For the plastic fence, it won't keep out groundhogs...if one of them finds your garden.  I think they rather enjoy chewing on it to sharpen their teeth.  
Looks unsightly but, to keep the bunnies and hogs out of my garden, I had to put up 2' chicken wire fence and attach it to my decorative fencing around my garden.
 
Glad we are finally getting some rain...got everything planted this weekend and almost all my power washing done...pool open, grass cut for the 3rd time in a little over a week...washed 3 vehicles, planted flowers....lots of outdoor cleaning...I was whooped....glad to get back to "work" to get a break for chores...
 
Lettuce and spinach going bonkers.  We have more than we can eat now and with this rain, it will be nuts.  Hopefully it doesn't bolt.  Anyone eat sour cream lettuce?  Getting back to my roots this weekend....my mom used to make it all the time growing up...just fresh, clean, dry garden lettuce dressed with a mix of sour cream, vinegar, salt an pepper.  Also, tried it a little different dressing with sour cream, lemon juice, sugar, dill, a little salt and fresh cracked pepper. yum, yum...

Other than my garlic, pigs and chickens, I'm considering taking the year off from garden.
With so many projects we've done last year and many to do ahead, I haven't properly prepared my garden here from moving .
We have a really good farm store and local growers that I can get by on vegetables but right now I'm way behind and in a bind.
My swimming pool is an inground frog pond with still underground plumbing issues.
Hopefully I'll get a later season planting going.
I wish all you garden and farmers the best of season and look forward to hearing about the harvests.
Peace and tuna

HT.... any way to temporarily use the garden area for chickens or pigs? Would help keep the soil dug up and add natural fertilizer to it also.

I'd give up on my pool before I gave up on my garden..........

I have considered cutting mine back, but with the lack of a consistent fishing partner and my need for exercise I keep mine going, although it is getting smaller. I got my seeds in and waiting for rain to put plants in. I will finish up the garden well for irrigation this week too. Took 12 hours to do a 4 hour job due to frequent rest. But it is done. On a side note I had 2 brussel sprout plants make it over the winter. I am letting them go to seed and will harvest the seeds for future use (although I never have luck starting them , cabbage or broccoli) LOL

Thanks Fisherlady.
Normally, I'd agree with the garden but I got 9 grandkids (#10 in July) and the pool is also therapy for my sister.
I have many fires in the iron and right now pool is a priority even though it's for others.
The garden will happen, just not on the scale we are used to.

Rich - all work and no play aint nice---------
Go for the pool -not that that aint some work-- while the grandkids are small and will be there  - its worth it.
Sooner than ya think they will be grown and not around that much anymore- plenty of garden time.
Quality family time is priceless.

Well Clint, I agree. It's very dry.
Sadly, not getting all the things accomplished I set out for don't make me happy. Its frustrating as all heck and I'm sure you know as well.
Many hands make light work, unfortunately there's only my 2 hands on many projects.

I just mowed my lawn, aka 2 week hayfield.
I'd rather eat, burn or smoke grass than waste time mowing.

The rainy, crappy weather proved to be a blessing in disguise. The original plan for the long weekend was to go to deer camp with my sons and grandkids for some ATV riding, Turkey hunting and tent camping. I'd sacrifice most anything for my family time.
On Friday I decided that would be no fun in the rain ( not that rain bothers me ).
Instead I suited up in full rain gear and worked my butt off outside around the house. Burned a ton of junk wood I had all over the yard, put 2 garden boxes together/ with soil, basically brush hogged the back yard , moved the chicken tractor to fresh grass and played with the pool.

Currently there are 6 brussel sprouts, 6 cabbage, 6 jalapeno and 18 tomato plants, all from seed I started in February, firmly planted in soil boxes.
Up today at crack of dawn to get the fire burning and do some jackhammer work at exposing those underground pool lines.
Life is good

Thanks for all your tips and insight Fisherlady. It means a lot to have like minded people sharing. Unfortunately our fire pit is very large ( can be seen from space, lol) and needed for large scale burns. I do save ashes and toss in the compost bin.
On Thursday I had to seek medical treatment. This lyme disease just won't go away and put me in a bad way. Back on powerful antibiotics gave me strength to accomplish tasks yesterday but it seems I'm paying a price today after an early start. With the more steady rain now, I'm going to do some putter projects and get some annual herbs going and put some flowers and bulbs in around the flag pole The perennial oregano and chives are ready to harvest so I'll probably pick some oregano for the dehydrator.

HT, I think a good project for you would be a wood fired hot tub, I am starting to pay the price of too many years of pushing my joints to do more than they should.  The Lyme is doing the same to you and going forward you may want to research holistic ways to help you get through flares. Saunas, hot tub, herbals for inflammation (ginger and turmeric come to mind).  
I hate using pills, before lisfranc injury foot surgery last week I was on zero meds, post surgery I was sent home on 8, thankfully they are all short term (1 month), I got myself off of pain meds within first 4 days, but have had real trouble with joint flares that I can't treat with my normal go to (ibuprofen) because its not allowed with the blood thinner I am on. Surface application gels just don't cut it so back to ginger and turmeric, ice and elevation to get by.  Hard to be non weight bearing when one wrist and hand are swollen and paralyzed from an inflammation flare, but still doesn't compare to the whole body effect you are going through with lymes. 
 Whole body effect necessitates whole body solutions. 

Humm. A sauna or steam room sounds like a fantastic build project. I'm sure I have all materials here.
No I don't like meds or pills. Very difficult for me to accept doctors that prescribe them as therapy/ treatment.

Good slow day on the homestead. Lots of wood gone. Visited my local farm market for some sweet potatoes, basil to plant and an array of beautiful flowers planted.
We made homade langunie to mix with fresh clams and scallops from my seafood go to.
To top everything off..
These hands felt good like this.

I got my 100 strawberry plants in the ground and most everything is in. Was a little late on my squash starts so they will go in next week.

Agree on keeping it at 30 or so, with just me and husband processing we opt to break up butcher runs into a couple days of 6-8 birds each a few days apart followed by a larger weekend butcher day for the rest. We would weigh and mark the heaviest birds with 2 spritzes of blu-kote,  next heaviest group with 1 spritz.  Any who seem 'off' get moved to head of the line to avoid dead loss (known as flips, since usually found flipped on their backs).
This allowed us to keep it manageable on evening butcher runs and maximize bird size while minimizing flips.  We rarely do meat birds anymore since our broodies raise enough chicks that we have enough of a supply of cockerels to provide for our needs. 

Feeling a bit better these last few days. Dad said he thinks he saw a new calf, I looked but could not locate it tonight. My Strawberrys from last year are starting to get big and turn pink, not long now