tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13142093052029948372024-03-13T05:11:03.609-05:00An Iowa City GardenRound two of the gardening season. I am a novice gardener living near the Iowa River. I am most interested in producing organic food in a sustainable garden.
I also love live music and photograph every event I attend, so I tend to blabber about that once in awhile.
Since I am so new to both, I'd love advice if you've got it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314209305202994837.post-50135696854057085532010-05-20T03:58:00.000-05:002010-05-20T03:58:02.445-05:00Though I am Not Blogging, I've Been Playn in the DirtIt's late, I am uploading photos from the Old Scratch Revival Singers show tonight and I was reminded that I have a blog. Oh, yeah!<br />
<br />
So the spring has blessed me with awesome plants, of which there will be photos of later. The garden fence is up, though janky...and the plants are mostly in the ground.<br />
<br />
The final cut<br />
3 tomato plants<br />
4 kinds of peppers; jalepeno, habanero, and green bell<br />
5 pencil eggplant <br />
3 green bean plants<br />
8 bulbs of garlic<br />
10 sets of green onions<br />
3 cucumber vines<br />
1 snap pea plant<br />
oregano<br />
basil<br />
<br />
There will be more....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314209305202994837.post-78367715472518500312010-04-03T19:02:00.014-05:002010-04-03T19:42:30.870-05:00Mad for Veggies!Leaves are popping up out of the ground so it's time to start prepping to fill in all this empty, ugly space. The front of the house needs cleanup so the perennials can come up without problems and the area around the front door looks really bare.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/S7fXrGMAedI/AAAAAAAAAWc/lVS2rXYDa1c/s1600/2010+04+03+003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/S7fXrGMAedI/AAAAAAAAAWc/lVS2rXYDa1c/s320/2010+04+03+003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456066608977967570" /></a><br /><br />The fence around the garden plot has been ripped out and will be rebuilt. I did a pretty shoddy job of trying to revive it from the effects of the flood two years ago so it's best to just start over. It doesn't look like much right now.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/S7fYQ2IjeXI/AAAAAAAAAWk/S9HgeHFBwVU/s1600/2010+04+03+004_picnik.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/S7fYQ2IjeXI/AAAAAAAAAWk/S9HgeHFBwVU/s320/2010+04+03+004_picnik.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456067257503545714" /></a><br /><br />Everything that I've started so far (from seeds) is growing inside these little pre-fabbed greenhouses. They have dirt pellets in them. Add water, they expand, and you have perfect little cocoons to nestle seeds into until they're ready to pot.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/S7fZC-4wFII/AAAAAAAAAWs/zGOD3kfITvs/s1600/2010+04+03+014.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/S7fZC-4wFII/AAAAAAAAAWs/zGOD3kfITvs/s320/2010+04+03+014.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456068118846641282" /></a><br /><br />Once they've soaked up all the water, I used a pen to poke little holes in the center and dropped in a seed or two.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/S7fZiPRVUmI/AAAAAAAAAW0/eGiIeGTlzvQ/s1600/2010+04+03+017.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/S7fZiPRVUmI/AAAAAAAAAW0/eGiIeGTlzvQ/s320/2010+04+03+017.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456068655820657250" /></a><br /><br />The mini-greenhouse that I started random herbs in was mysteriously knocked off the windowsill, likely by a feline, so now I have no idea what's what. It's the herb roulette greenhouse now. Soon I'll be able to tell which are which...of the basil, dill, chives, sage and cilantro.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/S7fadM6WhOI/AAAAAAAAAW8/SEn2rheecAk/s1600/2010+04+03+025.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/S7fadM6WhOI/AAAAAAAAAW8/SEn2rheecAk/s320/2010+04+03+025.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456069668799677666" /></a><br /><br />The tomatoes, which were started in the green house have been added, still inside their dirt pellets, to bigger sectioned seedling trays. Most of them now have super-tiny, textured leaves. I am nervous about leaving them ouside overnight, but it's going to be in the mid-40s. I may do some last-minute internet research to find out how cold is too cold for baby t'mater plants. I am off to a good start with these, so I don't want to ruin it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/S7fbhLxZ5iI/AAAAAAAAAXE/Reuk0eu2OwI/s1600/2010+04+03+002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 274px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/S7fbhLxZ5iI/AAAAAAAAAXE/Reuk0eu2OwI/s320/2010+04+03+002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456070836724819490" /></a><br /><br />Also lined up along the western wall we have my first attempt at growing garlic. I love garlic and use it in almost everything I cook. I was excited to learn that I can just drop some cloves, pointy side up, into the dirt. I am curious to see how these grow.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/S7fcJ0ENMqI/AAAAAAAAAXM/97KKOQooUEw/s1600/2010+04+03+009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/S7fcJ0ENMqI/AAAAAAAAAXM/97KKOQooUEw/s320/2010+04+03+009.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456071534735864482" /></a><br /><br />I also sewed lettuce, green bean and onion seeds into some more pellets and lined those up with all the rest.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/S7fcsGvbg9I/AAAAAAAAAXU/e6EH3jsqqTg/s1600/2010+04+03+023.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/S7fcsGvbg9I/AAAAAAAAAXU/e6EH3jsqqTg/s320/2010+04+03+023.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456072123864548306" /></a><br /> green bean seeds <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/S7fdMQWSg5I/AAAAAAAAAXc/vUxkJ97UrrI/s1600/2010+04+03+024.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/S7fdMQWSg5I/AAAAAAAAAXc/vUxkJ97UrrI/s320/2010+04+03+024.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456072676199269266" /></a><br /><br />I also potted some zinnea seeds and some midwest wildflower seeds.<br /><br />I did this all under the devoted and watchful eyes of my two favorite canines, Chico and Brady.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/S7fddVZe6pI/AAAAAAAAAXk/QB4TSuBF1vo/s1600/2010+04+03+005.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/S7fddVZe6pI/AAAAAAAAAXk/QB4TSuBF1vo/s320/2010+04+03+005.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456072969612618386" /></a><br />Chico the Crazy Eyed Killa<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/S7feNT6nD8I/AAAAAAAAAX0/x19E3UhMdXo/s1600/2010+04+03+015.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/S7feNT6nD8I/AAAAAAAAAX0/x19E3UhMdXo/s320/2010+04+03+015.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456073793848414146" /></a><br />Brady, the White Lightening Wonder Hound<br /><br />My next step to keep watchful eyes over these babies and perhaps start my spinach and container cucumbers. I won't be starting my peppers from seeds. I think last year they took a long time to produce anything. They were still producing well into the cooler weeks at the beginning of autumn.<br /><br />So it's getting chilly and the sun is going down. I am going to get cracking on researching temperature resistance for these little guys....<br /><br />happy gardening!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314209305202994837.post-63103263309790497632010-03-31T00:49:00.000-05:002010-03-31T00:50:06.450-05:00Out of HibernationSo my blog more than fizzled out last year and I am again prompted to start writing - by my garden. It's springtime in Iowa and I have begun to sprout seeds for the second season of my amazing vegetable and herb garden. Only this year I am doing many things differently to avoid last year's "disasters" in the garden. What disasters, you ask?<br /><br />Let's review my mistakes:<br /><br />TOMATOES<br />1. I assumed I would unintentionally kill most of my tomato plants so I stuck far too many into the ground and I overfed them. I think a conservative estimate would be to say I put 15 plants in the garden. I both gave away some plants that I started from seeds and took on some plants from friends who didn't have space. Overall, it led to way too many tomatoes that ended up rotting before I could hack my way into the tomato jungle to harvest them. If only I could accurately portray, with words, the massive mess of tomatoes I made in the back yard. Let me just say I had to get on my hands and knees and crawl under the plants to get to the tomatoes in the middle. That was the sitch despite me leaving over a foot between the plants when I originally planted them. So the lesson: far fewer plants this year, and way more attention paid to each. <br /><br />I came across a great beginngers tomato growing video: <object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ncfc3TuHe2I&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ncfc3TuHe2I&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /> <br /><br />2. I fried my lettuce last year. It started beautifully, in a long shallow window box, and grew heartily until I left it in full Iowa sun all day. In just one day it was all zapped. No matter what I did to it after that, it wouldn't perk up. It was really disappointing because it did look so full and healthy in the beginning. So for all you lettuce growers that may be reading -- partial sun, and keep it moist.<br /><br />I thought this guy had an interesting idea for lettuce.<br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HYsOr1m6O8Q&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HYsOr1m6O8Q&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />3. Parsley takes over. While having herb medley pots looks lovely, the oregano was doomed from the start since it got no sun hiding beneath the super-fast growing parsley. I don't even really use parsley. So the plan of herb attack this year is separate, but equal pots for the herbs - and no parsley (unless last year's monster plant revives well). It's not looking so hot now. <br /><br />THERE WERE SOME GOOD THINGS:<br />1. One of the best things I learned and did last year was make homemade organic pesticide. In a spray bottle, combine a couple cups of water with a half a cup of castille soap and a few peeled garlic cloves. Spray it on veggies and leaves every couple days or after heavy rain and not worry about bugs eating your leaves. Do this either very early in the morning or in the evening so the pesticide doesn't burn the leaves in the hot sun.<br /><br />2. White pencil eggplant is delicious. I had a few plants to my disposal and they grew really well in tomato cages to keep them off the ground. I learned to be careful of the giant spikes that grow under the large, velvety, floppy leaves.<br /><br /><br />The next step is to get my tomato seedlings out into the sun tomorrow. I started them in little plastic greenhouses about a week ago and now they are each about an inch tall. <br /><br />I bought a basil plant at New Pi Co-Op and that needs sun as well. The rest of the herbs are still seeds in the other plastic greenhouse. So far I've got more basil, cilantro, dill, sage and chives. I intend to add thyme and oregano. I want to have a huge amount of oregano this summer so I can dry it and have it in the winter.<br /><br />I wish it would just get warm and stay warm already. I am not entirely sure how cold it needs to get in the evening before I need to bring them inside. Any answers for me out there?<br /><br />crazily anticipating the summer,<br />AdrianneUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314209305202994837.post-90679535246420529132009-10-04T17:13:00.003-05:002009-10-04T18:19:11.091-05:00untitled 1<span style="font-weight:bold;">What do you say, when you know there's nothing you can say to ease the pain?<br /><br />What do you do, when you know all your efforts can not cause any difference for good?<br /><br />You fall down on your knees and pray.<br /><br />My heart aches for this family, so I pray for peace, love and resolution to prevail among them.<br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314209305202994837.post-79695871887721895992009-09-02T22:44:00.015-05:002009-09-03T00:52:36.431-05:00My Gratitude ListIt's September and I've already had to bust out a sweater a few times while driving in the early morning hours. While I am about to be excited about fall fashion, crafts and bonfires...I'm not quite there yet. I am still in denial that summer is winding down because I feel I have not had my fill of fun in the sun yet. It began when I noticed that it was dark by 8:30, not 9:15 like it is in the middle of June. Doug no longer insists on constant air conditioning and the best thing about that is listening to the summer sounds in my quite little Iowa City bungalow by the river. There is little traffic, so the only noises are a din of crickets, frogs. owls and bats. I thought I just heard something hit the drainpipe outside my window. It's either a zombie or a raccoon. So, I sit and enjoy it while I can. It will soon be to chilly to sit barefoot in a tanktop with my bedroom window wide open. Either that, or the zombie will get me.<br /><br />August was kinda rough for those in my little world, but now that September has snuck up on us, it's time to rehash the good parts of the summer. I have decided to leave the summer behind with gratitude for the great things that happened that I will talk about when I am old. I am going to go backwards until I get too tired to continue. I'll follow with July's list another night as my eyelids are growing heavy already.<br /><br />WILLIAM ELLIOTT WHITMORE <br />@ the VAUDEVILLE MEWS IN DES MOINES<br /> ---------------------------------------<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9IU6UxsvI/AAAAAAAAASc/fz6EmP7A0Vk/s1600-h/Wiliam+Eliott+Whitmore+at+Vaudeville+Mews+(1).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9IU6UxsvI/AAAAAAAAASc/fz6EmP7A0Vk/s320/Wiliam+Eliott+Whitmore+at+Vaudeville+Mews+(1).JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377096004194644722" /></a><br />Doug, myself and most of our close friends are live music junkies. We watch for shows within a reasonable (?) driving distance, pile in the car and go. The most recent trip to see WEW was not one of the long-night, long-hauls since we were fortunate to crash with good friends. Thanks to the U family. You guys are great friends. If only they could have come to the show. The Vaudeville Mews is small, but great. I love that the ceiling in the front half of the bar is low and then it opens up to the high-ceiling stage area. It was like passing through a tunnel into a cave. By the time Will came on stage, the house was packed. He got loud as he stomped his rhythms on the floor and the feet of the crowd echoed back. He talked to people in the crowd he knew, since he is from the Iowa City area a couple hours away, that was many people. He noticed on of his friends walking past the stage on the way to the bathroom and shouted out a hello. He was charming, and funny, and relevant as he told stories between belting lyrics glorifying the great state of Iowa. Though I am not an Iowa native, I felt some significant Iowa pride at that show. He played for almost two hours as he threw back drinks handed to him from the front rows. I, being very short, couldn't see a thin from where my super-tall friends were standing, so I snuck up to the back corner of the stage where I could see everything...well, except his face. Sure beats looking at the back of the heads of the audience.