Cultivating Joy: My Spring Garden, Wellness Finds, and Essential Entertainment for the Month
A monthly list of good things to see, buy, read, and watch. In this month’s list, we’re delving into the thriving state of my spring garden and recent outdoor projects, reviewing a surprisingly robust walking pad, sharing insights from six compelling books, and discussing one of the first theater movies that truly captured our attention in quite some time.
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June has arrived, marking the glorious beginning of summer here in the Pacific Northwest – unequivocally my favorite season. While I can appreciate that my enthusiasm might be tempered if I resided in a sweltering climate like Arizona, our PNW summers typically deliver a perfect symphony of abundant sunshine, azure skies, and comfortable temperatures consistently in the 70s. It’s truly idyllic.
My only minor contention recently has been the relentless wind. The past few days have brought gusts up to 25 mph, unfortunately snapping new shoots and delicate grape clusters right off our grape vine. Despite this minor setback, I’m optimistic; grapevines are remarkably resilient, and I anticipate new growth will quickly emerge to replace what was lost.
I hope your May was as fulfilling as mine. I dedicated much of the month to essential garden tasks like planting and mulching, reveling in the season’s first outdoor grilling and dining experiences, and celebrating my birthday with a delightful dinner shared with our children in Portland. It was a wonderful prelude to the summer months.
Here’s to discovering more good things as June unfolds!
Good Things This Month
Late Spring Garden Updates: Thriving Plants and Completed Projects
This period in the garden truly feels like perfection, doesn’t it? Everything is now planted, growing vigorously, and looks incredibly lush and healthy. Our plants haven’t yet had to endure the stress of scorching heat waves or widespread pest infestations, and the harvests are steadily beginning to come in. Just yesterday, we enjoyed a delicious salad composed entirely of fresh garden lettuce, tender beets, crisp onions, vibrant spinach, and sweet peas, perfectly complemented with pork and feta cheese – a true taste of homegrown goodness.
The image above showcases our main vegetable garden, with its raised beds meticulously covered with durable insect netting. The taller hoop house, specifically designed for heat-loving crops like peppers, is covered with perforated plastic film, allowing us to achieve fully colored, ripe peppers even in our climate. About a week ago, I transitioned from using row cover cloth to the insect netting, as our night temperatures consistently stayed between 45-50°F and daytime temperatures were comfortably in the 70s.
Initially, I started covering our raised beds year-round as a crucial defense against ground squirrels, notorious for decimating an entire bed overnight, leaving behind only the stems of everything from kale to carrots! Over time, however, I discovered an even greater benefit: insect netting allows me to grow nearly flawless produce with hardly any bug holes. Furthermore, I’ve been successfully cultivating brassicas under protective covers for years to deter cabbage moths and aphids. In my experience, this is absolutely the ONLY reliable method to achieve pristine, clean broccoli harvests.
The insect netting I currently use is exceptionally heavy-duty and has proven to last for several years, offering excellent value. Its generous 10-foot width is ideal, fitting perfectly over the hoops of my 4-foot-wide beds and providing ample material to secure it firmly with rocks. An 8-foot-wide netting simply wouldn’t offer enough overlap for proper anchoring.
May was also a productive month for completing several significant garden projects. The first major undertaking involved dismantling the broken concrete patio I had constructed years ago when we first moved to this property. For the initial few years, it served as our primary outdoor gathering space. However, with the establishment of a cozy firepit area and a charming gravel dining space much closer to the house, this old patio had simply fallen out of use.
During those intervening years, I also learned a crucial lesson: our local deer consume nearly everything except a few select perennial herbs, and the only truly effective deterrent is a sturdy fence. This revelation made converting the old patio area into a new, fenced vegetable garden a clear priority, offering a prime spot for cultivating more food and flowers.
Brian provided invaluable assistance in breaking up the concrete pieces (we had originally filled the gaps with concrete – you can find all the details on how to create a patio from broken concrete here). My part involved the substantial effort of moving a literal 1.5 tons of cement, plus a significant amount of gravel, out of the garden using only a wheelbarrow. Yes, I definitely felt the effects for several days afterward, a testament to the sheer physical exertion involved!
The result is a fantastic new, long planting bed, which we’ve since filled with corn, potatoes, and summer squash. I am absolutely thrilled with this transformation and harbor great hopes that we can successfully keep the squirrels away from the corn, ensuring we can actually harvest some this season!
