Only made it to the back yard, but here is my “shrine”.

It's not super interesting, but my four year old got freaked out by some cicada nymph shells on their playset the other day. It was an interesting biology lesson. I found out the same day our next brood is coming next year. Joy.

I had a nice hike on Friday, 19 1/2 miles on the Youngs Creek and Lick Creek trails in the Hoosier National Forest (southern Indiana). The trails are in good condition, the weather was fine, and the bug pressure isn’t too bad yet this year (though the ticks are out in force). The fenced-off rock in the center of the picture here marks the Indiana Initial Point - the survey marker that all property deeds in this state reference.

Thanks for this post, it was refreshing to read. I’m in Phoenix so I’m stuck inside for the next couple months. Been trying to use a walking pad everyday but missing hikes and walks a lot this time of year!

I picked up some cheap blueberry bushes from a local nursery and planted them in the ground this weekend. I had tried growing them about 3 years ago but it didn't work out.

These ones are hooked up to irrigation now and they're in a better spot so fingers crossed!

Lots of long walks with my dog lately. Here he is discovering a horse grazing next to the path.

I haven’t been able to get out for a hike this weekend, but I’ve started gardening for the first time ever. I’m growing carrots and lettuce in a hand-me-down VegePod! Can you find the sprouts that appeared yesterday?

Been digging up the grass in the yard for a new planter box. Waited way too long, so now the ground is super hard, so I've only got half of it done and now my hands are toast. I'll see if I can get my partner or her partner to finish it for me today so we can get it going, even though we're late for planting that box.

Did some maintenance on my little planters this morning. On the left is potato and summer squash, the right is strawberries and a flower which I can't recall the name of.

Spent the weekend with great company at a friend's 100+ year old cabin in Bath County, Virginia! A much needed, once or twice a year trip for us, and I wish it would last a month...

No idea why this is rotating 90°. New tech idiot here.

I swam on a coral beach this weekend! Instead of sand it's just broken up pieces of coral. It's amazing because it doesn't travel home with you the same way sand does. It wasn't the nicest day out but being in the water did wonders. Felt very fresh afterwards!

I have been setting up my backyard hydroponic setup. Still quite a bit of stuff to do and some of my plants look a bit... Not well. Have been hand watering them for now but hopefully I get everything set up and I don't have to worry about it.

But dunno, I've checked everything and not sure why my plants are droopy and some yellowish. Perhaps it'll get better when I get the system up and running.

I just had a short time in my garden this weekend, as I haven't been feeling great. It's been totally neglected these past couple of years as I worked way more over the COVID years as a nanny suddenly managing schooling at home and cancelled summer camps. So I'm slowly trying to reclaim the garden from the weeds and moles.

Brought my kitty out on a leash with me for the first time as I'm hoping to encourage the moles to move elsewhere in a humane way. The cat is a coward who would be too afraid to touch one, but hopefully the smell of a predator will be sufficient. I could let the dog in as she's got a strong prey drive and has eliminated the rodents from the rest of our yard, but A) I don't like animals dying on my watch, and B) the dog would absolutely tear up and/or eat the few veggies and fruit bushes I've cleared room for.

Went for a short (but much needed) hike along a small creek that we hadn't explored before. It was awsesome, perfect weather, calming waters and a happy kid makes for a very nice day. :)

I visited and swam in a few natural springs in North Florida. You hear a lot of negative news about our state, but not nearly enough about our amazing state park system!

My girlfriend and I bought a new house that we just got into. 1500m^2 of greenery. We closed off the closest part of the garden fully so our dog will be safe (and cats safe from her). It was 31C here, so not too fun! We pretty much have our own little forest to take care of in the back part of the garden.