Spring goals

I have 2 goals for this Spring:

1. Make a raised garden bed. I've wanted to do this for a few years in a particular spot in the back yard. Right now, the only place I have to grow in the ground is the rose bed in the front yard. I'd like to keep that for flowers only this year. I've had vegetables mixed in with them and in planters, but that looks too cluttered to me. This way, James (who is very good with yard and flower maintenance) only has to keep track of the flowers. I have a hard time killing those, but I am excellent at killing vegetables.
Something like this, I love the use of finials to make it like a "bed":



I think this one is neat, but I doubt I could make one this fancy:



Martha has a great article about making them: http://www.marthastewart.com/article/building-raised-beds

I also want to have hanging flower baskets in the front, preferably Fuchsias. Those are what we had at our house in Anchorage and in my mind, that's what you should have hanging out in front. (Hint hint for Mother's Day, James??)



2. Create 2 week meal plans and stay 2 weeks ahead. Last night I watched "The Food Nanny" on BYU-TV. I'm going to try her 2 week plan and see how it works. The episode last night was a crack up, with the lady she was helping in tears of laughter over cleaning and preparing a chicken to roast. With my work schedule, I may need to make it a 3 or 4 week schedule. I'm going to start this in March....I'll post an update when I know what my menu will be. I'm hoping this will cut down on the "what to make for dinner" stress, especially on nights where James and I only see each other to pass off the children.

Click on the image for a link to her cookbook:


Here is a link to her sample menu plan: sample menu
Here is a link to her blank menu: blank menu
Here is a link to her grocery list (I'm not a fan of this grocery list, I prefer the one in my iPod, of course): grocery list

I hope that I can accomplish these with the 3 boys, school and work!