I think the garden plot is coming along nicely despite the late start we got this season. The tomatoes are finally starting to ripen and the basil has been thriving in the heat we have been having. I ended up going with the raised bed design you suggested and it made a big difference in drainage after that heavy rain last week. The peppers are still a bit slow but I am hoping they will catch up now that temperatures are more consistent. I added some marigolds around the border like you mentioned and they seem to be helping with the pest situation. The zucchini plants are taking over as usual though I should have planned more space between them. Next year I think I will try the variety you recommended for better yield in our zone. Let me know if you want to come by this weekend and see how everything turned out I think you would be impressed with how much we managed to grow in such a small space.

I finally got around to refinishing that old bookshelf we found at the market last month and it turned out better than I expected. The oak grain came through nicely after stripping the old paint and the new stain gives it a much warmer look that fits the room. I had to replace two of the shelves because they were warped but found some good quality wood at the supply store. The hardware cleaned up well with just some mild solvent and a wire brush. I think it would look good in the corner of the study near the window where the light catches it during the afternoon. The whole project took about three weekends working on it a few hours at a time. If you have any furniture pieces you have been thinking about restoring I would be happy to help or at least share what I learned from this one.