The goal for the garden is to have a thick layer of mulch on the path around raised beds, keeping weeds at bay, so yesterday I started that digging around the upper end of the garden plot. I've tried putting down cardboard and mulch over existing weeds, but they break through, so the weeds are coming out. The first bed will be planted with potatoes this week, and I'll work my way down the hill past three more raised beds. I have lots of places around the yard to dig and things to plant. In addition to a vegetable garden there are canna lilies, schoolhouse lilies, and asparagus (it needs its own bed so it can come back every year).

The house is the inside of a goat's stomach with everything in a state of flux. So many projects underway. My attempt to turn bar soap into liquid is at the testing stage - I had a second foaming dispenser jar under the sink that is now holding the slurry. Not sure this will work, I'll probably have to find a pump bottle to use. I'm sure I kept one, I always do. "I might be able to use this for something else" and it gets tucked under the sink or into the laundry room somewhere.

I've ordered a hose guard cable protector thing to run across the driveway in front of the garage door. This will eliminate the need for a very long hose to run around the garage (to avoid driving across it). These guards aren't cheap, but I will be able to do more with the hose with it in place.

Last summer I bought a large bag of corn and flax chips that I've just tossed because they're several months out of date. The size of the bag is off-putting; I was thinking I should wait to open it when I have people over to go through it quickly and there it stays forgotten on the shelf. Aldi's offerings are more practical, small bags of similar products that I'm more likely to open (and if I don't less expensive when it's tossed later.) For months I've been working to draw down the large surplus here, in particular in the pantry and the large freezer. This means sticking mostly to fresh fruit and veggies when I shop, or things I'll consume fairly quickly. I am making progress.