BACK TO THE EARTH
      I just can't seem to get gardening out of my system.  Perhaps I was a farmer in another life.  Or - maybe I secretly want to be a farmer.  I am so blown away by the entire process.  Those tiny little seeds which are so difficult to handle can produce so much food with just a little care and love. 
     Here's a photo of the two raised gardens and in the right background my straw bale gardens, a new attempt for me inspired by my Master Gardener neighbor. 
     In the future there will be one more raised garden in front of the one in the foreground.

     I had previously mentioned how intense gardening can be in a raised bed and the second picture gives you a clear view of that.
     I am so involved with growing food maybe I need 40 acres and a tractor in the near future.

ANOTHER GLORIOUS FOURTH OF JULY
     Here in Eastport, Maine the Fourth of July is also celebrated as Old Home Week and the festivities last Throughout a very long weekend.
     Residents who have had to move away due to lack of jobs or because of personal choices return to visit family, to celebrate Independence Day, and to attend High School Class Reunions.
     Most Americans don't know that Eastport was under English rule for four years.  Yes for a brief period of time we were a conquered city.  I imagine for that particular reason citizens of Eastport celebrate the Fourth of July like nowhere else in our country.  Watching the elaborate fireworks display (none better anywhere) as the long holiday draws to a close, raises a small lump in your throat and makes you proud to be a member of the Eastport community - whether by birth or by choice.  I wasn't born here, but I got here as fast as I could.

 ADDING GARDENING SPACE
     About three years ago David drew up the plans for three raised garden beds to be used for growing vegetables.  The first one was completed that year and has been producing ever since.  Having a raised bed encourages intense gardening and we are amazed at the amount of produce we harvest.
     This year it was decided we should have, at least, another bed constructed.  So we called our local Man-of-all-jobs and another bed appeared exactly like the first one although they were constructed by two different contractors. 
     The day it was completed I called our friend and winter snow removal expert (another Man-of-many-talents) and the next afternoon Ricky arrived with the soil to fill the bed.  It was a beautiful sight to see the second bed completed.  We are so happy with the look of the gardening area that we are contemplating having the third bed added next Spring.
     There are two positive outcomes from this project - more room to grow food and less lawn to mow.