You asked about the raised garden beds. We measured the backyard last weekend and it should fit four 4x8 beds easily. The soil quality in that corner has always been poor so going with raised beds makes more sense than amending the ground soil. We compared cedar and pine options and cedar lasts longer but costs more upfront. For the layout we are thinking two beds along the fence and two in the middle with enough space for a wheelbarrow to pass through. We still need to figure out the irrigation setup before we fill them. Drip lines on a timer would work well especially during summer. Let me know if you want to help with the build next Saturday.

We also need to decide what to plant first. I was thinking tomatoes and peppers for the sunny side and herbs and greens for the partial shade area. The soil mix recipe I found uses equal parts topsoil compost and perlite which should drain well. We can pick up the lumber this week if the weather holds.
OMAHA STEAKS
Hand-selected cuts, prepared with care
 

A Selection of Gourmet Steaks

A total of 500 gourmet steak samplers are available to participants. This sampler, with a standard value over $600, is provided at no charge to those who receive this notice. One sampler per household. Offer ends Tomorrow.

Each cut is hand-selected and flash-frozen to lock in exceptional flavor.

View the Sampler Details

Participating recipients will receive a gourmet steak sampler covered by this program - you will not be billed for the sampler. Each box brings together hand-selected cuts that are flash-frozen at peak freshness to preserve their character and tenderness. Quantities are determined by program allocation, and the offer is active until Tomorrow.

Inside Your Box
4 New York Strips 4 Ribeyes
6 Top Sirloins 4 Filet Mignons

Quantities are determined by program allocation. One sampler per household. Offer ends Tomorrow.

Thank you for taking a moment to review this offer.

You asked what I thought of that navigation book. I finished it last week and found the section on early mariners using stars to cross oceans fascinating. I had no idea how much trial and error went into creating accurate chronometers. The book covers everything from astrolabes to GPS and ties it together well. If you are interested in how people navigated before modern technology it is a great read. The author keeps things moving without getting too academic. I would suggest starting with the chapters on the Age of Discovery since those have the most compelling stories. Let me know if you want to borrow my copy.

I also picked up a companion volume about early mapmaking that covers how cartographers gradually filled in the blank spaces on world maps. Some of the early charts were remarkably accurate given the tools they had. The way they corrected longitude errors over centuries is a story in itself.