Yeah, I finally got around to building that raised garden bed I mentioned last month. It took most of the weekend, but the cedar planter box turned out better than I expected. I used a simple L-shape design so it fits right in the corner of the patio. Filled it with a mix of topsoil and compost. Planning to start with some cherry tomatoes, basil, and maybe bell peppers. My neighbor saw me working on it and decided to build one too. His is a bit fancier—he added a drip irrigation system. I might upgrade next season. Anyway, we're both hoping to have fresh salads by July. Let me know if you want me to send over the cut list I used. It was pretty straightforward once I had all the lumber measured out and cut to size. The whole project used simple tools and materials from the local hardware store. I also added a small fence around it to keep the rabbits out. Hopefully that does the trick. My last garden was a buffet for the local wildlife. This time around I'm being more proactive about it. I'll send you some photos once everything starts growing.

I started learning the basics of watercolor painting this week. It's surprisingly relaxing, even though my first few attempts look more like abstract blobs than actual landscapes. I picked up a small starter kit from the art supply store downtown. The brush control is trickier than I thought it would be. I watched a few tutorial videos online, and they make it look so effortless. My goal is to paint a decent sunset scene by the end of the month. Right now I'm just practicing color washes and trying to keep the paper from warping too much. It's a nice way to unwind in the evenings. I can already feel myself getting a little better each day. Maybe I'll try painting some botanical illustrations next. The whole process is very meditative. I find myself losing track of time when I'm mixing colors and testing them on scrap paper.