Right off the front porch there is a big lilac bush,for the last couple of days every time I walk outside I am hit with the heavenly scent of blooming lilacs. I just have to go stick my face in it and breath deeply. A little sad though because most years when the lilacs are in bloom they are covered with butterflies, big black and blue swallowtails, yellow and black swallowtails, and monarchs. This year I have only seen very few monarchs and no swallowtails yet. Maybe it is this unseasonably cool weather we keep having.

My garden is complete. I tilled it this morning and then worked off and on all day getting two fifty foot rows of okra planted, some dill, and 18 tomato plants. I was afraid to till too close to the green beans because they are so small so I went around them and finished off hoeing it by hand. I have radishes almost ready to eat but they have grown so slowly that they will probably be too hot for me. Lots of volunteer stuff scattered throughout, I love the volunteer plants, they are like a surprise package. They are mostly flowers - zinnia and marigold - but I think there are some squash or cucumbers in there, still too early to tell what they are.

I mowed the back yard around the garden area today, the grass is not really growing much yet but it looked kind of weedy and I just wanted to be outside.

I love being busy and it makes me feel not only creative but also productive to have a nice garden. It feels like something I can do to help our dwindling finances. I try not to think about business too much or I start panicking. I know that Mark is doing everything he can do so there is no need to fret over it. It will just be what it is and we will survive it. I've been poor all my life and it doesn't bother me at all as long as we can pay our bills and buy groceries - don't need much else.