I've been considering that. I've been eyeing up one that's right about her age and male. I don't like the people that run that particular shelter however, and I'd have to get Miss Yin in to get her vaccines updated before they'd take my $250. That's why I've been keeping a sharp ear out when I'm outside LOL. It's just about kitten season!

$250 fee for a rescue cat?

Yep, kitten season is upon us. The other night in the wee hours I thought I heard a somewhat plaintiff cry outside. Lester was curled up next to my feet so it wasn't him so I listened some more. Yep, it sounded like a cat desperately wanting some "company".

Haven't heard any more of that so I guess whatever it was moved on.

Yup, $250 for one and $495 for a pair! Plus the cats aren't even purebreds! Specialty Purebred Cat Rescue charges that for purebreds, although rares can go as high as $600! Domestics go for $75-$175 while purebred mixes can go as high as $250. So Safe Haven's prices aren't too far out of line. To their credit, all rescues tend to include vaccinations and microchipping, plus the animals are fixed. Miss Yin cost me $1300 in vet fees. That included her wellness exam, vaccines, medication for two infections, and having six teeth pulled. Animals are NOT cheap!

But we love them so, and they love us! Better company than most people, really.

It's almost time for spring planting, one task at a time. Yesterday I put up the poles for the pole beans.


The circle at the end of the bed is where I will plant a circle of Boone County White corn, a flour type. They're big suckers, about 7-8' tall with big fat ears from the big fat white kernels. I just want to have some new seed on hand. What will be planted has been in the freezer since 2017 and germination test came in at 100%. I was shocked. Still, it won't hurt to refresh the seed supply. This photo is from that 2017 grow. That's an 8' pole leaning against the corn.









Today I busted up a 3'x18' area for planting Mississippi Silver cowpeas in a couple of weeks.


This evening Pickles and I will replace old pallets with new in the double row of them that the tomato buckets sit on and we'll put down new cardboard under them for weed control. There's always something to do this time of year!

The extension agents in Nebraska always said you need to plant, at a minimum, at least 4 rows in a 10' by 10' square block to get proper pollination. I tried raising sweetcorn in a bed about the size you have and I had ears that were about 50% filled out. Looks like you get A+ pollination on your corn. Do you hand pollinate?

@Wildcat82, special stuff I want to try like that Boone County I do 7 circles in 4x18' beds and it's a dense enough spacing that I have no germination problems. It's a method I read about a long time ago. If I remember right, the circles are 18" in diameter and are set 27" apart on center. I sow around the outside edge of that template I made and thin to 8 plants per circle once seeds are up. Shots from 2021:






I usually grow my main corn in a flat area, five 18' rows with 3' between rows and it does well. This year the flat area will be planted with both Top Hat (77 days) and Silver Queen (88 days). Today or tomorrow I will plant the first 5' of each row with the Top Hat, something new to me that is supposed to have "good cold soil emergence". Soil temp right now is 68 but starting today we're heading into upper 80 temps. Two weeks later the Silver Queen will go into the rest of each row. Between the DTM difference and a two week delay there should be no cross pollination.

The Boone County will be planted in the circle the same day as the Silver Queen. BC is a 120 day corn so definitely no problem there!

Yup, one task at a time and it all gets done! We're far from 18 but we're not dead yet, are we? Putting the garden in is probably the most labor-intensive part; even weeding takes a back seat once things get established. That reminds me. The next time someone asks what I'm going to do with all of that free food I'm going to hit them with a rake! LOL /jk

Wouldn't you just LOVE to?

BTW, Lester says hi.

The annual Pallet Row Rejuvenation Project is done. After a year of holding big heavy tomato buckets, wooden pallets are more than ready to retire. They beg for it every time I walk by. Their wish has finally been granted as 12 new pallets were rescued from a company's burn pile. The cavalry has arrived!

First step: remove the oldies and stack them for later demolition. We decided to leave all the old mostly composted weed-surpressing cardboard in situ. Why make more work?


Second step: Lay down new cardboard. Pickles has been saving boxes and stashing them in the tool shed and is very glad to have them gone. Me too!


Third step: Lay down the new pallets with bricks under the corners.


Well, the deed is done. It's not completely level but good enough for gardening work! It will serve the purpose. The next big project will be rejuvenating all the old tomato soil with compost and a bit of new soil left over from last year. I think I'll take a day off first. Tomatoes are scheduled to go into their forever homes Wednesday or Thursday so I can't tarry too long!

Hi Lester! You're such a good boy! A beautiful boy! Be sure to bring Momma a nice, dead mouse when she's hungry! I'm sure she'll find it very tasty. LOL

I think your house probably looks like mine: piles of project materials scattered hither and yon! A pile for the deck, a pile for each of various garden projects. I'm cleaning out leftovers from previous years and discovering several partial cans of white paint! At least I won't have to buy any for a few years. Deck stain ditto.