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I sowed seeds in the garden for chives and hollyhocks. I took 100 cuttings from hedges in the front yard to make new hedges in the backyard. I collected shower warm-up water and used it to water potted plants in the garden. With our new water rates, this feels more imperative than ever in keeping…

I harvested lemons, pomegranates, green onions, arugula, and parsley from my garden. I sowed seeds that I had previously collected from my garden for poppies, dill, cilantro, and green onions. I sowed seeds I had previously purchased for Bells of Ireland, poppies, spinach, and Swiss chard. Anywhere seeds do not germinate, I am making sure…

I transplanted paperwhites that had multiplied in my white garden to four large pots in my garden. I have many more to transplant to new spots in the garden; I am looking for new places to plant these in the garden. The ones in the photo above, which are already blooming, are ones that had…

I transplanted lettuce and mache seedlings in the garden where they had self-seeded so that they could grow larger. I decided to not purchase any seeds for the year and will use what I have purchased in the past as well as what I have collected. I may change my mind on that (or need…

I purchased some pansies on clearance for $0.25 each and planted them in pots I already have, spending a total of $4.75. I skipped my usual fall planting of annuals this year due to the cost, so it was nice to get a few flowers for 80% off. I replaced a leaking valve in my…

I dug mache (corn salad) that had self-seeded in my garden in a clump and moved it to more places in the garden so that each one can grow larger. I did the same with self-seeded lettuce plants. I planted paperwhites that had multiplied in my garden into pots that I already had. I made…

I gave the two youngest boys haircuts, and my husband and I cut his hair. I wrapped presents in the reusable gift boxes I bought several years ago and tied them shut with ribbons that I bought years back. I mended the lining of a hand-me-down jacket that all of my daughters have worn (and…

Frost came to my garden this week. I focused my time inside the house. My daughter made four loaves of pumpkin chocolate chip bread using pumpkins that I grew in our garden. I purchased some Christmas gifts on sale at the grocery store in the seasonal aisle for my two youngest children. My husband gave…

I covered my seedlings in the garden with glass jars to help them to grow faster. This will also protect them from the frosts that are supposed to arrive this week. I harvested Meyer lemons, pomegranates, pumpkins, butternut squash, and lemon verbena from the garden. Almost all of my pumpkins are still green. I would…

It’s been mostly slow for me the last couple of weeks as we have dealt with illness all last week and I spent the week of Thanksgiving cleaning the house. I harvested butternut squash, a pumpkin, roselle hibiscus, lemon verbena, basil, Meyer lemons, a zucchini, an Armenian cucumber (that I had missed earlier), cherry tomatoes,…