Another significant project we completed was the construction of a simple yet effective deer-netting and t-post fence around our fruit trees. This finally allowed us to liberate the trees from their individual, constricting wire circles (for this, we used this robust 750-pound heavy-duty fence). The old individual enclosures presented multiple challenges: they inhibited healthy growth, as deer would readily consume any branches that poked through, leading to oddly column-shaped trees. Moreover, they made weeding and feeding within the circles nearly impossible and significantly complicated the harvesting process.
I am incredibly grateful to now have this deer-protected space! Our fruit trees can finally grow freely and expansively, and we’ve gained valuable additional room to plant other desirable fruits. I’ve already added a couple of blueberry bushes that were generously given to us, and I have exciting plans to introduce mulberries and even more blueberries in the near future.
I also wanted to share a quick update on our berry patch, nestled within its secure chicken wire enclosure. The enclosure is proving to be highly effective, and we’re seeing an abundance of healthy berry leaf growth. While we don’t have many flowers or green berries just yet, the promise of future harvests is definitely there.
Sadly, the raised bed on the far right, which previously held black raspberries, didn’t survive. However, a kind friend recently gave me starts of delightful yellow raspberries, which I absolutely adore. I’m excited to cultivate these and integrate them into our growing berry collection, adding another delicious variety to our future yields.
Exploring Wellness: My Experience with an Affordable Walking Pad
Have you come across the trend of small, more portable walking pads? They essentially function as mini treadmills, designed specifically for walking speeds. While some larger models incorporate handles and allow for slightly higher speeds, the core concept of a walking pad is to integrate more movement into your daily routine, often by using it beneath a desk while working.
Given the significant amount of time I spend at my computer, and my ongoing goal to increase my daily physical activity, I began researching walking pads. I quickly discovered a vast range in prices, from as low as $100 to over $1500. My focus was on basic, classic walking pads that could comfortably fit under a desk and weren’t so heavy as to be impossible to move. This criteria naturally led me to options at the lower end of the price spectrum.
Ultimately, I decided on this inexpensive walking pad, and I must say, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by its robustness, overall quality, and remarkably smooth operation. While it turned out to be a little heavier than I initially anticipated, it thoughtfully includes wheels on the front. This design feature allows me to easily lift the back end and wheel it into a closet when I’m finished using it, which is incredibly convenient. It also comes with a handy remote control, making it simple to adjust the speed or pause my walk without interrupting my stride.
So, am I using it at my desk as I’ve seen so many others do? Well, here’s an interesting twist: I completely forgot that I experience motion sickness if I try to read in a moving car. I quickly discovered that even attempting light tasks like photo editing while walking on the pad induced such severe nausea that it took an entire day to feel normal again! (Even just looking at it sitting under my desk would start to make me feel queasy!) So, Plan B was swiftly put into action: I moved it upstairs and now use it to break up my days with refreshing 10-15 minute walks. During these sessions, I catch up on audiobooks or listen to webinars. And I’m thrilled to report, it’s working absolutely wonderfully in this new capacity!
Find this affordable walking pad here.
May Book Reviews: Dive Into My Latest Reads
The Frozen River, Ariel Lawson. Prepare to see this historical drama/thriller, set in 1790s New England and centered around a courageous midwife, on my list of best books this year – it utterly captivated me! Lawson delivers the rich, historically accurate details I adore, combined with an admirable midwife character based on a real person, and a storyline that is both gripping and masterfully told. The narrative artfully weaves in insights into women’s rights (or the stark lack thereof), daily life during that era, challenging childbearing experiences, and much more, all revolving around the discovery of a body in the frozen river at the onset of a brutal winter. Beyond the central mystery, the exploration of how the law operated in the nascent years of our nation is exceptionally intriguing and adds significant depth to this compelling read. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction and well-crafted suspense.
