I think I finally finished my planting today, putting in everything but the last few tomato plants and cucumbers.

I have opted to try something new this year, putting in some tomato plants and some tomato seeds. I also plan to do the same with the cucumbers. The idea is that the plants will start bearing fruit early, while the seeds will come in a little later. Most people start their seeds early in the spring, as I also usually do. I’ll just have to take my chances this year.

I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the lack of major grass activity in the garden thus far, despite the green stuff that was flipped over by my wheel plow. Since I only fertilized in the rows, I’m going to hope that nothing grows but the good plants. Weeds aren’t always bad plants, but they’re certainly not welcome in my corn and potatoes.

I had one fellow call me and say that I could still safely spray roundup on the garden until the little plants start showing themselves. If I start to see lots of grass activity, I may try that. The dry weather last week really seemed to help.

The only thing I have left to do as I write this is plant the tomato and cucumber plants. I decided to pay for a couple of larger tomato plants to go with the smaller-sized ones I usually get. It seems like thy have also increased in price again. At least the gas is getting a little cheaper here and there.

Anyway, with the early garden work out of the way, I can now find a new direction to route my attentions. Will I work on the landscape around the house, actually try to finish some more items on my to-do list or simply take a few days to swing on my hammock I got last year for my birthday? Perhaps I should start by trimming the grass and figuring out why my tiller refuses to start this year.

Also on my list this year is a new motor for the flat-bottom boat I got from a friend of mine. The boat, which has two pedestal seats and needs some plywood in the floor, some outdoor carpet and a small trolling motor, would be perfect to take for a fishing adventure. Since I have a birthday coming up, maybe I’ll hope the birthday buying folks read this and get the hint. As another option, I’ve already been scouting for one at yard sales and such with no luck.

I’ve never owned an aluminum boat before, but I have had a fiberglass canoe and a wooden john boat. I figure this can’t be all that different. Since it had a few small holes in the bottom when I got it, I am concerned that it might fall victim to sharp rocks. There are spots in the New River where the water seems bottomless, but there are almost as many spots where the bottom is on top. I’ll just have to be careful where I take it. I know of more than a few spots to go where the bottom is hard to find.

My first boating adventures were in a wooden john boat propelled by a long cucumber wood pole. It didn’t seem that hard at that time, but I’d better take along a few ibuprofen and a tube of muscle rub if I’m going to try it now. That’s why I’m seeking a trolling motor. I’ll probably have a pole anyway, but it will only be there as a backup — you know, when I put the boat in too close to the bank and I need to back up. There are a lot of places in the river that aren’t accessible by any other means than watercraft. You can wade a good part of it, but I can remember a few places where my pole wouldn’t reach bottom, and it was about 12 feet long. If you opt to try it, you’d better leave the waders at home. Wearing waders in deep water is about as smart as tying cinderblocks to your shoes to keep from floating away.

I also put on a high pedestal on my seat, so I can see over the head of whoever goes fishing with me. I usually don’t like to take a boat out by myself, although I have done so from time to time. Getting it into and out of the water, handling two anchors and watching out for rocks are all better with a friend. Besides, fishing may not be a competitive sport, but it does give you a gauge of how well you’re doing. If I catch 14 fish and my friend catches two, I know I can feel pretty good about myself. I can feel even better after I tease and harass him for several hours.

On the other hand, if it happens the other way around, I can figure there are problems with my technique, or perhaps he’s just getting lucky.

I always like to watch what other people are fishing with, especially if they use artificial lures. I prefer live bait myself, from worms to crawdads, lizards and minnows. This time of year, I catch caterpillars to use for bait, along with the usual victims. Besides, how many fish eat plastic worms and metal spoons on a regular basis and live to tell about it? Think about it.

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