Hey, thanks for the book recommendation! I finally got around to reading it over the weekend and honestly couldn't put it down. The character development was so rich, especially towards the middle. I ended up finishing it in two days, which is rare for me lately with work being so hectic. Have you read any other books by the same author? I'd love to check them out if they have a similar vibe. Also, let me know if you want to grab coffee sometime next week. I'm free Thursday afternoon if that works for you. Anyway, let me know what you think! I'm always looking for new reads. It's nice to find an author who really knows how to build a world and make you care about the characters. Let me know if you want to borrow my copy of the first book in the series too, it's really good.

I just started the second book last night and it picks up right where the first one left off. The pacing is a little slower at the start, but I can tell it's building toward something big. I'll let you know how it ends.

Good question! I usually mulch my garden beds in late spring after the soil has warmed up a bit. It helps retain so much moisture during the hot summer months and keeps the weeds down. I used shredded hardwood bark last year and it worked great. But I'm thinking of trying cocoa bean shells this time because they look nicer and smell amazing. Just have to keep the dog away from them because I heard they can be toxic to pets. What do you use for mulch in your yard? I'm also planning to expand my vegetable patch this year. I want to try growing tomatoes and bell peppers from seed. It's always a fun experiment. Let me know if you have any tips for starting seeds indoors without grow lights.

I've been using a south facing window and it seems to work okay for most things but the seedlings get a little leggy sometimes. Maybe I'll invest in a small setup next season. It's just so rewarding to grow your own food, even if it's just a handful of cherry tomatoes. The taste is completely different from store bought.