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9G4UKRUXI/AAAAAAAAASU/00bPp4hs9q0/s1600-h/Wiliam+Eliott+Whitmore+at+Vaudeville+Mews+(3).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9G4UKRUXI/AAAAAAAAASU/00bPp4hs9q0/s320/Wiliam+Eliott+Whitmore+at+Vaudeville+Mews+(3).JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377094413402067314" /></a><br /><br />I took a few videos, but they are over ten minutes long and youtube won't accept them. Where do I go to share these great vids?<br /><br />Later that night, Doug, Scott and I went to the Hessen Haus (hessenhaus.com) where they each drank a litre of beer from giant glass steins. They had no trouble. I barely finished my 2 Cokes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9JE7TTfBI/AAAAAAAAASs/zE250N6E86I/s1600-h/Litres+of+Beer+Night+at+Hessen+Haus+(2).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9JE7TTfBI/AAAAAAAAASs/zE250N6E86I/s200/Litres+of+Beer+Night+at+Hessen+Haus+(2).JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377096829090626578" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9JEO3EfNI/AAAAAAAAASk/gK4zOlYlDFA/s1600-h/Litres+of+Beer+Night+at+Hessen+Haus+(7).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9JEO3EfNI/AAAAAAAAASk/gK4zOlYlDFA/s200/Litres+of+Beer+Night+at+Hessen+Haus+(7).JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377096817161043154" /></a><br /><br /><br />BABY'S SECOND IOWA STATE FAIR (Myself AND Katie!)<br />----------------------------------------------<br /><br />Ah, my second annual (and consecutive) trip to the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. The best part was watching an almost-two Katie see everything - really see everything - for the first time. Last year she couldn't even walk. This time she wouldn't take no for an answer.<br /><br />There are few joys greater than watching this beautiful little girl moo at the giant cows. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9SJmXBE-I/AAAAAAAAAT8/fnLsQZfuFF0/s1600-h/katie+and+a+cow.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9SJmXBE-I/AAAAAAAAAT8/fnLsQZfuFF0/s320/katie+and+a+cow.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377106804973048802" /></a><br /><br />In addition to the traditional butter cow, there was also a butter sculpture of the moon landing and a television to watch it on. The class encasing it was covered with the smudgy fingerprints of a million kids, so these shots are iffy.<br /><br />**************************<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9SKnPp8fI/AAAAAAAAAUM/kIBqCLiySVo/s1600-h/DSCN7012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9SKnPp8fI/AAAAAAAAAUM/kIBqCLiySVo/s320/DSCN7012.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377106822390477298" /></a><br /><br />**************************<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9SKG8MOrI/AAAAAAAAAUE/_yFUilixp_w/s1600-h/DSCN7025.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9SKG8MOrI/AAAAAAAAAUE/_yFUilixp_w/s320/DSCN7025.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377106813718903474" /></a><br /><br />***************************<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9UEDiPZzI/AAAAAAAAAUk/1gkZmPtYr0U/s1600-h/5935_1222105835362_1310430410_30639030_4607903_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9UEDiPZzI/AAAAAAAAAUk/1gkZmPtYr0U/s320/5935_1222105835362_1310430410_30639030_4607903_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377108908748793650" /></a><br /><br />I prefer to photograph Doug when he has no idea I am watching.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9UDpbSUQI/AAAAAAAAAUc/Z8Rjr09v-jo/s1600-h/DSCN7002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9UDpbSUQI/AAAAAAAAAUc/Z8Rjr09v-jo/s320/DSCN7002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377108901740302594" /></a><br /><br />...but not always.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9UCyO4BMI/AAAAAAAAAUU/JS8x0px-YQs/s1600-h/5935_1222105955365_1310430410_30639033_1000124_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9UCyO4BMI/AAAAAAAAAUU/JS8x0px-YQs/s320/5935_1222105955365_1310430410_30639033_1000124_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377108886924297410" /></a><br /><br />This little guy was really cute....for a pig.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9WEEBk6AI/AAAAAAAAAU8/ilJTiHa-OKo/s1600-h/5935_1222107875413_1310430410_30639075_1284591_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9WEEBk6AI/AAAAAAAAAU8/ilJTiHa-OKo/s320/5935_1222107875413_1310430410_30639075_1284591_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377111107903481858" /></a><br /><br />....and just to prove I was there.......lol. Here I am being pushy with Katie.<br /><br /><br />VINTAGE FRIENDS<br />*************<br /><br />Emily, threw a very charming vintage garden party, complete with a gorgeous, healthy feast of goodies prepared with the help of her very hip mom. (Any lady that listens to Tom Waits is all right in my book.)While I played my all-to-typical role as wallflower among some unfamiliar faces, I had a lovely time. And who doesn't love an excuse to dress up.<br />Here are some shots from the event.<br />*********************<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9Kum8U5ZI/AAAAAAAAAS0/rrxz1qMUhDE/s1600-h/DSCN6762.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9Kum8U5ZI/AAAAAAAAAS0/rrxz1qMUhDE/s320/DSCN6762.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377098644691674514" /></a><br /> Lovely ladies lighting candles.<br />*********************<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9KvK0dxaI/AAAAAAAAAS8/Jah9gClDC6s/s1600-h/DSCN6765.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9KvK0dxaI/AAAAAAAAAS8/Jah9gClDC6s/s320/DSCN6765.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377098654322378146" /></a><br /> Starry night.<br />*********************<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9Kv8GP0HI/AAAAAAAAATE/5sn0BwpHwG0/s1600-h/DSCN6777.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9Kv8GP0HI/AAAAAAAAATE/5sn0BwpHwG0/s320/DSCN6777.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377098667550298226" /></a><br /> the spread<br />*********************<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9KxJpDuSI/AAAAAAAAATU/v_aitjLOyr0/s1600-h/vintage+friends.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9KxJpDuSI/AAAAAAAAATU/v_aitjLOyr0/s320/vintage+friends.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377098688365836578" /></a><br /><br />Vintage vin⋅tage/ [vin-tij] noun, adjective, verb, -taged, -tag⋅ing. adj. 1. being the best of its kind.<br /><br />DANIEL JOHNSTON <br />@ THE SLOWDOWN IN OMAHA<br />------------------------<br />Okay, this was one of those long-distance, long-haul trips. Doug drove the way to Omaha with me, Scott and Shawn in tow, which took about four hours. After the show I was the sober driver back...four hours. We left at 5pm and rolled in after 4am. The show was well worth the effort.<br /><br />Many people recognize Daniel Johnston's name from a popular documentary about his life called The Devil and Daniel Johnston. This trailer is for your viewing convenience. I urge you to find out who he is and find his music. It is both rudimentary and beautifully complex.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wJZOe65eA4Y&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wJZOe65eA4Y&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />He played for about an hour, first alone with his guitar, then with an accompanying guitarist, and finally, with a band backing him up. He brought out with him four bottles of Mt. Dew and a three-ring binder with all his lyrics in sheet protectors. He was genuine in his performance, and did wonderfully, with the audience gently encouraging him on. It was well worth the eight hour drive to see a musical legend in all his vulnerable might.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9OuDyov1I/AAAAAAAAATc/IJl9lM0BLHc/s1600-h/DSCN6526.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9OuDyov1I/AAAAAAAAATc/IJl9lM0BLHc/s320/DSCN6526.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377103033302302546" /></a><br /><br />MY OTHER PASSION, Photography.<br />WILBUR'S PHOTO SESSION<br />------------------------<br /><br />This was my first taste at pet photography (besides the masses of shots of my own pets) and it made me want to do other people's pet portraits. Anyone interested in commissioning me to make your furry or feathered friend look great in a frame?<br /><br />Here are my favorites.<br />**********************<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9P8vjZCYI/AAAAAAAAAT0/Kv9cJc6ZXr0/s1600-h/DSCN6718.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9P8vjZCYI/AAAAAAAAAT0/Kv9cJc6ZXr0/s320/DSCN6718.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377104385079314818" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9P7iNwuQI/AAAAAAAAATs/ibsqS9hMffQ/s1600-h/Trifecta+of+Wilbur+.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 109px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9P7iNwuQI/AAAAAAAAATs/ibsqS9hMffQ/s320/Trifecta+of+Wilbur+.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377104364319062274" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9P7HYI_RI/AAAAAAAAATk/Moo3MkZTm0I/s1600-h/DSCN6571.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9P7HYI_RI/AAAAAAAAATk/Moo3MkZTm0I/s320/DSCN6571.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377104357114838290" /></a><br /><br /><br />HONORABLE MENTIONS....while I am remembering them........<br />---------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />TOGA PARTY. I did not sport a toga, but guess who did...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9W1OsMRgI/AAAAAAAAAVE/eWtzhq_Oa6A/s1600-h/5935_1222108115419_1310430410_30639081_8130884_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9W1OsMRgI/AAAAAAAAAVE/eWtzhq_Oa6A/s320/5935_1222108115419_1310430410_30639081_8130884_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377111952580167170" /></a><br /><br />Hopefully this posting won't get me in trouble. Let's see how long before my toga man reads this.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9WDSM3w7I/AAAAAAAAAU0/cUpFzisP7tc/s1600-h/5935_1222108035417_1310430410_30639079_776417_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9WDSM3w7I/AAAAAAAAAU0/cUpFzisP7tc/s320/5935_1222108035417_1310430410_30639079_776417_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377111094529082290" /></a><br /><br />Though, in all fairness, he didn't give in right away. I wish I had not been holding a cig and an alcoholic beverage. Oh, what kind of role model will I be now?<br /><br /><br />I'll close with the joy of my toddler photo shoot with Katie. These are some of my favorites shots of Katie so far. <br /><br />*********************<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9Ybp8hDKI/AAAAAAAAAVk/qjvihIqZ-ZE/s1600-h/RSCN7032.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9Ybp8hDKI/AAAAAAAAAVk/qjvihIqZ-ZE/s320/RSCN7032.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377113712243051682" /></a><br /><br />I think I got (un)intentionally smacked right after this. *sigh* kids.<br />*********************<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9Ya0ULO_I/AAAAAAAAAVc/Ky-UAM3K9Lk/s1600-h/DSCN6950.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9Ya0ULO_I/AAAAAAAAAVc/Ky-UAM3K9Lk/s320/DSCN6950.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377113697846770674" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9YaWLWu9I/AAAAAAAAAVU/okAp1xT9voU/s1600-h/DSCN6875.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9YaWLWu9I/AAAAAAAAAVU/okAp1xT9voU/s320/DSCN6875.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377113689756711890" /></a><br /><br />She likes to feed Chico one morsel at a time, with a giggle in between.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9YZtI0RXI/AAAAAAAAAVM/xb7n51ZE3SA/s1600-h/RSCN6994.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Sp9YZtI0RXI/AAAAAAAAAVM/xb7n51ZE3SA/s320/RSCN6994.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377113678740211058" /></a><br /><br />A pretty good month to remember. Stay tuned for July. I've got to go to bed.<br />p.s forgive my mistakes; I am too tired to proofread. haUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314209305202994837.post-45122438551644583492009-08-10T12:59:00.006-05:002009-08-10T14:18:07.846-05:00Wonderbread Facial: Horror and ComedyI was having a pretty good Sunday, complete with a nice harvest of tomatoes and peppers in tow. I had a dish with about 50 cherry and grape tomatoes, 2 jalapenos, 2 serranos and 4 habaneros (which I actually picked too early...they're not orange yet.) Anyways, I was looking at this bowl of veggies and all I could see was salsa. <br /><br />I tossed the tomatoes in the food processor to be diced, cut some corn off the cob from the previous night's dinner-for-one, and moved onto the peppers. I halved two jalepenos and two serranos. I took one of the halves into my hand, and began seeding it over the trash can by running my thumb under the seeds.<br /><br />What happened next happened in a fury, so let's see if I can keep it straight...<br />As I was watching the seeds fall into the trash, it happened, almost in slow motion; two beads of juice shot up and nailed me directly in both eyes. Before my brain could form the thought that this was very, very not good, the fire engulfed my face.<br />In the next few seconds, moments, what felt like days, I began splashing water into my face from the kitchen sink, uttering a series of pained curse words, my thoughts racing over what to do to make it stop.<br /><br />I ripped the dishtowel from the pocket it was tucked into, soaked it with water and began to run to the bathroom. (Mind you, this running includes stumbling blind, tripping over 2 cats and a dog who want to know what's wrong, cursing, and an intense burning, scalding sensation beneath my eyelids.)I would uncover and attempt to open my eyes every few feet as i ran the 15 feet to the bathroom, each time, I'd see a blurred view of the next few feet before howling again and shoving the wet towel into my eyes.<br /><br />Once in the bathroom, I stuck my face under the pouring faucet of the tub, trying to blast out the irritant, but instead, i felt the burning spreading to my eyelids, the skin under my eyes and even my forehead! My thoughts screamed, "Doug! I'll call Doug, but oh sh**, I have no idea where my phone is and i am blind!" So I make the same flailing, fumbling, moaning journey back to the kitchen, stepping on a cat, and nearly falling on my burning face....feeling around for my phone. "Oh, God, save me, I am going to be blind and buried in a mess!"<br /><br />I call Doug, who answers after the 5 thousandth ring, or the third, but who can tell when your eyes are melting? "I need your help....i shot myself in the eyes with jalepeno juice and now i am dying"....or something to the effect. I went on, panicked, "I need help, look up what to do....." I hear pity in his laughter, but no mind now, I'll deal with him later.<br /><br />In the eternity it took for him to call back (again, likely less than a minute), I remembered that my dad always told us kids to eat bread when our mouths were on fire from his cooking. So I fumbled towards the white bread I had been saving for my ducks (a whole other story) and smashed two full slices of white bread against my closed, trembling eyelids. God bless my dad, because this actually brought me some relief almost instantly. As I was making this discovery, Doug called back and told me to get some milk to neutralize the burning. By then I was giving myself a Wonderbread facial, and actually got to the point of opening my eyes without wishing them removed. I babbled at him for a minute, and then went back to absorbing my pain with the slices of now-squished bread. All this had occured in what felt like 10 minutes, but it was more like 5 in real, non-pain time.<br /><br />The animals sat around me in amazed horror. I can only imagine what two cats and a Boston terrier might've thought about my little freak out. By the time I was actually able to look in the mirror, I saw that my eyes and the skin around them were a hot pink, a little swollen, definately traumatized, with breadcrumbs speckling the area. It wasn't until that moment, when I knew I hadn't fried my eyeballs, that I could laugh about it. I was reluctant to finish making the salsa, but I did what any grown woman would do....I put on sunglasses while I finished chopping the peppers. <br /><br />You know something, that's damn good salsa. Just learn from my mistakes, kids.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314209305202994837.post-4332053537250618922009-08-05T21:17:00.009-05:002009-08-05T22:06:37.491-05:00Hours Passed with My Grands: A Photo JournalMy grandparents live in the West Chicago suburbs and will drive to Iowa City to visit every few months. They came out this week and I spent time with them yesterday and today. Here's how it went.