Be Ready When The Luck Happens, Ina Garten. Like many, I’m sure you’ve heard a great deal of buzz surrounding Ina Garten’s memoir. I waited patiently for months for the audiobook from the library, eager to hear Ina narrate her own story, and my overall impression was… okay. It was certainly interesting in parts, and some anecdotes were genuinely delightful – like her adventurous travels through Europe as young newlyweds in a camper with very little money; I honestly don’t think I’d be that brave! However, I was also somewhat saddened to hear how much time she dedicated to her business, even when it meant she and her husband had to live apart for extended periods. The constant discussion about what they could and couldn’t afford, while simultaneously residing in the Hamptons, frequently entertaining, and acquiring businesses, eventually created a disconnect for me. (Of course, this is entirely my own bias and might sound judgmental – I understand that one can always feel a lack of financial security, but often in our society, it appears to be a mindset rather than an actual deficit when one truly possesses enough.)
Art Lovers Guide to Paris and Murder, Dianne Freeman. This latest installment in one of my favorite historical “cozy mystery” series is an absolute delight, transporting readers to Paris during the magnificent 1900 World’s Fair. I always strongly recommend experiencing this series through its audiobooks, largely due to the exceptional narrator who truly brings the resourceful heroine, Frances Wynn, to life. In this particular adventure, a murder initially appears to be a tragic accident amidst a bustling crowd, drawing in intriguing family dynamics and a cast of fascinating secondary characters. If you haven’t yet embarked on this charming series, you are truly in for a treat!
The Boys of Riverside: A Deaf Football Team and a Quest for Glory, Thomas Fuller. Brian and I listened to this powerful account detailing the journey of an all-deaf high school’s 8-man football team in California, transforming from numerous losing seasons to an inspiring undefeated streak. This book is far more than just uplifting and heartwarming; it masterfully shines a light on the deaf community, exploring both the disadvantages and unique advantages they possess when participating in sports like football. We learn deeply about the individual boys on the team, their personal stories, and how their collective experiences and dedication intricately wove together to create their remarkable success on the field. This is a highly recommended and truly insightful listen.
Cue the Sun! The Invention of Reality TV, Emily Nussbaum. This is a truly fascinating and meticulously researched book exploring the complex history of reality television. Nussbaum traces its origins all the way back to the radio era with “candid microphone” segments, which later evolved into the iconic *Candid Camera* on television. There were numerous sections I simply had to share with Brian because they were so utterly captivating, such as the surprising game shows hosted by Chuck Berry. The origin story of *Survivor* is particularly gripping, revealing how both contestants AND the crew literally starved during the first season due to woeful unpreparedness and underfunding. I did opt to skip the final section covering the *Bachelor* and *Housewives* era, as these particular shows have never appealed to me. However, the historical television I remember from my own childhood perspective made for incredibly compelling reading – though I certainly do NOT recall some of the suggestive or lewd questions from *The Newlywed Game*, ha! A truly insightful read for anyone interested in pop culture history.
Big Dumb Eyes, Nate Bargatze. Brian and I are enthusiastic fans of Nate Bargatze, and we eagerly consume anything he creates – whether it’s watching his specials, listening to his stand-up, or now, reading his book. We absolutely adore his unique brand of humor and his refreshingly grounded point of view. In *Big Dumb Eyes*, he not only delivers the hilarious, observational stories you’d expect, but he also includes some genuinely heartwarming tales about his family and his upbringing. This book is particularly enjoyable to listen to with others, providing plenty of opportunities for shared laughter and engaging discussions.
What We’ve Been Watching
The Accountant 2, Theater. It feels like months since a movie in theaters has even mildly piqued our interest. Regrettably, it seems modern cinemas are largely dominated by horror and overly gratuitous themes these days. However, we thoroughly enjoyed the first *Accountant* film, and this sequel proved to be a solid watch. While it is undeniably violent (though not to the extreme levels of *Deadpool* or *John Wick*), the unique perspective brought by the autistic lead character truly elevates the film, making for a genuinely interesting and engaging cinematic experience.
Following our enjoyable experience listening to the audiobook, we also made time to watch the 1989 mini-series adaptation of *Lonesome Dove*. It was an acceptable watch, though I was quite surprised by how dated it seemed, particularly in its filming techniques. Nevertheless, it was a genuinely fun experience to see the vivid descriptions of the town and the epic cattle drive brought to life on screen, complementing the rich narrative we had enjoyed in the book.
That concludes another delightful edition of the Good Things List!
If you’re interested in exploring more of my favorite recommendations and discoveries, you can find all previous Good Things Lists here. I’d genuinely love to hear your thoughts – whether you’ve tried any of these recommendations yourself or have some of your own to share. Please feel free to leave a comment below with your insights and suggestions!
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