Oh, I totally forgot to tell you about the hike we did last weekend. It was absolutely gorgeous but way more challenging than we expected.
We started on the Ridge Trail around 7 AM, and the fog was just lifting off the valley. The first two miles were a steady climb, nothing too crazy, but then it turned into this steep rocky section where we basically had to scramble on all fours for about half a mile.
My legs were burning by the time we reached the summit. The view from the top made it completely worth it though. You could see for miles.
We sat there for about an hour just eating trail mix and taking pictures. Coming down was almost harder because the loose gravel made it super slippery. I definitely recommend going if you get a chance, but maybe take some hiking sticks and start early to avoid the afternoon heat.
We saw a deer right near the parking lot when we got back down. It just stood there looking at us. Anyway, thought I'd share in case you were looking for a weekend plan. Let me know if you want the exact trail map.

I've been tinkering with the layout for the community garden plot this year.
Last year the tomatoes completely overtook everything because I planted them too close to the peppers. This time I'm mapping out a proper grid and leaving wider paths between the rows.
I'm also trying a few new varieties of squash that are supposed to be more resistant to powdery mildew. The soil there is pretty heavy clay, so I spent a few weekends amending it with compost and some sand to improve the drainage.
I built a couple of raised beds along the back fence for the herbs and strawberries. The local garden center had a sale on lavender plants, so I grabbed six of them to line the front border.
They should attract plenty of bees and butterflies. I'm hoping to stagger the planting so we have a continuous harvest from June through October instead of getting overwhelmed with zucchini all at once.
It's a lot of work upfront, but it is always worth it when you taste a sun-warmed tomato straight off the vine.