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<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnpBGlTWcnI/AAAAAAAAARs/bmgfS03cfkA/s1600-h/DSCN6355.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366673487313662578" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnpBGlTWcnI/AAAAAAAAARs/bmgfS03cfkA/s320/DSCN6355.JPG" /></a>
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<br />Mom announced a "corn boil" which is exactly what it sounds like...she boiled a ton of sweet corn and we sat around and ate corn. I felt like a native Iowan for a few minutes as I scarf down my aslty, buttery, crunchy sweet corn.
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<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnpDgad6ZYI/AAAAAAAAASE/lSGWP_G5Ods/s1600-h/DSCN6447.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnpDgad6ZYI/AAAAAAAAASE/lSGWP_G5Ods/s320/DSCN6447.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366676130105025922" /></a>
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<br />Grampa suspenders.
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<br />My 83-year-old grampa, who has been a housepainter his whole life, insisted on painting my mom's living room on the day they arrived. And he painted all of it except the few spots my mom touched up. I took a photo of her standing on the step ladder, streeeeeetching....
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<br />Today, Gramma and Grampa came over to Doug's and my place (unfortunately, Doug is in Des Moines for a spell) and sat around for a bit and messed with the critters. I also crawled into the tomato jungle as they stood outside the fence and directed me to bright red tomatoes. As I got handfuls, I would hand them over the fence to mom and gramma. We collected 40 tomatoes total. I've been snacking on them all day.
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<br />To make the grands happy, we went to IHOP for lunch. We sat in a booth and talked and joked and i listened to my grands bicker and joke intermittently. Every time the waitress asked if we needed anything else, my grampa would reply "A stack of twentys this high" gesturing a stack on the table with his hand. Each time the waitress didn't get it. "Uh, what? Twenty pancakes?"
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<br />We went to Hobby Lobby, which is on the way back from IHOP, and Gramma and Grampa sat on a bench near the main entrance and insisted that we go shop for a few minutes. Mom and I ran around looking for elastic and felt for my sewing endeavors.
<br />My goodies are at the bottom.
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314209305202994837.post-10741914480335933492009-08-05T15:41:00.008-05:002009-08-05T16:23:19.195-05:00This Kept Me Up All NightMy grandparents are in town for a few days and gramma gifted me this awesome retro dress. I was shocked that it fit , and fell in love with it as soon as it was zipped. The photos are all a different shade because of the variation of "mood" lighting schemes in the house, but it is a lovely peach with tiny black polka dots. And, no, it is not the same color as my skin. <span><span></span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnnvG0EB65I/AAAAAAAAAOs/xp7tL8iRTRo/s1600-h/DSCN6387.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnnvG0EB65I/AAAAAAAAAOs/xp7tL8iRTRo/s320/DSCN6387.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366583331322456978" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnnvoLwUnNI/AAAAAAAAAO0/ONgqzAJl_OA/s1600-h/DSCN6390.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnnvoLwUnNI/AAAAAAAAAO0/ONgqzAJl_OA/s320/DSCN6390.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366583904617929938" /></a><br /><br />The only problem was the collar. It was very high and gathered and made it look like I had one gigantic boob. So I was inspired to do a little project. That little project kept me up until almost 4 in the morning, sewing the details by hand.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />At approximately 1:53 am, I got the idea and started to snip away at the collar. It was pretty easy to cut it straight using the polka-dot pattern as a grid.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnnvoqbgwlI/AAAAAAAAAO8/UrjecLaRt24/s1600-h/DSCN6395.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnnvoqbgwlI/AAAAAAAAAO8/UrjecLaRt24/s320/DSCN6395.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366583912852144722" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnnxM6D4pLI/AAAAAAAAAPE/5wFBSVXHlM4/s1600-h/DSCN6399.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnnxM6D4pLI/AAAAAAAAAPE/5wFBSVXHlM4/s320/DSCN6399.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366585635034932402" /></a><br /><br /><br />Approximately 2.53am, after pinning the fabric down to a pointed collar, I stitched both the outer polka-dot layer and the inner solid layer with a black topstitch. I stitched up the original piping to hide the seam from what used to be the inside of the collar.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnnxNfO0kWI/AAAAAAAAAPM/ZMxztkv2tC4/s1600-h/DSCN6398.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnnxNfO0kWI/AAAAAAAAAPM/ZMxztkv2tC4/s320/DSCN6398.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366585645012914530" /></a><br /><br /><br />I added a shiny, black button to the tip of the v-neck, to hide the stitching there. With the split sleeves, it's quite charming.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnnxNi3vKkI/AAAAAAAAAPU/pF9nD9vBCjA/s1600-h/DSCN6403.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnnxNi3vKkI/AAAAAAAAAPU/pF9nD9vBCjA/s320/DSCN6403.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366585645989833282" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnnxONHRPlI/AAAAAAAAAPc/uS3IUTVXOmc/s1600-h/DSCN6406.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnnxONHRPlI/AAAAAAAAAPc/uS3IUTVXOmc/s320/DSCN6406.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366585657329270354" /></a><br />By a quarter to 4, I had a fantastic new dress for my collection!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Snn2lMsFgvI/AAAAAAAAAPs/XzOGH42R1k0/s1600-h/DSCN6405.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Snn2lMsFgvI/AAAAAAAAAPs/XzOGH42R1k0/s320/DSCN6405.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366591549910385394" /></a><br /><br />Since it's so difficult to take photos of one's self in dresses, I may have to recruit a helper for the next project. Any volunteers if I promise not to work at 3 in the morning?<br /><br />-ageUnknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314209305202994837.post-70467939796239244932009-07-31T18:39:00.012-05:002009-07-31T19:59:05.776-05:00Keeping Busy on These Long Lonely Summer DaysI do live a charmed life in many ways. I was thinking about this as I rode my beach cruiser along the Iowa River, listening to Doug's iPod and feeling relatively good while riding into the sunset. When I arrived back home, I trekked back to the garden to grab a handful of tomatoes to immediately devour. As I was searching out the bright red dots among the green tomato jungle vines, I began to feel tiny, painful bites on my neck, face and exposed arms. MOSQUITOES! I literally dropped everything in the grass and ran back to the front door of the house where my bug spray is kept. Those little buggars bite hard this time of year. I covered myself in bug spray just for the 45 seconds it would take to walk back there and collect my things. It was <span style="font-style:italic;">that</span> bad. <div><br /></div><div>While I was back there, I managed to get 11 cherry tomatoes and 3 Serrano peppers. I also noticed that there were many yellow, soon-to-be-red tomatoes, maybe 20-30. These are the days.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnOCjB1mvNI/AAAAAAAAANs/KF6rqa0PdZc/s1600-h/2009+07+31+(8).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnOCjB1mvNI/AAAAAAAAANs/KF6rqa0PdZc/s320/2009+07+31+(8).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364775119428697298" /></a><br /><br />On the downside, I must've gotten 8 mosquito bites in a matter of 15 seconds. I don't think I got any of them back. So unfair. <br /><br />On another downside, Doug is in Des Moines again, still tending to his grandparents, who really need him right now. That means that I am here in the house on my days off trying to stay busy and positive so that I can send some good vibes his way and get some projects done.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnOE47XeiBI/AAAAAAAAAN0/t2XlFPl5heU/s1600-h/2009+07+31+(3).JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnOE47XeiBI/AAAAAAAAAN0/t2XlFPl5heU/s320/2009+07+31+(3).JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364777694672095250" /></a>One project I took on this afternoon, before my bike ride, was to make a bunch of delicious croutons from the almost-stale whole grain bread I had on the counter. It went smashingly well and I have been snacking on them shamelessly. I warmed a few tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a skillet and loaded it with Italian herbs, some of which were grown in my garden and dried in my kitchen. Use your imagination when you make yours....oregano, basil, thyme, black pepper, Parmesan cheese, etc....and be generous with them. Warm the oil over a low heat. <br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnOGi5Iq53I/AAAAAAAAAN8/4NquSPp_-U8/s1600-h/2009+07+31+(5).JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnOGi5Iq53I/AAAAAAAAAN8/4NquSPp_-U8/s320/2009+07+31+(5).JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364779515139254130" /></a><br /><br /><br />While the oil is warming up, cube several slices of the bread of your choice. I like to use bread that's not fresh enough for sandwiches, but hasn't yet gone stale. I used a Pepperidge Farm 7 grain and I leave the crust on since I think it's the best part. Toss it in the skillet until the cubes are covered in the seasoned oil.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnOHt9Z0f_I/AAAAAAAAAOE/YD2rIe5M5uY/s1600-h/2009+07+31+(6).JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnOHt9Z0f_I/AAAAAAAAAOE/YD2rIe5M5uY/s320/2009+07+31+(6).JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364780804775116786" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Lay these delicious little cubes on a cookie sheet and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Let them cool completely before storing them. If you're like me, you'll eat them all before you get the opportunity to store them.<br /><br />They actually are better after they have sat out for awhile, or at least that's when I think the crunch is best. Those of you who know me know I am all about the crunch. ;)<br /><br /><br />As For the Crafts......Projects in the Hopper......<br /><br />I am teaching myself to embroider, mainly by watching youtube videos explaining the various stitches....but don't expect to see any embroidered teddy bears...I am sticking strictly to that which shocks....roller derby girls and abstract forms....i welcome ideas, got any? Here's the shirt I am presently embroidering. This embroidery is on the right sleeve. I will do a similar design on the left side of the torso also.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnOLeXqy9aI/AAAAAAAAAOM/IQeIaI1K114/s1600-h/DSCN6195.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnOLeXqy9aI/AAAAAAAAAOM/IQeIaI1K114/s320/DSCN6195.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364784934994245026" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnOLrgmxqAI/AAAAAAAAAOU/Hgq2JhQELfw/s1600-h/DSCN6197.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnOLrgmxqAI/AAAAAAAAAOU/Hgq2JhQELfw/s320/DSCN6197.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364785160731600898" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I am also taking on a project for Doug, now that he trusts me enough to have at his clothes...gimme gimme....<br />I am taking in a shirt that is too big for him. The sleeves and trunk of the shirt are the right length, but just too big around. I have basically just begun to take it in about an inch in those areas. I have also added a patch on the shoulder to cover a couple tears. Looking pretty good so far, considering I am doing all this by hand. Better appreciate, Doug!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnOQ1dlx-YI/AAAAAAAAAOc/2K3Sf-DoBig/s1600-h/DSCN6198.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnOQ1dlx-YI/AAAAAAAAAOc/2K3Sf-DoBig/s320/DSCN6198.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364790829278951810" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnORKVJwwcI/AAAAAAAAAOk/ZxTaU3MkKmE/s1600-h/DSCN6203.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnORKVJwwcI/AAAAAAAAAOk/ZxTaU3MkKmE/s320/DSCN6203.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364791187791200706" /></a><br /><br />Now, I am headed back to work on my black t-shirt.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314209305202994837.post-39567837526595095802009-07-30T12:37:00.005-05:002009-07-30T13:14:06.769-05:00Almost Moving Day<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The end of the lease year is an event in Iowa City. This is the time when a great portion of the town has to move...move to a bigger place, a smaller place, a place closer to campus, or just plain move away. It's the best organized chaos of the summer.<div> </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I have moved 7 times in the 10 years I have lived in Iowa City and I have relished the years when I have been able to stay put. Moving day is anytime between July 29th and August 1st which means that the heat and humidity are near unbearable even when you're not carrying a sofa up and down 3 flights of stairs. Movers are usually seen armed with gatorade and brow-rags for wiping themselves down between loads. For many of these tenants, there is a gap between the time the old lease ends and the new one begins. This is good news for the storage unit businesses in the area, but they're about the only ones. For those of us that are homeless for 2-3 days out of the year, it's a huge problem. It means either renting a u-haul for the entire time (if you planned early enough to have gotten a u-haul reservation) which is pricey or to store all your stuff somewhere and crash someone's couch for a few days. All the way around it is a huge pain in the booty that there is, apparently, no better solution for...