This is Fred, or perhaps Fred, or maybe Fredrietta. Don't ask me, my daughter named them. Yes, all three are hens.

Came home Tuesday to find a box on the kitchen table from Johnny's Selected Seeds. Inside were three each of the Five Star Grape and Defiant tomato plants. I looked outside, and realized that it was not raining for a change. I kicked off my Wellingtons and pulled on my foul weather boots.

Monday went by with the usual excitement, but was over soon enough. Home by 4:00pm, I found that I had the place to myself. Soccer again. One last game and then perhaps life will be back to normal. Taking advantage of the chance, I changed clothes and started out the door, hoping to get the Troy-Bilt tractor fired up to mow the lawn before the rain moved in. Too late. Rain fell as I opened the door...

Ok. About me. I am a sort-of young, kind-of newly married, pottery-barn junkie. By that, I mean, I’m almost thirty (gasp), have been married for four years, and scrounge up deals at the outlet whenever I’m in Lancaster.

Had the best of intentions to get up early Saturday morning and take the brush away from the tree cut down last week. Alas, this was not to be. Due to an unexpected passing of my son-in-law's Grandfather, we've postponed the clean up until a later time. My prayers go out to Blake and his family.

Love these crisp spring mornings. The weatherman told us all last night that there was no rain in the forecast for today, and that the highs would be close to 75. I decided it was well past time to take the most fuel efficient vehicle we own to work - my '05 Harley Softail. Short of walking the twenty-five miles to Harrisburg, the bike is my best option.

Got home from work Friday and did my usual chores. Brought up the trash cans, tossed some corn to the three Black Australorp hens, and gathered up the eggs. Reminded the broody hen once again that she is a laying hen and not a mother hen, changed their water and filled the feed tower.

First, I'd like to thank Len and the Harrisburg Magazine for this amazing opportunity. I look forward to sharing the trials and tribulations of raising a small kitchen garden in the heart of suburbia. This will be our third year with our garden, and we hope to replicate the success we had the first year (2009). The weather in 2010 was not conducive to a bumper crop, and I hope the overabundance of Spring rain so far this year is not a harbinger of another year of fickle weather..

Prenatal: Expecting mothers should talk to their dentists and obstetricians about issues regarding the future oral health of their little ones. For instance, certain medications, like the antibiotic tetracycline, can adversely affect tooth development...

I get a kick out of talking to oldsters who remember when the Camp Hill Mall was a corn field. The point is that though the Cumberland Valley has a rich agricultural heritage, the evidence of that heritage is not evident until you push to the west of the West Shore.