How are my vegetables and how am I?

This year I planted an ambitious spring vegetable garden out at my place in Austin County. The funny thing is that I seem to get as many questions about how my vegetables are doing as I get questions about how I am doing now that I am in what I am calling my "mini-retirement". So in order of importance I will answer the two questions I get asked most often! With tongue planted firmly in cheek of course.

My vegetables are growing like weeds quite frankly. And the weeds arent growing at all as I have aggressively kept the beds free and clear of weeds, insects and the critter fence so far has kept Bambi and her kin at bay. The broccoli all have heads about the size of half dollars but dont tell Bush One. The onions are growing incredibly fast and contrary to what my friend Barry asked, the green onions become the big onions.... they are not two separate types of plants [yes he really asked that question...I may have to revoke his Aggie credentials]. The cabbages are making little heads in the middle of each plant and the green ones seem to be doing a little better than the purple ones even though I like the purple ones better. The carrots have all sprouted and I will have to thin them out this weekend, and the yellow squash are already starting to spread their vines. The bell peppers havent bloomed yet but they should in a week or two if the cold doesnt set them back this weekend. And the eggplants are huge but no blooms or fruit yet. And yes, I actually love eggplant and can cook them more ways than you can count but my favorite ways are to batter and fry in cornmeal and make eggplant parmesean. And just a quick update on the flower beds......they look like a painting splashed with pink, red, white, yellow, gray, orange, rust, lots of green [the mint is out of control] and various shades and varaitions of the colors mentioned above.

Now that I have addressed my vegetables, I will address me. I am actually doing great. In fact I have really enjoyed having the time to do the stuff I never had time to do, to reconnect with family, friends and past colleagues....and I dont think I have ever talked on the phone as much or gotten as many phone calls as I have in the last two weeks including when I was a teenager! In all its been a time to rest and regroup, and to really find out who cares about me....and my vegetables!

Happy spring.