The past week was a busy one. After working in the yard removing the fallen Oak branch and trimming trees, I decided it was time to cut two oak branches that were reaching over the neighbor's fence. So my friend and I spent another morning cutting them down, and making more bundles of branches. I wish I had a chain saw. I think that will be the next tool I'll buy.

This is the biggest branch. 

Everything is clean and tidy now.

With warm weather plants are thriving. I noticed ginger is coming back to life.

Ginger.

In the new raised bed I two types of peppers and two types of parsley. There's also basil, thyme, a small plant of oregano and a whole bunch of squash.  I didn't plant squash, they just appeared from the compost I added to the bed. 😊

I picked elderberries. When I have a large amount, I will make elderberry cordial, or elderberry syrup. Until then I keep them in the freezer.

Elderberries.

I also picked more tomatoes and the first two Serrano peppers.

Ready for a small salad.

I also made another batch of olive oil and coconut oil soaps. But this time something went wrong and soaps are not hardening.  Experienced soap makers at the Homemakers Forum said it could be due to high humidity and suggested using it as liquid soap. So that's what I am going to do. It's so nice to have the support of these ladies at the forum. I was kind of sad thinking I had wasted a good amount of oil.  

Too soft soap.

I also went to the zoo with several colleagues. One is retiring after 30 years of teaching, so we went to the zoo and then lunch to celebrate.

A manatee. The Florida manatee is the state's marine mammal.

Next week by this time I will be on my way to Sri Lanka. So I have been busy preparing for the trip. I have almost finished packing, but I still have to buy a couple of things for mom and sister G. I also arranged for house sitting. I don't really enjoy long flights and layovers, but I am really looking forward to  seeing my family and friends, and enjoy mom's food. ✈✈✈

I hope you are having a great week.

Last week's to-do list:

1) Plant  a Moringa (Moringa oleifera) in the ground.

2) Transplant the hummingbird (Sesbania grandiflora) tree. 

3) Plant Four o'clocks in the front yard.

4) Make a batch of olive oil & coconut oil soaps.

5) Organize the spare room. 

6) Write one activity for the new course.

This week's to-do list:

Preparing for the trip. 😍😍😍

XX

Nil