</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Moving day(s) also means that the city is a giant swap meet for unwanted and discarded items. You can drive up and down the blocks and find displays of furniture and household items on front lawns with notes saying "FREE- PLEASE TAKE" If you're one of the lucky ones, you might just find a treasure. Several years ago I picked up a near mint club chair up off the curb and loved it for two years until I had to move again and leave it on the curb for the next person. Doug and I also found a perfect steel bookshelf for our friends who, at the time, were in need of one. It's not always trash, although there is a great deal of that, too.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was riding my bike home down Dubuque Street a couple days ago and saw one of the above-mentioned junk piles waiting to be scooped up by our reliable trash collectors. It makes me very sad to think about where all this stuff ends up and if any of it could have instead been donated or reconstructed or even recycled. </div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnHc5Rii9PI/AAAAAAAAANc/3Z4vnwb3u58/s1600-h/DSCN6134.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnHc5Rii9PI/AAAAAAAAANc/3Z4vnwb3u58/s320/DSCN6134.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364311507693925618" /></a><br /><div>Another common sight in Iowa City these days is the FOR RENT sign. You'll find them stuck in front lawns, stapled to posts and on bulletin boards everywhere. I remember what it's like to write down 15 phone numbers a day and then make calls only to discover the place is too expensive, too dumpy or doesn't allow pets. (Iowa City landlords could do more to cater to responsible pet owners in Iowa City.....this has been my biggest frustration for the better part of the last decade.)</div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnHf_JAmJcI/AAAAAAAAANk/prr5gwmDV1k/s1600-h/DSCN6135.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SnHf_JAmJcI/AAAAAAAAANk/prr5gwmDV1k/s320/DSCN6135.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364314907018143170" /></a><br />If you're living in Iowa City and you have reusable items that you'd like to donate instead of throwing them away, click the title of this blog for information on how to donate to Rummage in the Ramp, going on until August 1st. (They will have volunteers pick your stuff up so there's no excuse not to donate that chair that doesn't fit in your car!)<div><br /></div><div>Also check out freecycle.org. This is a great site designed to hook up people seeking things/getting rid of things so that all these things don't end up in landfills. Look up your city's message board and see if anyone is in need of the things in your garage that you no longer need. In fact, I am going to go check them out right now. You should too. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314209305202994837.post-75701016651458505432009-07-29T22:40:00.003-05:002009-07-29T22:46:07.923-05:00A Moment of Gardener's Zen<span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;">I did a beautiful thing last night. I walked out into the yard at dusk, went back to the garden and picked a few red grape tomatoes and a few yellow pear tomatoes. The plants smelled great and the tiny tomatoes practically jumped off the plants into my hand. I brought them inside, sliced them up, and put them on two sandwiches for Doug and I. I have been waiting for days like this for a long time now. These are the days when I can eat a handful of tomatoes grown by my own hands. It feels good.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314209305202994837.post-15657189115785345102009-07-26T14:57:00.009-05:002009-07-26T15:45:50.721-05:00Playing in Doug's Room by ChicoWhile Doug has been away, I've tried to keep busy....I tried reading....<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Smy1ae8VFNI/AAAAAAAAAMs/TGb9-ymf7Gk/s1600-h/DSCN6113.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Smy1ae8VFNI/AAAAAAAAAMs/TGb9-ymf7Gk/s320/DSCN6113.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362860722878747858" /></a><br /><br />But that only last for so long, before I start to wonder about Doug again. I know he'll come back, but still I try to pass the hours without him. I tried to do some yoga to relax myself and free my mind.....<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Smy14KqInxI/AAAAAAAAAM0/nbzuPSpIoyQ/s1600-h/DSCN6111.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Smy14KqInxI/AAAAAAAAAM0/nbzuPSpIoyQ/s320/DSCN6111.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362861232829800210" /></a><br /><br />......but then I fall asleep.<br /><br /><br />Age tries to help by enticing me with toys, but I just can't get interested. Maybe later, Age.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Smy2_0XxmLI/AAAAAAAAAM8/bO-dwlH2Dzs/s1600-h/DSCN6110.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Smy2_0XxmLI/AAAAAAAAAM8/bO-dwlH2Dzs/s320/DSCN6110.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362862463797794994" /></a><br /><br /><br />The only thing that's not a problem is eating. I still have my appetite. (C'mon, he'll be back and I can't resist a meal.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Smy3hPkiV0I/AAAAAAAAANE/v2TY1-LjaAk/s1600-h/DSCN6114.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Smy3hPkiV0I/AAAAAAAAANE/v2TY1-LjaAk/s320/DSCN6114.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362863038034761538" /></a><br /><br />I have tried to spend some time in the yard....it's pretty nice back there. Lots to smell and mark.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwQWHv-kskhkTo3EsR4BD8BboN1Gd_Rqx4NcKux6QK-GXI0qXR5n6pkhQUyup49Ip76SFLg85NO7p1PddEecQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><div>I tried to warn age not to follow me back there. It stinks to have zero privacy in my own yard.</div><div><br /></div><div>Well, I guess I should try to enjoy myself a little. Age and I are going to go jump on Doug's bed. Shhhh....don't tell him.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxh_HGDux1_pBL5gZfY94KRva5HbkU4nIbXvLJFxGEOsdBzmMCZiYT0zYUmlcuWpCj0j6kvlDxQ45DLMU78' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><div>Well, this is Chico signing off. Doug, if you're reading this, I can't wait to see you! Tell Grams and Grampa I say hello </div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SmzAOjRCIcI/AAAAAAAAANU/nOtY2B0iMSI/s1600-h/DSCN6116.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SmzAOjRCIcI/AAAAAAAAANU/nOtY2B0iMSI/s320/DSCN6116.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362872612508803522" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>xoxo</div><div>Cheeks</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314209305202994837.post-55798922530926223082009-07-26T13:26:00.016-05:002009-07-26T14:29:29.001-05:00Disasters, Lessons & Victory<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SmyrDDatlXI/AAAAAAAAAMk/PO2KZ5XvP-Q/s1600-h/garden+progress.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 162px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SmyrDDatlXI/AAAAAAAAAMk/PO2KZ5XvP-Q/s320/garden+progress.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362849325236721010" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">late April ------> early July</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We’re well into summer and my garden has been more successful than I had planned back in February, when I started sprouting my snap pea seeds.</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My blogging efforts are the only thing that I can say has been less productive than I had hoped. While I wait for things to be ripe enough to harvest, I am reflecting on the endeavor so that I can be prepared for next year.<br /></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></o:p></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SmygP0s9cDI/AAAAAAAAALM/Hc2jDEJE9TE/s1600-h/the+garden+2+(34).JPG"></a></span></span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SmygP0s9cDI/AAAAAAAAALM/Hc2jDEJE9TE/s1600-h/the+garden+2+(34).JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SmygP0s9cDI/AAAAAAAAALM/Hc2jDEJE9TE/s320/the+garden+2+(34).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362837449997119538" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Yesterday, I ate an almost-perfect cucumber from the potted cucumbers. I have been surprised (but not really) by how much more flavor they have than store-bought </span></span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">cucs</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, not to mention they lack the gross shiny wax that grocery stores think make ‘em pretty. Yuck. The vine has gotten so long that I have just been tying it to the fence, which keeps them from rotting on the ground, and</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">make them easy to harvest without hopping the little garden fence. They have done the best with the least amount of maintenance. </span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Smyj4N2NGiI/AAAAAAAAALc/XuZkrAiJ0WI/s1600-h/garden+successes.JPG"></a></span></span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Smyj4N2NGiI/AAAAAAAAALc/XuZkrAiJ0WI/s1600-h/garden+successes.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Smyj4N2NGiI/AAAAAAAAALc/XuZkrAiJ0WI/s320/garden+successes.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362841442476431906" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The tomatoes continue to make a jungle of my garden plot. They are so big and </span></span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">branchy</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> that I can no longer distinguish one from the other. The upside: trillions of green tomatoes basking in the hot July sun.<br /><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz8AoK1XeItnlo0E_eFDKPxsin4XKG7gp6k0nIQV3WJ6RKhJwbm03gLrGnYkl47wTEHXWjYXF6ExdA6HYGb1g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />It is now clear to see that the grape tomatoes really do grow in bunches and I have already eaten a handful while they were still warm from being on the vine. My plan for the next garden: space those t’maters out by 2-3 feet and starting placing cages and stakes earlier in the growing process. Separate but equal…so that I can walk </span></span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">inbetween</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> the plants.</span></span></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></o:p></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SmykUfYKi6I/AAAAAAAAALk/dxEifmcmVPI/s1600-h/the+garden+2+(21).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SmykUfYKi6I/AAAAAAAAALk/dxEifmcmVPI/s320/the+garden+2+(21).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362841928218610594" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Yum.<br /><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">There has also been one complication to the tangled mess of tomatoes. Friday night’s thunderstorm deposited a very large tree branch right in the middle of the tomato jungle. The plants are hardy enough that the only real damage is that now they are all leaning drastically to the east. Also, I lost a few green tiny tomatoes during branch removal. It </span></span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">coulda</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">’ been worse. Tomorrow I will go out and stand them all back up again.<br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></o:p></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SmykvFC1VNI/AAAAAAAAALs/GY7qB4KSk0Y/s1600-h/heidi+came+over+(25).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SmykvFC1VNI/AAAAAAAAALs/GY7qB4KSk0Y/s320/heidi+came+over+(25).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362842385006286034" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The upside to the giant branch: free fire wood. I went out with my neighbor’s handsaw to deconstruct it, but promptly quit when I felt a tickle on my neck that I discovered was a spider crawling down into my shirt.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I shook it out and then immediately went inside to strip off my clothes and shake ‘em out.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> I felt like I was crawling with buggies. I am proud that I </span></span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">didn</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">’t shriek and rip my shirt off in the yard. Who says I’m a girlie girl?</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></o:p></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SmymHrthhdI/AAAAAAAAAL0/3UabR8ZpN9Q/s1600-h/heidi+came+over+(28).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SmymHrthhdI/AAAAAAAAAL0/3UabR8ZpN9Q/s320/heidi+came+over+(28).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362843907214378450" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> I abandoned the project =(<br /><br /></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The peppers are another story. The </span></span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">serranos</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> are doing just fine and producing the most baby peppers, but the other plants </span></span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">aren</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">’t looking so hot. They seem to get droopy in the heat often and I need to be more proactive about watering them. The green and yellow bell pepper plants are still flowerless. Perhaps I need to do some more reading on growing peppers. Maybe some plant food will help them along. Any advice from my pepper growing friends?</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></o:p></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SmynPRFxRlI/AAAAAAAAAL8/dGjdCNdmWdA/s1600-h/garden+successes+(10).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SmynPRFxRlI/AAAAAAAAAL8/dGjdCNdmWdA/s320/garden+successes+(10).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362845137018898002" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Serrano Peppers</span></span></span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I let my lettuce down. </span></span></span><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">L</span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Despite it sitting less than ten feet from my front door I’</span></span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">ve</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> been terrible about watering it; it wilts every week and every week I bring it back. I also need to remember to trim it to encourage more growth.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></o:p></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Smyn17nrqQI/AAAAAAAAAME/YtSc7abquWw/s1600-h/the+garden+2+(10).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Smyn17nrqQI/AAAAAAAAAME/YtSc7abquWw/s320/the+garden+2+(10).