I'm looking for suggestions on what to do with this side yard. I would love to grow something edible here, but it's only going to get partial sun.

I'm already a very busy person, so I'm going to have to tackle yard projects gradually, and whatever I end up doing will need to be fairly low maintenance.

Near term, I'm probably going to put in a pergola. There isn't much shade back there. That big flower bed is mostly weeds. Once I get it cleaned out I'm going to put down some mulch to keep any new weeds at bay while I figure out what else I want to do.

I would really like to have an edible and medicinal garden. Between the flower bed and the side yard, I have a fair bit of space to plant. If I can plant things that serve double duty of being both edible/medicinal and pollinator friendly (while also being low maintenance), that would be ideal.

I would also like to replace the grass in the backyard with clover.

I have a vision of a time in the near future where I'm producing food from my own yard that I can share with my neighbors.

I have a strong suspicion that the neighbor on my right can COOK, so maybe if I offer fresh produce I'll get some awesome food in return.

I just had the coolest experience at work.

I was promoted recently. Previous to my promotion, I was supporting only one team, and now I'm supporting four. My new role started last week.

Before the transition I had worked on a project solving a data tracking problem for my one team. I learned a bunch of new things because of that project.

The company is going through a cost saving process, and now all 4 teams are looking to solve this same data tracking problem. It is not widely known (yet) that I've already solved it.

So I go into this meeting, the manager is talking about this problem, and starts asking for input. There are two other people in the meeting who already know I've solved it.

I got up, explained that I've solved it, and told them that all I needed was a little bit of info from them to apply the solution to their department. Should have it all implemented in less than a day.

Total show off moment. Loved it. So fun.

I had a GREAT day today.

I'm definitely going to do the light switch thing.
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP866scd3/

I had lunch with my work friend today, and that was really nice. I took her over to my favorite café and introduced her to my café friends.

Oh.......
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP86rDsbj/

Oh my gosh, you guys. My heart.

I've talked about my café friends a bunch. In particular, I have a really special relationship with café mom. We have fairly short conversations, but they've gotten pretty personal at times.

She told me about some heart stuff she's dealing with, and I told her about my divorce and buying my house.

She's been hyping me up about singlehood, which is cute.

Just now as I was going through the line she told me that when my divorce is complete that she wants to have a party for me. "Just a little happy hour or something. I'll cook."

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

And to think this all started with just some kind words between us back in, what.... August? Just a stranger on a food line in a café and me.

I have longed for community. Local community. People I can hug and share laughs and tears with. I had no idea what it would look like, and it's popping up in the most unexpected places.