This week we got back to the books but I was still able to get some more work done on the hoophouse.  The bows are up now - the purlin will be attached Monday, along with the corner braces.  I think I'll leave the plastic off till fall and grow some vine veggies up the bows.  That should give some appreciated shade to some lettuce and cucumbers.  I'll still need to get the end panels built and find some doors over the summer.  I'll probably get a couple of used storm doors at the weekly auction a town over - you can usually pick up good ones for a decent price.

This coming week will feature digging and adding finished compost and manure to the lettuce bed and prepping the ground around the hoophouse bows for some pole beans, snow peas, and whatever other vining goodies I can find.  We also need to re-grade the ground on the north side of the barn to eliminate a moisture problem.  I think I'll write a new diet and fitness book called The Homesteader's Diet.  I think several hours of digging and hauling a day should burn some calories -- maybe I'll have people flocking to the homestead to "work out."  I can start a new sort of fitness club......

This is a picture of one of our mascots.  This week she has decided that our egg gathering basket is a nice place to nap.  This isn't a set-up picture - I was on the phone when I saw her and called for the phone - luckily I was on the phone with my dad and he didn't mind me hollering in his ear for the phone.