I’ve had a very domestic weekend.

First off, after doing some early jobs on Saturday, I dragged out my newly-refurbished little tiller and finally got my garden redug.

As long as it took the engine guy to fix, I was seriously kicking myself for not just having Jose do it a month ago when he offered. My tomatoes would have a healthy start by now if I had. But no, I just about outsmarted myself, thinking I’d save a little money and do it myself. A rebuilt carburator and who knows what else later, and I did not save money. But the thing purred like a damn kitten on crack, and tore both ways through my little garden bed on one tank of gas. And it should still work next year, although I’ll have to do it for the next five to make it cheaper than Jose’s prices. My arms finally stopped tingling too.

I went down to Lowe’s and got me some vegetables. After last year’s heat wave that killed off all but my cherry tomatoes, I went a little crazy and planted six different kinds. If I have too many, so what? I really like tomatoes. And I got a few herbs and a tomatillo and a cucumber tucked in there too; everything I need for a perfect summer salad. No watermelon this year, as it cross-pollinated with my cucumbers last year and made them disgusting.

Still feeling gardeny, and since I couldn’t shut the garage door until I off-loaded the potting soil and closed the tailgate on the truck, I also repotted (finally!) my poor lime tree. Between January’s freeze and the ant colony living in it, it was in sad shape, but it’s sort of pretty now. Let’s hope I didn’t shock it too much, but I’m beginning to think that it’s the Energizer Bunny of citrus trees. Without actually ever giving me any limes, but I’m an optimist.

Then, on to the cooking!

Jeff’s mom is having a welcome-home party for him tonight, and I’m bringing cheesecake and a strawberry pie. The cheesecake is just my usual, but the pie’s new to me, as is the concept of making pie crust. I was not very happy with my first effort, so I didn’t take pictures.

I do have lots of strawberries left over; daiquiris, anyone?

I was on my feet and in the kitchen for several hours all told, and after the tilling, my back was squawking. Makes me seriously wonder if I’m nuts for thinking about switching careers over to one that’s much more physical. I’m hoping that I’ll get into a little better shape with all of the valve-exercising and plumbing that I’ll have to do, but I predict some serious “what have I done” thoughts in the first few weeks of that job. Which I do not have yet. I am, however, about to sign a contract on a pure consulting job for them, which is either an audition or a gateway to being hired without an interview, I’m not sure yet.

All of that domesticity, and the laundry pile seems bigger than ever. I guess I’ll get to that next. Stupid laundry!