Liz Cultivates | L.M. Fern

New month, new me… same old goals! (Well, okay, they’re similar but have different flavors — else I wouldn’t be journaling about them here all the time.)

February was a rebuilding month. I’m working on patterns and routines again, trying to get back into a groove at work and in my various projects. Of course, this month I worked on my plan for the garden, and even started my seeds! We also celebrated every birthday imaginable, spent time with family, and had a few stressful events that I won’t get into right now (maybe later).

But anyway, let’s take a look at goals for this month and see how much progress I’m making!

Liz Cultivates . . . for real

So it starts!

The garden of summer 2026 is off to a good start. I did some research and actually started my seeds at the recommended time for Zone 6b (I am usually in the “even if you’re late, it counts!” camp…). I have also planned my layout for the year and am excited to see it come to life. Next step is digging out around the beds so I can achieve the layout goals I set last year. I am digging down for the wooden slats and I’m going to put gravel around the outside, then also pavers in the middle. I might also expand again toward the back of the yard . . . we’ll see how bored I get in April.

Crochet projects coming out my ears

. . . We all know this is my own fault. But every time I leave the house, I have to have a project to noodle on. But then those projects get too big to reasonably cart around — so I have to start a new project.

Anyway, I now have four blankets, two hand towels, three hats, and a sweater in the current WIP pile. Hoping to put a few of them to rest this month (at least two of the hats and one of the blankets, maybe more).

Reading goals: Follow along!

I finished Dungeon Crawler Carl, and the review for that is up on the site. I’ve already started the second book in that series, which isn’t even on my TBR. Oops, I guess.

Next up on the actual TBR is Azumanga Daioh. Don’t forget to check out the list and follow along if you feel like!

Working on the WIP

We cracked 145,000 words and finally got through the transition chapter to the end of the book. There is a tiny bit more rising action and then it’s all climax and denouement from here. I’m exhausted but excited and ready to start edits. The “big bad” just showed up on the scene (though he’s not really a “big bad” in the traditional sense . . . that will make sense eventually once I start talking about the book a little more publicly).

That’s it for this month! Short update but February was a short month, after all. On to the next!