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362845801270454530" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Neglected Lettuce<br /></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Trimming the herbs has helped them flourish. Here’s the mistake I made with the herbs: while they look lovely busting out of one planter, I now can barely tell the difference between my cilantro and parsley. Also, the parsley has taken over. It’s taller and bushier than all the other herbs. I have to trim it back often so that sunlight can get to the oregano, which I use much more than parsley. Grow, oregano, grow!</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></o:p></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SmyoOezEqTI/AAAAAAAAAMM/VSFBjDnUlMM/s1600-h/the+garden+2+(38).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SmyoOezEqTI/AAAAAAAAAMM/VSFBjDnUlMM/s320/the+garden+2+(38).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362846223030331698" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Harvested Herbs<br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The sage has been mostly useless, except for throwing it on the </span></span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">firepit</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> to make a lovely aroma.</span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It, too, is a not-so-useful herb that has grown like mad. If anyone would like to have some of my fresh sage, speak up. I am unlikely to do anything more than burn it (and that’s a lot to burn).</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SmyqsLWHWWI/AAAAAAAAAMc/vJ9TNpBvPtc/s1600-h/firepit+(1).JPG"></a></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SmyqsLWHWWI/AAAAAAAAAMc/vJ9TNpBvPtc/s1600-h/firepit+(1).JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SmyqsLWHWWI/AAAAAAAAAMc/vJ9TNpBvPtc/s320/firepit+(1).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362848932227930466" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I put my basil in its own pot a few weeks ago and that turned out to be a smart move. It has spread in the pot and I dried quite a lot of it today for Doug & my next batch of spaghetti sauce.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></o:p></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Last, but not least, the pencil eggplant are popping up all over those giant, leafy plants. Time to find some more eggplant recipes. There is only so much fried eggplant a person should eat. Any one have recipes for me?<br /><br /></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Smyp3kM8f-I/AAAAAAAAAMU/mUCUMV1KEbo/s1600-h/the+garden+2+(17).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/Smyp3kM8f-I/AAAAAAAAAMU/mUCUMV1KEbo/s320/the+garden+2+(17).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362848028367290338" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I think that’s plenty for now.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">xoxo</span></span></span></span><o:p></o:p></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314209305202994837.post-29349790575106906342009-07-09T14:47:00.003-05:002009-07-09T14:49:19.084-05:00Dear PerskettiosI am offering up this recipe for homemade marshmallows (courtesy of Martha Stewart).....which I have yet to try myself.....I'll leave this to the more experienced cooks.........Jen, let me know if you give this one a shot (and take photos of the attempt)!<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(61, 63, 63); font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; "><div class="ms-col2-recipe-ingredients" style="background-image: url(http://images.marthastewart.com/images/assets/module/ms-col2-recipe-content-spoon.gif); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; padding-bottom: 12px; background-position: 14px 4px; "><h2 style="font-size: 13px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 39px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 39px; padding-top: 20px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(61, 63, 63); font-weight: bold; ">Ingredients</h2><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 39px; padding-bottom: 12px; width: 396px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(96, 100, 100); background-image: url(http://images.marthastewart.com/images/assets/global/ms-global-dash-green.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 100%; ">Makes about 40</p><ul style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 0px; width: 396px; margin-top: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: auto; margin-left: auto; "><li style="list-style-type: none; padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 11px; background-image: url(http://images.marthastewart.com/images/assets/global/ms-global-dash-green.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 100%; ">2 1/2 tablespoons unflavored gelatin</li><li style="list-style-type: none; padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 11px; background-image: url(http://images.marthastewart.com/images/assets/global/ms-global-dash-green.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 100%; ">1 1/2 cups granulated sugar</li><li style="list-style-type: none; padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 11px; background-image: url(http://images.marthastewart.com/images/assets/global/ms-global-dash-green.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 100%; ">1 cup light corn syrup</li><li style="list-style-type: none; padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 11px; background-image: url(http://images.marthastewart.com/images/assets/global/ms-global-dash-green.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 100%; ">1/4 teaspoon salt</li><li style="list-style-type: none; padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 11px; background-image: url(http://images.marthastewart.com/images/assets/global/ms-global-dash-green.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 100%; ">2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract</li><li style="list-style-type: none; padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 11px; background-image: url(http://images.marthastewart.com/images/assets/global/ms-global-dash-green.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 100%; ">Confectioners' sugar, for dusting</li></ul></div><div class="ms-col2-recipe-directions" style="background-image: url(http://images.marthastewart.com/images/assets/module/ms-col2-recipe-content-pot.gif); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 14px 20px; "><h2 style="font-size: 13px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 39px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 39px; padding-top: 20px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(61, 63, 63); font-weight: bold; ">Directions</h2><ol style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 42px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 26px; margin-left: 26px; "><li style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(61, 63, 63); padding-top: 6px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: url(http://images.marthastewart.com/images/assets/global/ms-global-dash-green.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 100%; "><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(61, 63, 63); font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal; ">Combine gelatin and 1/2 cup cold water in the bowl of an electric mixer with whisk attachment. Let stand 30 minutes.</span></li><li style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(61, 63, 63); padding-top: 6px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: url(http://images.marthastewart.com/images/assets/global/ms-global-dash-green.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 100%; "><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(61, 63, 63); font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal; ">Combine granulated sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 1/2 cup water in a small heavy saucepan; place over low heat, and stir until sugar has dissolved. Wash down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to dissolve sugar crystals.</span></li><li style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(61, 63, 63); padding-top: 6px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: url(http://images.marthastewart.com/images/assets/global/ms-global-dash-green.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 100%; "><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(61, 63, 63); font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal; ">Clip on a candy thermometer; raise heat to high. Cook syrup without stirring until it reaches 244 degrees.(firm-ball stage). Immediately remove pan from heat.</span></li><li style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(61, 63, 63); padding-top: 6px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: url(http://images.marthastewart.com/images/assets/global/ms-global-dash-green.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 100%; "><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(61, 63, 63); font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal; ">With mixer on low speed, slowly and carefully pour syrup into the softened gelatin. Increase speed to high; beat until mixture is very thick and white and has almost tripled in volume, about 15 minutes. Add vanilla; beat to incorporate.</span></li><li style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(61, 63, 63); padding-top: 6px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: url(http://images.marthastewart.com/images/assets/global/ms-global-dash-green.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 100%; "><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(61, 63, 63); font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal; ">Generously dust an 8-by-12-inch glass baking pan with confectioners’ sugar. Pour marshmallow mixture into pan. Dust top with confectioners’ sugar; wet your hands, and pat it to smooth. Dust with confectioners’ sugar; let stand overnight, uncovered, to dry out. Turn out onto a board; cut marshmallows with a dry hot knife into 1 1/2-inch squares, and dust with more confectioners' sugar.</span></li></ol><div><br /></div></div></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314209305202994837.post-22122367900398680172009-06-25T14:16:00.004-05:002009-06-25T15:07:21.935-05:00Bugs, Heat and Hard Work Paying Off<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Summer is here and I have the garden to prove it! I went outside yesterday ready for a battle..it was 87 degrees here, but it felt like 98 with t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">he</span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">s</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">uffocating humidity</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">, and the bugs are in full force since we've had almost daily rains in our little 'hood by the river. As my plants thrive, it is becoming increasingly satisfying to cover myself with bugspray, put on the headphones, and trek out to the patch with my gardening kit. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The garden kit includes:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">bottle of homemade pesticide</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">spray bottle with water (for cooling off)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">gardening gloves</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">heavy duty utility gloves</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">scissors</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">hemp (for tying floopy plants to their supports)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">a wristband (for blotting my brow)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">good music on Doug's iPod (lately bluegrass/folk is good farmin' music for me)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">the camera</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">MASSIVE GARDEN TIP: (from the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"> I've Learned the Hard Way Series</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">) </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">When you are suiting up with bug spray, don't just spray your exposed skin, spray yourself from head to toe, including your clothes. Those little buggers got me through my cotton pants and didn't touch my exposed skin. Let's just say they are not shy about where they bite a person either! So next time, I am going out there in a cloud of bugspray (it IS all natural spray, ladies and gents!)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Skeeters: 6 Age: 0</span></div><div><br /></div><div>-------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Mosquitos Be Gone!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Get a spray bottle and make a mixture of half water, half REAL vanilla extract....imitation will let you down.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Spray libreally to keep 'Skeeters away. You will also smell like a sugar cookie instead of DEET. Your friends will thank you, the skeeters will not</span>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Oh, yeah, the garden.......I'll be a little more concise this time. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">T'maters</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">They are monsters, all of them. I am finding myself shoving stakes into the ground to tie the massive "branches" of the plants up off the ground. The plant I keep mentioning I got from the co-op is by far the most monsterous. Take a look:</span></div><div><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SkPRHSBNt5I/AAAAAAAAAK8/8uwjv6rB9KQ/s1600-h/DSCN5467.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SkPRHSBNt5I/AAAAAAAAAK8/8uwjv6rB9KQ/s320/DSCN5467.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351350705272502162" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"> I am holding the tallst tip of this plant. As a reference, I am 5'2", so while this is not a record breaking plant, I am amazed at how huge it has become in such a short time. I have been giving it tomato food, just like the rest, and it is the one that I am having to stake because it has branches reaching out more than 2 feet. Oh, and it has a bunch of yellow flowers. Yeeeah!</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Peppers</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">My jalapenos are doing well. There are two actual peppers and each are pushing an inch long. I learned that after the jalas are mature and become over-ripened, they turn red and are perfect for making chipotle peppers with your grill as a smoker. Yum.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Follow this link for the how-to.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre; "><http://hubpages.com/hub/make_your_own_chipotles_bbq_smoke_your_own_spicy_and_smoky_backyard_pepers></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SkPTstw43wI/AAAAAAAAALE/jYGZSKyUO-o/s1600-h/DSCN5475.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SkPTstw43wI/AAAAAAAAALE/jYGZSKyUO-o/s320/DSCN5475.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351353547398635266" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Jalapenos are ready to be picked with they are </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">bright green</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">fat</span> and firm, at about 5-7 inches long.