Tomato Babies

Even though our vegetable garden currently looks like this:
Doc and I have been feverishly planning, preparing, and beginning our gardening activity. This is the first time either of us has had a garden and we're beyond excited. Just take a look at our outrageous seed collection.
I started our tomatoes and peppers last week and fretted over them until a couple of days ago when the first tomatoes started to pop up. So far 38/72 tomatoes and 3/72 peppers have appeared. Cute little babies!
I'm still concerned about them becoming "leggy" without overhead lighting. Hopefully keeping them near the bright window and rotating them everyday will suffice.

Last week we also planted a large bed of natives in our front garden. They're all very tiny, but once they get a bit bigger and the threat of major doggle tramplization has passed, many of them will be transplanted out back. I'd take a photo, but we're in the middle of a snow storm.

My birthday!

I celebrated my birthday today, ushered in with well wishes from lovely people, and even a visit from a few friends and my brother!

Brother, Nat, cuddling with the Emerson.

The birthday celebrations included dinner at Portobello Vegan Trattoria, game night back at our place, and TWO delicious cakes. Just look at 'em! DocDufresne made an amazing cheezecake with strawberry sauce, and my buddy Shivels from Seattle, made a decadent chocolate cake topped with rich chocolate icing, coconut, and almond slivers. Aahhhmazing!

Yuuummz.

I've been very excited about our soon-to-be epic garden (see Evidence A, below.) This will be a first for both DocDufresne and me, and we might be getting a little carried away, but it's hard not to with a blank slate of a lot. Today, Doc stayed home from work, and after we ate the yummy French toast he made for breakfast, we walked to the nursery down the street from us to pick up some more veggie and flower seeds.

Evidence A: The once empty lot (minus the 90 yr old house and garage)

Then we headed to Native Bowl to pick up lunch to go, and trekked to the highest location in Portland to witness a spectacular view. We were able to see many mountain ranges, including Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helen's, and Mt. Rainier.

I didn't bother using my polarized lens and it was a little hazy, so Mt. Hood isn't really clear in the photo.

After that, Doc and I rushed home so that, with the remaining daylight, we could play with the boys in the new backyard! We had a fence installed and it was finished today!!

Andy had quality time with a certain Mr. Frisbee.
So much so, he didn't want to come in when it was time to.

Emerson enjoyed his first time off leash outside grazing.

Finished up the day watching the Star Wars trilogy. A great birthday!

Bonus sweepy little doggleson shots.