Garden doing well, but tough to stay distracted

As most folks who know me know, my garden projects are not just a way to stay sane by playing in the dirt, they're also a way to distract myself from our adoption. Our first adoption with Vietnam failed after we made all deadlines just fine (long story there), and the adoption agency filed for bankruptcy after trying to run for over a year with no income. We're on our second attempt, with CAS, as a pilot family in a pilot program with Mexico. CAS is waiting for a certificate of approval from Mexico before they can start sending dossiers, and most of our documents were ready last fall. Our documents are starting to age-out, as they must be apostilled within 6 months of submittal. Doubts start to creep in.... But this isn't an adoption blog that gets frustrated with government bureaucrats and the lack of a good domestic adoption option....

So although there's good news that makes me happy, the overhanging bad news that our adoption may fail as the documents age out, the program fails, we could have trouble re-doing every last doc in a timely fashion. It's tough to stay positive so I cling to small things, like the first day I could smell lilac in the air without having to walk over to the tiny shrub and lean over. Or the first use of the tiny lettuce plants that are "temporarily" planted in the flower bed.

I spend a lot of time on the patio, reading and watching birds come and go. They're starting to use the young pine as a escape point when they're kicked off the feeders by someone bigger. It's nice that the young lawn finally has some greenery they can use!

The salvia, money plant, and lilac are frequently buzzing with big fat bumblebees. A few butterflies have been out in warm weather. It's currently 94 according to our weather station, and I've been watering more heavily. One rain barrel is drained already!

Time to go back in the yard, hope you're having a good weekend!

We borrowed a rototiller from a buddy at work (Thanks, Dave!) and Dan cleaned it up yesterday. It needs some transmission fluid, oil, and a new belt. After the tune-up we'll be tilling the sides of the house for the new gardens. We won't be bricking unless we can afford more bricks.

I'm attaching another photo of the lilac bloom that's half-open. I wish I could share its scent as well.

The Lilac Blooms!!

March and April have been very good to my struggling lilac. It's now got all the leaves open, and has 14 blooms trying hard to grow. You won't recognize this photo compared to the stick with green buds from early last month! There is one bloom half-opened, but enough to get the heavenly smell that reminds me so much of my Grandmother's house. I'm so happy to finally have a lilac in my own garden!