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">None of the pepper plants have supports yet, but the plant shown above is only about 10 inches tall. The habaneros are half that size, but I read that they grow very slowly.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">I started to think about the habanero plants and wondered what I am realistically going to do with all these </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">HOT HOT HOT</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"> peppers once they're harvested. Here's my answer -- Hot sauce!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Habanero Hot Sauce</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">1 cup water</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">1/3 cup of red wine vinegar</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">1-3 fresh or dried habanero peppers, depending on how hot you like it.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">1 large red bell pepper</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">1 tablespoon paprika</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">1 teaspoon cumin</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">1 teaspoon salt</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Chop up the bell and habanero peppers, (or grind the habaneros if using dried). Bring all of the ingredients to a boil, and then simmer for 8-10 minutes. Finally, puree the mixture in a blender</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Be prepared, everyone, this is what you are getting from me for birthdays, summer holidays, etc.....til the supply is gone. hah</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">a</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Lettuce:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">I lost my first mustard green harvest to bugs. I must admit, I was getting low on pesticide and likely didn't spray enough to save them. I have to research how to keep bugs out of the soil....that seems to be another problem with the mustard greens. Aside from that, they seemed to grow very well in a large pot with afternoon shade.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">I have eaten some of the field greens, which have been easy to grow and are delicious...way better than store bought lettuce....just in the way it crunches.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">The arugula is suffering, but I think I did a whoopsie when I didn't poke drainage holes in the tray. Now the soil seems saturated and the leaves are still too small to transplant. Some time in the sun should help greatly.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">A note on harvesting lettuce: Pick your lettuce in the morning, before the sun has had time to zap the moisture out of it. Wilted lettuce will not recover after it's been picked.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">I'll leave you with on more bug spray recipe before going to check on my beauties outside......</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Spearmint-Hot Pepper-Horseradish Spray:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">This works on many different kinds of bugs- too many to list!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">1/2 cup of red peppers (hot)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">water (read below)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">1/2 cup of fresh spearmint</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">1/2 cup horseradish (root and leaves)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">2 tablespoons of liquid detergent</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">1/2 cup green onion tops</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Mix all of the spearmint leaves, horseradish, onion tops and peppers together with enough water to cover everything. Strain the solution. After mixing all of these, add a half-gallon of water and add the detergent also. To use this solution, mix 1/2 gallon of this solution with 1/2 gallon of water. You can use this to spray almost any plant safely. Store this mixture for a few days in a cool environment.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>I haven't tried this one yet, but I'd love to hear reviews from anyone who beats me to it. The only downside I can see is the short shelf-life.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now on to figuring out the best way to dry all these herbs.</div><div>Sneak preview: Some will be hanging, some will go into the convection oven/dehydrator, and some i will zap in the microwave. </div></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Then I will report back with my findings.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">TTFN,</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">::adrianne::</span></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /></span></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314209305202994837.post-48864252033902324092009-06-20T23:11:00.004-05:002009-06-21T00:13:20.924-05:00The Garden Update -- i'll add photos when i am not exhausted....<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The garden is growing crazy and now comes the real work.....weeding, keeping bugs away and keeping the tall plants from flopping over onto the ground when I am not looking. Fortunately, there has been enough rain that my forgetfulness with the watering can hasn't killed them yet. I wander out there every couple of days, smelling of bug repellant and toting my bottle of natural pesticide. It's lovely here. There are ducks (who I'll mention in a bit.) and owls and soon, I hope, our frogs will return. The backyard is starting to look like a botanical center The flowers are amazing, and the food patch is quickly becoming my pride and joy. Here's the food update...<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> </span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">T'maters</span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> </span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Oh, man, there are going to be tons. I can't wait. No food from the garden is better than a sunshine-flavored tomato. The cherry tomato plant I got from the co-op is by far the monster of the group. I bought it at 4 or 5" tall and now it is well over 2 1/2 feet tall and I can't even estimate how far in diameter it stretches. I will head out there soon with a tape measure, because it really is ridiculously big. This is the overachiever in the group, though it hasn't made it past the flowering stage yet. There are many clusters of yellow flowers and I check them often for little green t'mater babies.</span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> </span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">The plants that my neighbor, Deb, contributed were the most mature at the time of planting and they have oodles of green cherry tomatoes exploding everywhere. <br /> Those plants, including the pot they live in, are almost taller than me. (i am 5'2") It sits outside the fenced area, but the rabbits don't bother it and the pesticide takes care of the rest of the pests, it seems. Those definately will be the plants we eat from first.</span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br />Joe's Row is doing well, in third place, getting taller, thicker and branching out, but there are only a few flowers at this point. They are making great progress though. The runts of the group are the plants I began from seeds. They are now getting tall enough that they are flopping over to lay their heavy heads on the ground and need to be tied to tomato stakes.</span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Snap Peas</span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">There are two rounds of snap pea plants. Deb's included some that were already quite tall when she got them. Those are in a large pot with a tomato cage for climbing. So far, this is the only thing in my garden that I have actually eaten. My snap pea plants were sprouted from seeds and are still working on producing some flowers. My little ones are in the ground and are climbing a homemade trellis I constructed with chicken wire fencing and 3 straight stakes. (! trellis construction blog coming soon !) I have discovered the peas grow best in full, all day sun, like the tomatoes. I didn't realize when I planted them I put them in ascending height order, so they look like the reception bars on a cell phone. Silly, but that's what I though when I saw them.</span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> I picked a handful of pods off Deb's plants when they were a little fatter than they ideally should be when eaten. I hear that they are sweetest while the peas are still on the small side, but if that's true than they must be REALLY sweet. I ate them all in their pods; they were delicious. Some of them I ate raw and the rest I sauteed in butter. They're like a less hairy edamame, salty and fresh.</span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Peppers</span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">There was a period, about a week ago, when I thought some of the pepper plants were goners. They looked wilty and droopy and like they were giving up. So they got doused with a bit of tomato food (which I find works well on everything I am growing!) and they popped right back up. I wish I could prescribe a great natural fertilizer, but, shamefully, it's a generic brand of store-bought food that I mix in a giant pitcher and then share with all the plants.</span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> There are some teeny jalapenos that are growing on the plants now - about 1/2 inch long and getting fatter by the day. The habaneros and serranos have buds but no peppers yet. There are still no flowers on the green and yellow pepper plants. Say a prayer for my two non-spicy pepper plants; they need some feist in them. None of them are large enough to need any additional support, but I bet the jalepenos are the first to need steaks to lean against.</span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Lettuce</span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I have confirmed that my lettuces (field greens, arugula and mustard greens) do best in morning light with afternoon shade and since they are growing in containers, not the ground, they are sitting towards the front yard with my herbs where they get shade from about 1pm on. Also, the immature lettuce needs shelter from the pouring thunderstorms that have passed through Iowa CIty lately. I discovered this morning that the baby arugula was drowning in it's own dirt. So it's back under the cover until it dries out a bit. ((What would I do differently-moment: put holes in the bottom of the shallow lettuce-growing tray)) </span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Since the lettuces are not fenced in, I have been most dilligent about keeping my pesticide sprayed on them. (See previous blog entry for spectacular pesticide recipe I keep mentioning) There were a few days where I slacked off on this only to find that the buggies got to some of the field greens after a couple good hard rainshowers. So now it's an every-other-day/post-rain routine for the lettuce spraying.</span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Herbs</span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The herbs, too, are growing faster than I can use them. This means I need to figure out the most effective way to hang and dry my herbs. ((I hear another blog topic stirring)) The dill is getting tall and stalky, the parsley and cilantro is a massive bush and the curry plant is grey and gorgeous. The rest are just normal looking herbs: sage, and italian and thai basil. The chocolate mint that Dawn gave me is flourishing and I plan to take some of the leaves down to the Dublin one of these days so they can make me a chocolate mint mojito.<br /></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Misc</span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The lemon tree has lots of little green lemons peeking out everywhere on the 3' tall tree that gets full sun nearly all day. The blueberries and raspberries and strawberries are itty bitty and cute and soon they'll need netting over them to keep the birdies from feasting on the literal fruits of our labor. Also the pot of salad cucumbers is getting elephant ear-sized leaves, but no signs of flowers yet. The eggplant plants have a few purple flowers on them and i am curious to see the itty bitty eggplants. Can you spell baba ghanoush? I had to look it up, but I know how to eat it!</span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Moral</span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">As I play with these plants, taking them back and forth between various stages of growth and death, learning what they love, I am realizing (cliche but important) things about myself. Without enough light and nourishment in their lives and with the wrong soil, the plants die. If they don't die, they slump and produce no fruit. Since I, too, grow and have a desire to flower in my lifespan, I should pay much closer attention to what light and soil I allow myself. Like with the plants, the wrong combo of elements and you get no tomatoes in life. In that spirit, it is late and I should go to bed before I wilt.</span><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314209305202994837.post-63481347880954415702009-05-22T09:37:00.003-05:002009-05-22T09:42:09.658-05:00A Note About Lettuce<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Just a little follow up to my last entry; I said I had put the lettuce back in the fenced garden area where it was in direct sun for most of the day. Turns out, this is bad and a lot of the lettuce wilted....I thought at first I outright killed it, but I gave it shade and watered it and *most* of it perked up. I did lose a bit of it though. Lesson learned: lettuce needs some shade.</span></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Still no sign of bugs on any of the plants, though yesterday was a very buggy day.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:12px;"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314209305202994837.post-60598258130806402772009-05-17T22:34:00.012-05:002009-05-18T00:40:20.990-05:00Now It Feels Like Spring!It is finally warm enough that I can move my efforts to the outdoors, and Thank Goodness because I was starting to lose hope in my abilities with indoor plants. Now the baby plants are living in the backyard oasis, in a bunny-proof garden. All of them are still in pots, getting a little bigger before I put them into the ground.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/ShDgNVfO4MI/AAAAAAAAAI8/qrnNHP8hQvk/s1600-h/2009+05+12+002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/ShDgNVfO4MI/AAAAAAAAAI8/qrnNHP8hQvk/s320/2009+05+12+002.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337012078145102018" /></a><br /><br />I actually have a plan for the food part of the garden. I had a bit of practice helping my neighbor, Deb, get a the flowers she bought into the ground. I counted 'em up when I was done, and I must've planted at least 55 plants myself, and all in about an hour. There's a shot below, all dumped in by me (oh, except the back row and the plants under the trellis).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/ShDxGWJAXuI/AAAAAAAAAJk/eGyaE_4063A/s1600-h/2009+05+18+In+the+Garden+001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/ShDxGWJAXuI/AAAAAAAAAJk/eGyaE_4063A/s320/2009+05+18+In+the+Garden+001.