Today I started getting my little plot of dirt outside of my kitchen window ready for planting. Two of my three homeschool students have been sick this week and this morning we had no class. I decided to redeem the time! I pulled up weeds and raked. One section is finished. It is the small section! The other is about one-third finished. The sun came a-peeping from behind the clouds where it had been hiding and it just got to hot. I went back this afternoon around six, but ran out of sunlight. It was good to get some dirt under my nails. Well, not too good since I just had them painted on Monday! But the feeling of working was good.

I got out all the seed packets I brought from the States this past fall: head lettuce, sweet corn, beef steak tomatoes, long cucumbers, and small sweet watermelons. I want to pick up some flower seeds next time I'm out for the little section and use the other for watermelons and corn for right now. I won't plant too much this time to see how it goes. I'm afraid I'll have a hard time with fireants and with my dear digging doggy. Our "Girl" dog, that's her name, loves to dig and part of my plot is where she loves to sleep at night. I haven't entirely resolved how I will deal with my doggy's sleeping arrangements, but I have a few ideas.

I started a new strategy this week to deal with one of my trich/OCD problems - cuticle nipping. I went and had my nails done here in town. I had found a lady here that I liked back in January, but had never gone back. I kept wanting to go to the fancy salon in the big city and waiting thinking I would "soon." "Soon"hardly happened. The fancy salon is also expensive and far. I wanted to have my nails done at least every two weeks to see if it would help me to keep my teeth off my cuticles. So Monday I went back to Dona Maria here in town. She's so nice. Two hours of nice conversation about this and that and nothing. Two hours of a slow but great manicure and complete pedicure complete with a foot massage. Two hours for all but US$7! I say that's cheap therapy! I hope to go back every Monday afternoon. Mondays are slow days for her and she was super glad that I could come on her down day. My nails still look good and my cuticles. Even though I roughed up the polish a little today with my work!

I need to get back to walking. Been a little slack this week, but will jump back into a.s.a.p.

Those who pray would you consider saying a little prayer for me this week. I have been dealing with a promise to myself that I cannot seem to keep. It would help me greatly in my struggle for more peace and happiness in my life. I know this, but can't seem to do it. Pray for strength to do what I ought and consistency!

Take care!