Ashland Feed and Seed

Here's another peek at our new favorite store. They have so much in there that we always discover something new. The employees must think that I am a crazy person as I am always wandering down an aisle calling out "Well, look at that" to the kids. It doesn't help if you also take photos of buckets and shelves.

Here's the storefront:



I still haven't found out where you are "supposed" to park. It's a bit of a free-for-all by the side of the building and I've been known to circle the block a few times to get in, but get in we do.

Especially for sights like this:



That's not just a charming modern-county-gone-faux display - that's seed by the ounce. Really! Look closely:



Names, prices by the weight, and a helpful employee hovering somewhere to scoop and weigh. I picked up onion sets, blue seed potatoes (who says these guys are hip and with it?), and horseradish. I have little idea how to plant these, but isn't that the fun of gardening?

Mulch Madness

We're big basketball fans around here, but this weekend was all about MULCH Madness! Instead of the Sweet 16, we wound up with SIXTEEN cu. yds. of mulch. Not so sweet.

Here's what 16 yards of mulch look like parked on the street in front of your house:



The children were not just added for scale, they were part of the team. Can I say just how happy I am that I have children that can do real work?!



Along side having grandchildren, free child labor was on the pro list for having offspring. And labor they did - all day. They just kept moving wheelbarrows. My DH kept shoveling and I kept spreading. Did I mention that this was all day?

Here was our progress at lunch time. Edging, drainage repair, and wheelbarrow made for a slow start.



After a rest in the sun:





and some lunch, we attacked the pile with a vengeance.

The ice cream truck supplied the fuel for the last push:



I couldn't believe it took the kids all day to realize this age-old entertainment:



And here we were at 4 p.m. with my son holding the last of the loose pile in his hands.



This was in my mailbox when we finished.



NOW you tell me!