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337030649758899938" /></a><br /><br />T'Maters<br />My most exciting plants are the tomatoes, and there are many of them back there. I have some very young cherry tomatoes that I grew from seeds; they are supposed to grow in clusters, like grapes. (So why aren't they called grape tomatoes?) They are the tiniest and have to stay in the pot awhile longer before they can go in the dirt. They are in the smaller of the two terra cotta pots. Also, there are three plants that my friend, Joe, gave me, but I have no idea what kind of tomatoes they are. So they are dubbed The Surprise Tomatoes, which are in the larger terra cotta pot. The small green pot has only one grape tomato plant that I bought from the New Pioneer Co-Op, but it has gotten big very quickly. The gigantic pot holds Deb's t'maters which she bought as actual plants. This means that we should have a steady influx of tomatoes all summer if we play our cards right. They are going to live in the southern end of the garden, since that's where they'll get the most sun. I'd also like a roma plant, in case any one has any snippets they could send my way.......<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/ShDkvY7QqyI/AAAAAAAAAJE/ZuCvRhC0jY8/s1600-h/2009+05+12+009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/ShDkvY7QqyI/AAAAAAAAAJE/ZuCvRhC0jY8/s320/2009+05+12+009.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337017061230029602" /></a><br /><br />I gave them the t'maters their first dose of plant food today. Being a novice I went to Ace Hardware and asked one of the ladies that worked there what food worked well with little fuss and they recommended Jobe's fertilizer spikes. You just shove these little suckers into the soil and water it, and !Viola! you have 8 weeks of munchies for the plants. Now that I have done that, I am wishing I had done a little research on what all is in this stuff, since I am shoving it into my food pots. I may have to do a whole post on how to grow a small-scale organic garden. I DO have an organic pesticide spray formula that is so easy I am skeptical to see it work.<br /><br />Organic Pesticide Recipe.......way too easy......<br /><br />In an empty spray bottle mix:<br />*2 cups water<br />*1 cup castille (veggie-based) soap, Like Dr. Bronner's Liquid Soap<br />drop in:<br />* 3 peeled garlic cloves. <br /><br />Let sit for a half-hour before using and shake it up a bit before each use. Don't get it on your hands or you'll smell like garlic all day. This will keep the bugs off but it won't harm your food (which you should be washing anyway - I use castille soap for that sometimes, too)<br /><br />Lettuce<br />I read that lettuce does not root very deep, so it's ideal to grow in a container. My mother gave me some organic field green lettuce seeds and I tossed 'em into a pot that Deb loaned for the project. Behold! I have lettuce coming up. I originally had the box sitting up at the front of the house where there is no fence, and I sprayed it with the above mentioned bug spray and it seemed to keep the rabbits away as well. I didn't want to push my luck, though, so I put it back in the friendly confines of the chicken-wire fence.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/ShDn5xB38gI/AAAAAAAAAJM/4oQ0uAcAA_k/s1600-h/2009+05+12+013.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/ShDn5xB38gI/AAAAAAAAAJM/4oQ0uAcAA_k/s320/2009+05+12+013.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337020538033795586" /></a><br /><br />There is also a giant pot of eggplant plants, and snap peas, which surprisingly, I don't have shots of right now. Deb has more mature plants growing, and mine are babies, from seeds. This is the second attempt at snap peas for me, but the sprouts are already looking better than the first attempt. Though they are smaller, they seem to have twice as many leaves as the indoor ones had at the beginning. This is proof that you can't duplicate the magic of real sunlight.<br /><br />Other highlights:<br /><br />There is a strawberry plant hanging from the tree right now, but Deb and I agree, it will do better in the ground. I am already fantasizing about fat summer strawberries.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/ShDuQvovVUI/AAAAAAAAAJU/LxZ0roFGOmQ/s1600-h/2009+05+12+001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/ShDuQvovVUI/AAAAAAAAAJU/LxZ0roFGOmQ/s320/2009+05+12+001.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337027529866696002" /></a><br /><br />Let me not forget the lemon tree, which, yes, goes back inside for the Iowa winter. We already have lemons growing, for you skeptics out there.....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/ShDu_4zbi7I/AAAAAAAAAJc/pS2neGo9lwE/s1600-h/2009+05+12+012.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/ShDu_4zbi7I/AAAAAAAAAJc/pS2neGo9lwE/s320/2009+05+12+012.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337028339781307314" /></a><br /><br />And, lastly, for now, the box o herbs! This is another joint effort between Deb & I consisting of dill, basil, cilantro, and, uh, I can't remember what else. You'll have to scrutinize the photo to figure it out.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/ShDyEIJ4EbI/AAAAAAAAAJs/7hqdL5IMCuY/s1600-h/2009+05+18+In+the+Garden+014.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/ShDyEIJ4EbI/AAAAAAAAAJs/7hqdL5IMCuY/s320/2009+05+18+In+the+Garden+014.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337031711156343218" /></a><br /><br />When the sun started to set, and my back was aching a little, I cleaned up and started a fire in the ceramic pit behind the house. Chico and I sat out there for awhile taking in the sounds of frogs coming from the river<br />and, oh, the crickets are back and gaining their voices.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/ShDyygb2lfI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/BrGXoSdE_uE/s1600-h/2009+05+18+In+the+Garden+009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/ShDyygb2lfI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/BrGXoSdE_uE/s320/2009+05+18+In+the+Garden+009.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337032507948176882" /></a>I look a little evil in this photo, and the fire isn't hurting that either. Alas, I am not the devil. Just a girl learning how to sustain herself.<div><br /></div><div>Til next time,</div><div>XOXOX</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314209305202994837.post-39881917150576130822009-04-08T21:31:00.002-05:002009-04-08T21:40:23.258-05:00focusMuch like my blog, my plants have been neglected. I have been studying my butt off to compensate for the time I wasted at the beginning of the semester. So it's time to refocus and think carefully about the future of my garden.<br />I saw the warm sunlight today as an opportunity to nurture my plants. I walked each pot out and set them dutifully in a row on the driveway. What I failed to realize, as the day grew on, that it was a little cold for the baby tomatoes. I am hoping I didn't just kill them all. They looked like they had been blown over and wilted a bit. I felt so guilty. <br /><br />So back into the 'incubator', under the grow bulb on the kitchen table they go. I waited until the pots and soil were room temperature again before I watered them. They don't look so great. I'll spare you a photo. I may have to start them all over again. Better I learn now, than into the warmer part of the season.<br /><br />Oh, and the snap peas are not advancing, they are looking kinda wilty and just falling over a little. So time to fertilize maybe. Can I use tomato fertilizer for the peas or can I make a homemade fertilizer......a non-poop fertilizer maybe?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314209305202994837.post-50179798521609793882009-03-12T21:35:00.005-05:002009-03-12T22:14:39.176-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SbnO9YS4G8I/AAAAAAAAAH4/aIpVcirrifQ/s1600-h/2009+03+04+tangling.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SbnO9YS4G8I/AAAAAAAAAH4/aIpVcirrifQ/s320/2009+03+04+tangling.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312504789349178306" /></a><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Oh, yeah, I have a blog. Well, jumping right back in, there's been mad growth in the container garden. The peas haven't made a whole lot more progress in height (17" now), but the plants are getting heartier and the leaves are getting bigger and more plentiful. I want to chew on them. Mmmmm. But patience is a good thing, in this case.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SbnOBSks19I/AAAAAAAAAHY/Yi9il7YKq2A/s1600-h/dilly+disaster+2009+03+12.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SbnOBSks19I/AAAAAAAAAHY/Yi9il7YKq2A/s320/dilly+disaster+2009+03+12.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312503757021173714" /></a><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">There's less celebration in the dill pot. The dill has become a fustercluck of tangled sprouts. I planted a large handful of seeds, thinking that I'd have a better chance of a good turnout. All I have is a mess. I am not sure if it's worth it to try to put them in a bigger pot, or if it's best to say adios to this batch and start from scratch. Any suggestions?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SbnOBqSpvhI/AAAAAAAAAHo/uahqrxRNddo/s1600-h/2009+03+12+onions+week+2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 252px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SbnOBqSpvhI/AAAAAAAAAHo/uahqrxRNddo/s320/2009+03+12+onions+week+2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312503763387923986" /></a><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">The onions are looking good, they're only a few inches tall, but they, like the pea sprouts, seem to be filling out a bit. These are likely going to need a bigger patch, too.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Seeing them makes me want to plant chives very soon. Chives are delicious and I love to snap stalks of it off and chew on it. My plans include traditional and garlic chives.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SbnOBsYpu7I/AAAAAAAAAHw/loTtipeLDJ0/s1600-h/2009+03+11+tomato+babies.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SbnOBsYpu7I/AAAAAAAAAHw/loTtipeLDJ0/s320/2009+03+11+tomato+babies.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312503763949960114" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SbnPYEgkxJI/AAAAAAAAAIA/JvxIjUuOu34/s1600-h/tomatoes+2009+03+12.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SbnPYEgkxJI/AAAAAAAAAIA/JvxIjUuOu34/s320/tomatoes+2009+03+12.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312505247894389906" /></a><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">And the icing on the cake, the grape tomato plants are busting out of the dirt. I thought for sure there was nothing going on in that pot. I kept watering it, hoping, and berating myself for even trying to give it what little sunlight my apartment gets. Now I see my laboring wasn't in vain. There are a lot of little sprouts and a couple are looking pretty ambitious, pulling ahead of the rest by about an inch. These babies now sit under a grow light since plants can soak up nearly 8 hours of sun easily. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">The other non-food houseplants are doing well. I have successfully revived the two vines, but the fern is needing lots more love. It is getting greener as opposed to the brownish-yellow I had been coaxing out of it all winter, but it's still looks like a scrawny Charlie Brown Christmas tree. My secret to perking this baby up.....an ancient expired birth control pill pushed down into the soil at the bast of the plant. I don't promote drugging your plants, but they do love the estrogen.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SbnOBeCh-KI/AAAAAAAAAHg/Pl1FjvYO4Fw/s1600-h/iron+cross+2009+03+11.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SbnOBeCh-KI/AAAAAAAAAHg/Pl1FjvYO4Fw/s320/iron+cross+2009+03+11.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312503760099080354" /></a><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">My new adopted (as opposed to birthed from a seed) plant is an Iron Cross Plant. It looked Irish-ey for St. Pat's Day and I had to have it. They seemed more powerful & stoic than the tiny delicate four-leaf clovers that sat beside them on the aisle endcap.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">They also have a different viney quality. The plant was very droopy and depressed when I bought it, but a day under the grow bulb got it's thick vines flailing toward the warm glow of the light. The vines are interesting in that there were only two leaves at the very tip of each one, and the immature leaves had a very visible, hairy, cilia all over them. The rest of the vine is smooth and uninterrupted. It is really quite pretty.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Next week marks the beginning of Doug & Adrianne's Arizona adventure. One of my missions is to return with cacti or other cool desert blossoms. I have an excellent cat/plant sitter, the Kitty Cat Bandit, who has agreed to try to remember to photo-document the progression of my little veggie garden. I can't wait to see the progression that occurs over the next week, especially since we are now in Daylight Savings -- spring has got to be coming soon. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> Along with spring comes, ugh, the task of yanking all the weeds and overgrowth from my fenced in garden space. Those dead tangled monsters have been there through last summer's flood and I am not eager dig in. It will be an interesting project though. Come back to see how that goes.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">By the way, the river is looking a little high these days. Say a little prayer that the river stays where it is at least until noon on August 31st, 2010. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">I'd also like to take the opportunity, impending roadtrip and all, to share my favorite quote from one of my favorite books.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman';font-size:19px;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:#007f40;"><strong><div><span class="sqq" style="font-size:85%;">“Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again;</span></div><div><span class="sqq" style="font-size:85%;">we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life.”</span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;">-Jack Kerouac</span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;">On the Road</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;">::adrianne::</span></div></strong></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314209305202994837.post-31754608100455006542009-02-25T18:29:00.011-06:002009-03-01T14:24:14.978-06:00Seeking Out a Photo Fix<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SaXrfAFBEzI/AAAAAAAAAHA/RggKZtGg81w/s1600-h/2009+02+25+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306906653755511602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SaXrfAFBEzI/AAAAAAAAAHA/RggKZtGg81w/s320/2009+02+25+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span">Somedays I go out specifically in hopes I will find something worth photographing, especially when I go downtown. I carry my camera in my pocket just in case something amazing and unexpected happens. It never does, though. So I walk down alleys (in the daytime, of course) looking for graffiti or anything else new and interesting.