I've been planting

I've planted about everything I had plans for in the garden; oh, there'll be later plantings of corn and beans, but for now, I'm pretty well done.  After last year's explosion of butternut squash, I've decided not to plant any this year; it just takes up so much room, even if I were only to have one hill.  
My peas came up rather spotty, but there should be enough to use.  That is, if we get any rain.  The garden is pure dust.  I noticed some of the potato plants are breaking through the concrete-like surface.   
I've washed my hands several times today, but they still smell like turpentine:  I have to soak my sweet corn seed in turpentine or else the moles go right down the row and devour every seed within a day or two of planting.  Funny thing, once the corn has sprouted, they lose interest in it.  My cousin Gerald is the one who told me about the turpentine; he said when he was a kid and there was still seed in the corn planter at the end of the day, that's how they kept the mice out of it.  I haven't had any problem with the moles eating my seeds since.  
I planted eggplant seeds, rather than buying plants that are started.  Just for fun I planted a little kohlrabi, because I like to see the way it grows.  I've also planted a few flowers here and there.  My friend Joanna is coming to visit next weekend, and will likely see no flowers at all:  The tulips will be past their prime, the daffodils are done blooming, and it isn't time for iris and peonies yet, nor any of the other perennial flowers.  The son-in-law is going to do some barbecuing out here Saturday in honor of our guest, and another buddy of mine from the old AOL chat room is coming.  She and her husband, Don, live in Kansas City, Kansas.   Cliff and Don can talk about tractors for hours.
A reader commented that chickens would keep me busy.  Well, they really won't.  I could put food and water out once a week for just two chickens, and it would be plenty.  There will be some cleaning of the pen occasionally, but not that much.  Two chickens will lay more eggs than we use, most likely, except when I'm cooking for company.  I just happen to enjoy chickens.  
I haven't been getting around to my favorite blogs much, what with all the outdoor activity.  I won't apologize for that; sometimes real life is more appealing than the Internet, especially when it takes me outside.  I notice visitors to my blog have dropped off, so it isn't just me who's enjoying springtime.  It was SUCH a long, hard winter.