Potluck Tuesday

Today we are having a little potluck at work so I spent last night baking. I made a batch of whoopie pies which are essentially like a little Debbie snack cake made from chocolate cookies and marshmellow filling. Very tasty but very messy. When I was done there was marshmellow filling everywhere including my hair and my husband's beard. Got it done though and went to bed early. Mot much time for magic yesterday. I did stop by the pet/nursery store by my house and look over the seeds section. I plan to put in a very big garden this year. I'm planning a couple new beds and have a small vegetable space plotted out already. I am using a technique called layering. What you do is you layer soil with composing materials like leaves, choped plant matter etc...and build up your beds that way rather than digging out beds. Its pretty cool. I planted garlic this past fall and plan to do onions, tomatoes, peppers, spinach and lettuce. I might try some strawberries too but the birds usually get them. I also want to try to grow small pumpkins on a trellis. I think that will be a fun little experiment. Anyway, this time of year always gets me thinking about gardening way to early. I'm always jumping the gun and putting stuff out too early. This year I have alot of clean up to do around here first so that will help keep me busy until its warm enough.
My sister Amber and niece Emily will be here on Thursday for the holiday. They are riding the train over from Seattle to spend Christmas with us. That will be fun for them I think. I'm looking forward to seeing them but also kind of apprehensive. We have always had a bit of a strained relationship and now she is pregnant so that is a bit of a sore point for me. I have never understood why we couldn't have a kid when we wanted one together so much. But enough about that . I am going to do some circle work to make sure I am on my best behavior. I want to have a good relationship with everyone I know so that is my challenge.
Well, time for coffee and a bath before work. I have a bunch of stuff to do today too so I'd better take advantage of the extra time I have this morning to do some of it.