We got quite a few things done around our house over the weekend.

First, we removed all the the leaves from under a lilac hedge and did some other raking. The yard looks a lot better. There still are some leaves we want to remove from some of the vegetable garden perennials and from the wooded area where we keep our compost bins. Then the leaves will be done with -- unless some blow back.

I also used the U-bar -- which I have since found out some people call a broad fork -- to loosen the soil in about a quarter of the vegetable garden. I will put in some peas as soon as I find some free time when it is dry, and maybe when granddaughter Maeve can come and visit. She says she wants to help.

I also planted our potatoes for the year. We are growing All-Blue, Yukon Gold, Red Norlands, Kennebec and Green Mountain. I got five pounds of seed potatoes for each variety, and had quite a bit left over. The price at Fedco Seeds was amazingly cheap, which is why we got so many. I got a neighbor to take the leftover All-Blue and some of the Norland, and I know someone who will take some of the rest. Fedco has closed its catalog operations for the season, so you will have to wait until next year. They are holding their annual tree sale May 8-9 in Clinton.

With it raining so hard today, I also am glad that we installed our rain barrel. We purchased it for $65 from the Portland Water District. The deadline to order is May 15, so if you want one, get busy.

And yes, we spent most of Saturday driving down to Massachusetts and spending time with the newborn James and his big sister, Alana. And with their parents. It was a lot of fun.

People say they have heard forecasts for 80-degree temperatures over the weekend. I don't think it will reach that in Cape Elizabeth, but I will take any dry and warm weather I can get. We still have a lot to get done.

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