</span></span> </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span">Well, nothing notable happened today on my way to the library, but I took a few shots anyways. <span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I took this shot of the Englert Theater because they are advertising the Vagina Monologues, which includes the Alley Cat Cabaret this yea</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">r. </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span">You must read their description of the event. Sounds like a good time. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); WHITE-SPACE: pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#ffffff;">//www.englert.org/event_details.php?id=</span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#ffffff;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /> </div></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); WHITE-SPACE: pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:times new roman;">I am going to try to rope a female friend to go with me....I don't think Doug will </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); WHITE-SPACE: pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:times new roman;">have much interest, though he should! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Dawn</span></span>, do I hear you joining in??? This </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); WHITE-SPACE: pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:times new roman;">would be a blast.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;"></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0);font-family:times new roman;" >I also caught a few "new" bits of graffiti and have posted them for your </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0);font-family:times new roman;" >viewing pleasure. Overall, I was disappointed with the lack of new vandalism </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0);font-family:times new roman;" >downtown. For those of you who don't know, Iowa City has some very artful graffiti,</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0);font-family:times new roman;" >lots of stencils or art with political/social commentary. The random gangsta tags are </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0);font-family:times new roman;" >predictable, illegible and unattractive. Get these gangstas into art class or something.</span></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SaXr8ojKUfI/AAAAAAAAAHI/ShSn2xwOMmY/s1600-h/2009+02+25+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306907162835571186" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SaXr8ojKUfI/AAAAAAAAAHI/ShSn2xwOMmY/s320/2009+02+25+003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SaXtOr1hmtI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/i0SQDa57Qtw/s1600-h/2009+02+25+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306908572467174098" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SaXtOr1hmtI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/i0SQDa57Qtw/s320/2009+02+25+004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Holloween? Am I missing something?</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">The 40 oz. artist is apparently a prophet as well as a vandal.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">catch you all later.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">age</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314209305202994837.post-74171739614806148672009-02-24T21:40:00.005-06:002009-02-24T23:15:03.778-06:00Trellis Building Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SaTAtxBDjQI/AAAAAAAAAGY/V6nKcdkuBJ8/s1600-h/2009+02+24+trellis+from+below.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 152px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SaTAtxBDjQI/AAAAAAAAAGY/V6nKcdkuBJ8/s200/2009+02+24+trellis+from+below.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306578153433697538" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SaTAt5GrO2I/AAAAAAAAAGQ/DhQqyPXDLds/s1600-h/2009+02+24+001.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SaTAt5GrO2I/AAAAAAAAAGQ/DhQqyPXDLds/s200/2009+02+24+001.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306578155604753250" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SaTAtaC1EUI/AAAAAAAAAGI/EPWKvZp_y9k/s1600-h/2009+02+24+002.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SaTAtaC1EUI/AAAAAAAAAGI/EPWKvZp_y9k/s200/2009+02+24+002.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306578147267121474" /></a><br /><div style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; width: auto; font: normal normal normal 100%/normal Georgia, serif; text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Today I designated as Trellis Building Day since my snap pea sprouts are gaining about two inches a day! The tallest ones measured just over 10" this morning. The container gardening book that Dawn gave me was and continues to be a wealth of information, and my idea came from within its pages. The book is McGee & Stuckey's The Bountiful Container. I am using it more as a reference book than as a cover-to-cover read, though I have skimmed a great deal of it. My sugar snap pea's trellis is designed after the tee pee structure shown on page 40 of that lovely little book.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Today my Mom and I went to Ace Hardware with the mission of gathering materials for constructing the trellis. I grabbed 5 36" wooden dowel rods. Turns out that was all I needed since I already have stashes of hemp and yarn for binding. I stuck the dowel rods into the soil along the perimeter of the pot, trying to be careful not to tear any roots on the way down. I gathered the top ends of the rods and wrapped them tightly together with red yarn. (I tried hemp first, but it seemed to slide too much against the smooth wood. The yarn seemed to catch better and stay put.) After connecting them at the top, I reinforced them with a little more potting soil around the buried ends and packed them in tight.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">About 10" above the soil, I wrapped another bit of red yarn from dowel to dowel, partially as a height marker and also as the first thing the plants can grab onto on the way up. I did the same thing about 5" further up. I am surprised at how sturdy it is and I have high hopes for this little edifice of mine. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">By the time I was done creating and photographing the trellis, I was ready to move on to the other seeds that I picked up at Ace. While I don't want to go hog wild and have pots of dirt everywhere, I am well on my way. I planted some Tokyo White Onions (which are basically skinny green onions) in a ceramic pot and dill seeds went into a plastic "terra cotta" pot. That means, including the 3 house plants I already had, I now have 6 pots that need sunlight. Time to slow down for a bit and focus on what I've started. I really hope the dill explodes into a massive handful of the stuff. On my agenda: Persian dill rice with pistachios. Mmmmm........</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-family:'times new roman';font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314209305202994837.post-18841021655703392332009-02-22T10:43:00.003-06:002009-02-22T10:58:13.578-06:00The Peas March On.....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SaGDOaQOh_I/AAAAAAAAAGA/iHhYhDFvLDU/s1600-h/2009+02+21+008.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SaGDOaQOh_I/AAAAAAAAAGA/iHhYhDFvLDU/s320/2009+02+21+008.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305666119607945202" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Well, the little sprouts are quickly becoming plants. Time to begin shopping for a bigger pot. Today the tallest is reading at about 7 inches and has 3 little bunches of leaves. Last night, the max was 5. If these suckers are going to grow 2 inches a day, they are surely going to being to crowd each other out and fight for nutrients. I want all these to survive so it's almost time to spread 'em out. This brings up a bunch of new questions, of course. Do I just need a bigger pot, or should I divide these 13 plants into multiple containers? How big do(es) the pot(s) need to be?</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> This also gives me reason to start thinking of what I will construct my trellises from....likely dowl rods that I can bind together with hemp.....hemp, to me, is like duct tape is to other people; it can fix almost anything. So the trellises may or may not function, depending on how sturdy I can make them. I'll be sure to post any wonky, comical construction attempts for your amusement.</span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314209305202994837.post-80895067121813112572009-02-19T22:27:00.004-06:002009-02-24T23:16:12.754-06:00This Was Easier Than I Thought<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SZ406bU3FfI/AAAAAAAAAF4/i33g77F4_5U/s1600-h/sprouts+emerging.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SZ406bU3FfI/AAAAAAAAAF4/i33g77F4_5U/s320/sprouts+emerging.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304735589461333490" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">As I got ready for work this morning, Doug alerted me to the frenzy of activity in the green pot on my desk. I opened up the curtains to let light in on these crazy sprouts and within the hour there was noticable growth and even a couple sprouts standing straight up. I think I counted 13 sprouts in all from the original 20 seeds I attempted to germinate. 65% isn't bad. I hope I can keep those numbers up so that I can have oodles of peas.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I was bragging about my baby sprouts at work, when a very good question arose in the breakroom. I live in a neighborhood that 8 months ago was under three and a half feet of the dirtiest river in Iowa. I am concerned with the toxins and agro-chemicals that may remain in the soil and wether this could possibly effect the food I grow. Am I doomed to grow my dream garden in pots? Perhaps I can build a garden box for outside to escape this fate. In the meantime, I am beginning the quest for the answers to these questions. If you have the answers, links or resources -- speak up! </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314209305202994837.post-61100623284186049842009-02-17T16:17:00.003-06:002009-02-24T23:16:33.670-06:00Beautiful Houseguest<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SZs-l8bqyTI/AAAAAAAAAFs/trIQ1roWLxQ/s1600-h/2009+02+15+rescued+pup+(7).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SZs-l8bqyTI/AAAAAAAAAFs/trIQ1roWLxQ/s320/2009+02+15+rescued+pup+(7).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303901807757150514" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SZs-l2-MalI/AAAAAAAAAFk/9OgMDrwZFyw/s1600-h/2009+02+15+rescued+pup+(4).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SZs-l2-MalI/AAAAAAAAAFk/9OgMDrwZFyw/s320/2009+02+15+rescued+pup+(4).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303901806291348050" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SZs-lfehfyI/AAAAAAAAAFc/7omdagMdMEw/s1600-h/2009+02+15+rescued+pup+(3).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xi5zRyNut-M/SZs-lfehfyI/AAAAAAAAAFc/7omdagMdMEw/s320/2009+02+15+rescued+pup+(3).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303901799984496418" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Doug and I were driving into Iowa City on our way back from Des Moines, and on our way south on 1st Avenue, we spotted a huskie puppy running in the busy street. Cars were honking and swerving around her as she circled aimlessly in the face of certain death. Doug carefully nudged her into a parking lot with the car, and I got out to catch her. After running circles around me for 10 minutes, she closed in and I grabbed her collar. It wasn't even like I caught her since she came right up to me.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">We got her in the car and inspected her better; she had a collar without tags, she was clean and well-kept, but obviously a puppy of only a few months, likely someone's Christmas present. I called the police and reported her in case the owners had called, which they hadn't. The police encouraged me to keep her overnight and call the shelter in the morning. We figured if we kept her the night, we could hand her over if the owners called. We got to play with her in the meantime.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">She was awesome, playful...er...hyper is the better word. She was also cuddly, clumsy and so well-tempered. By her reaction, I doubt she had ever seen a cat, or another dog for that matter, until that night. She wanted to play with them all, but none of these old farts were interested. Chico stayed in Doug's lap, Jack climbed up on the washing machine and Maji came out swinging.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Well, she was awesome until she started peeing everywhere and chewing things. It was comical watching me try to puppy-proof the apartment two-steps ahead of her the whole night. She finally let me sleep at 2am, but I had to quarantine her and I from the other critters because she has an unlimited capacity for PLAY! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">I woke up the next morning with her HUGE paws in my face...she was sprawled out beside me on the bed, belly-up, snoring. Don't mistake me, I fell in love with this dog, but after that night, I was happy to see her one step closer to home.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">AMAZINGLY, not a single call for the dog had been made to the police, leaving me to wonder if the owners are poop-heads and don't deserve her back. I got through to the shelter and told them the whole story. Of course, they agreed to take her. I figure a few things will occur. If the owners call, the shelter is in the best position to be selective about wether this little angel should be in their custody. If not, she'll find a home in seconds. She is gorgeous and she will be huge judging by her massive puppy paws (that can clear off a coffee table masterfully, I've learned). </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">I drove out to the shelter that is on the far south outskirts of Iowa City, a long way from where I found her, and had visions of movies like Homeward Bound. I felt like a minor character getting in the way of her adventure. I still feel I did the right thing. She would've been roadkill for sure had we kept driving. The only thing that made me cringe was her reaction to the barking dogs at the shelter. She trotted happily until she heard the cacophony of barks and howls. I had to pick her up an carry her 30 pound butt to the shelter, my heart breaking only inches from her furry body. {Getting teary-eyed as I type this} </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">She had no microchip. How in the hell do you have a gorgeous, expensive BABY like that with no chip, no tags, no business being outside ANYWHERE alone? Makes me mad. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Chip your pets.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> Put tags on them. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">I am getting off my soapbox now.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">xoxo</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">age</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0