Not exactly a barn raising

Today we gathered at the community center where we belong to build and fill over 30 raised garden beds. (Well, everyone except Charlie. I didn't think getting manure-based compost in his cast would be a great idea.)

The good folks from Keep Indianapolis Beautiful were on hand to help guide us in how to put together the beds. I even did a little drilling -- until I stripped the screw and the drill bit. Then I re-assigned myself to soil (real gardeners don't call it dirt) duty.

Before the beds could be filled, post holes had to be dug so the containers could be set down flush with the ground.

Each bed took probably 4-6 wheelbarrows full of dirt. This was really hard work. I will admit to hiding in the bathroom for a few minutes (ok, myabe 10) just to give my aching back a break.

A little more than four hours after we started, all the containers were built. Thank goodness for some volunteers who will come on Thursday to finish setting the final ones in the ground and filling them with soil.

Then the real fun begins! We plan to grow tomatoes, peppers, broccoli (if what we've started inside makes it), lettuce, radishes and sunflowers. Oh, and Annie wants zucchini.

Will you garden this year? What do you plan to plant?

Friday Fragments: Ultimate procrastination

Oh, I have about a kajillion things to do today, but I'd much rather play in Mrs. 4444's Friday Fragment sandbox!

Mother's Day is Sunday. I got an e-mail from Laser Flash suggesting that Dad and the kids take Mom to their loud, frantic, sweaty place for laser tag and pizza to celebrate the occasion. Thanks, I'll pass.

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Did you get your "free bagel and shmear" coupon from the Einstein Bagel Facebook page? I bribed the kids this morning that if they got up and got ready quickly, we could stop at Einstein before school. I gave each kid their own coupon and I bought the drinks. The guy at the counter didn't seem to happy about it. But happy, schmappy. I might have to go back for lunch soon to try out the new turkey-bacon-avocado bagel thin sandwich. It looks really yummy!

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When I'm finished with Friday Frags, I want to go dig my garden. I have 3 tomato plants, 4 cilantro plants, 2 basil plants, 4 pepper plants and 2 strawberry plants to go in. I hope to get it all done this weekend.

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I cannot wait for school to be over. Charlie's teacher just assigned ANOTHER science project. We just finished a big, took-3-days-to-do-the-experiment-and-another-day-to-do-the-write-up science project. That one was on the effect of heat and cold on popcorn kernels. For this one, he's doing what kind of ice cream melts the fastest (premium, light, frozen yogurt, etc.). I figure eating the ice cream will be consolation for having to do a big project in the final weeks of school.

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The Go Red/Better U challenge officially wrapped up last night with a thank you party. It was so great to get to say thanks to all those people who helped us along the way.

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I saw a church sign -- you know those message board ones -- last week that has stuck in my head. It said "The safest place to be is within the will of God." I liked it so much that I wrote it out and stuck it on my computer monitor at work.

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Well, I think I'm all fragged out. Have a terrific weekend and enjoy Mother's Day, whether you're on the giving or receiving end.