January.  We have rain in January and February so it is a great time to prepare the soil in my keyhole garden.  Oh, that is a whole other post I should do....

Because my vegetable garden is in a keyhole shaped raised bed I prepare the soil by adding 10 bags of steer manure and 2 bags of chicken poo along with a few bags of organic soil.  Then I let the rain we get in January and February do it's thing spreading the nutrients throughout the soil and when I'm ready to plant at the beginning of March, the soil is ready to go.  I've been doing it this way for about 7 years and the one year that I didn't prepare the soil this way, my garden didn't produce nearly as well. 

This year I decided to start my whole garden with seeds.  I normally will buy starter plants, but I have a little more time on my hands these days (another story) so I decided to try seeds.  I've got them started in "green houses" in both of the windows of my office.

So far, I have three types of heirloom tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, zucchini, French green beans, Persian cucumbers, cilantro, marigolds, sweet peas, sunflowers and chamomile started.  I keep checking the weather reports daily wondering when it will be safe to plant my little seedlings outside.  I'm anxious to do it.  I love watching everything grow and knowing that soon I'll be able to eat and cook with all the amazing things I've grown.  Until next time!

Lisa