My garden containers are taking off! I have lots of big leaves and the lettuce is actually starting to look like lettuce! I'm now trying to get my strawberry seeds to hatch. Apparently they're a pain in the ass to grow... we'll see. So far, none of the seeds have sprouted.

I started my new job last week. So far, so good. They seem like a fun bunch to work with. I also started volunteering at the local shelter. They have an inexpensive spay/neuter program based on income level. One older couple brought in a cute little dog that couldn't have been more than 5 pounds. They owed $14, and they brought in an envelope (inside a Zip-Loc bag) with a $10, some ones and several quarters. It was depressing, knowing this couple had probably searched the house for whatever cash they could find. So many people down here are at poverty level.

Eric and I just went for a short walk around Lake Keowee. It's so pretty! We can't wait to (eventually) have a boat.

The beak on one of my puffers is growing too long, so I'm going to have to anesthetize him and trim it. Ugh. The stuff I have to buy is kind of expensive, so I've been putting it off a bit. Sigh... the joys of having high-maintenance fish.

Poop Tea!

I bought several bags of compost (cow and horse manure), and I made a compost "tea"--add water to some compost, oxygenate it with an aquarium pump for a few days, and water your plants with it. We'll see how the veggies like the poo.

The Garden

Here's a pic of the seedlings I've started. The ones on the right are the Lowe's seeds, and they're "leggy"--meaning, the stems have grown too tall due to lack of light. The ones on the left are the heirloom seeds, and look much better. I planted the Lowe's seeds a few days before the heirloom seeds, and we didn't buy a light until the day the heirloom seeds started sprouting, so the heirloom seeds look much healthier. The plants in the third and fourth columns in the Lowe's tray are lettuce plants. They've all completely collapsed, but they haven't died yet, and they're actually starting to sprout new leaves. I'm not sure how this will work out, but I'm running with it just to see what happens. :)

My little hatchlings:

We have a renter!

And I have a new (additional) job! This all happened in the last two days.

Our house in Philly finally has a renter. I've applied for a couple of part-time jobs to fill up my time since I'm not in school until this fall. I interviewed for them last week, and one of them offered me a job today. WOOT! I like money. If all goes well and I'm accepted into Clemson, I should be the proud owner of a Bachelor's degree in 14 years. Sigh.

We've been to a quite a few restaurants around the area, and I've been trying to shop more locally, rather than buying from the Lowe's and Wal-Marts of the world. So far, I've supported the local bookshop, bars (heh), pet shop and nursery. Well, okay, I haven't bought anything from the nursery yet, but they were really nice, along with all the other people here.. They also wanted $50 for a watering can. So I bought mine from Lowe's.

My latest obsession is gardening. What's wrong with me? I get an idea in my head, and if I initially like it, in general, I become obsessed and take off with the idea. Whatever. Anyway, I'm going to try to grow cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, strawberries, okra, cilantro, beans and spaghetti squash. I'm not taking on too much... I'm really not. So, I got some seeds from Lowe's to "practice" with, and in the meantime, I've been reading up on what to do. I also bought some heirloom seeds from Baker Seeds, and those are the ones I actually want to EAT from! They're non-hybrid, non-genetically-modified seeds that have been passed down generation to generation. The Lowe's seeds are looking pitiful. I didn't realize how much light they needed, so they grew 4 inches tall and most of them have collapsed. We bought a light, and the heirloom seed tray is mostly thriving now. I'm worried about watering too much/too little. Apparently watering too much is a rookie mistake, but how do I know when the plants are thirsty?!

Oh, and Becky, I still have spiders living under my cabinets. Unhappy face. OH! AND Eric got up into the attic to see if the whole-house fan (like the one we used to have in the old house) was letting all the heat escape, and he was screwing around up there... and let loose a dead, huge, leggy daddy long leg. It's still hanging from the fan opening with one long leg, taunting me every time I pass. I haven't worked up the courage yet to vacuum it up. Let alone use a paper towel, YECK!