Friday, May 09, 2008
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Everything but the tomatoes.
My garden as of two days ago...Lettuce!
Peas (thanks, Jodi for the ID) There's one sunflower plant hidden in there,
I thought I got them all but I missed that one.
I moved the sunflowers (that were randomly planted wherever there was soil by my youngest)
to here..on the side of my house, by the clothesline.
I have one established strawberry plant that, after a couple of years in the ground,
is finally spreading. I added a second plant this year, on the other end of the bed.
I'd like to someday see strawberries filling all the space in this bed not taken up by herbs
(sage, rosemary, and thyme).I'm trying an eggplant. Just one, since no one eats it but my in laws and I.
We are going to a political fundraiser this evening. One of our moves in the game.
My sister has the girls for the night.
Hope you have a peaceful weekend.
Good night.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
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Good night.
Natural perfection.Tomato leaf.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
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My new laundress. She started today.
So much fun to watch. So cool... she never fills with water, just a gentle waterfall and tumble every couple of seconds. Very little sudsing. At first, I was sure something was wrong with her, because the clothes didn't seem to be getting wet enough. But after a time, she obviously knew what she was doing. I don't know how she does it with so little water (and 2/3 the amount of detergent, which was highly concentrated to begin with) but she did a great job. Clean as a whistle.
Pictured below... running during the initial empty machine wash...
Her fancy dashboard.
Good for playing Star Trek.
Here is where the detergent goes. A little drawer located on the control panel, up there on the left, where "Whirlpool" is stamped. She has her own cute little feed drawer. I just pour it in, put the clothes in (almost twice the amount of clothes as my old washer), turn it on. She sucks down the soap, sprays a little water, then gets busy.
Love. Her.Below her skirts lies this nifty drawer. That half-lid lifts off entirely, and I can store more underneath.
The dryer.
He's a beauty.
And yeah, I just ripped that piece of plastic off the dial.
He's drying the first load now.Tomorrow, I may wash every large blanket we own. Twice.
Is it sick that this excites me?
Good night.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
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Feeling like yick, yuck, ouch, and ggggggrrrrrrrrr
.
Being the guest of honor at a suprise party hosted by my period will do that.
Ten days early.
Weird, really... I'm like clockwork with the full moon for over a year now, but two days ago... HEL--LO!
No appliance porn until tomorrow. They've arrived without a scratch, but there is a glitch with installation. No biggie, just a glitch. I will be washing tomorrow, and after two days I should be washing until Thursday.
How's that for a blog to scare the boys away...
Peaceful blessings.
Good night.
Sunday, May 04, 2008
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I decided to come up with (steal) a craft for the Brownie meeting tomorrow night. For mother's day, just a simple thing (idea stolen completely from Deb's demonstration party the other night) and something the girls can decorate easily. I'll take photos. The leader was a little stressed (we usually do not have two meetings in a row, instead of bi-weekly) and I figured I would throw my hand in to give her a break. She's grateful, and hopefully the weather will cooperate and we can use up any spare time out in the playground. That should cover the entire meeting, beside the flag ceremony and circle time. Now I have to shop for supplies tomorrow and make a sample (I'm using a different shape, Deb... a heart not an apron), no big deal really, but I just have a lot on my mind already. Still, it feels good to be able to help, and I don't really offer to do much of anything for anyone unless I'm asked first. That sounds all kinds of shitty of me, but it's more sanity preservation.
I have a new washer and dryer arriving on Tuesday. The set I currently have will be going to the coffee house. Get ready for some major appliance porn: they are front loading; they have cute attached storage drawers; they can be timed to go on and off; the temperature is completely controllable; they use less water and hold larger loads. I will be able to wash anything, including my comforters and air mattresses and other such crazy-big stuff. I could probably wash my children (kidding).
This excites me to no end.
I am planning on purchasing (eventually) a composting bin. I know I could make one pretty easily in my back yard, but that won't do in my neighborhood. Neighbors are too close and I'm already the freak with the clothesline. Also, my yard is too deep, I'll never trudge my butt all the way down to discard scraps. Finally, any smell will not be tolerated by my neighbors or my husband. We also have too much wildlife that will rip it up if it is exposed. So I've been looking at those ball-shaped enclosed composters. You dump the scraps in somewhere, turn a lever and mix it up that way. Does anyone have any experience with this and give me some recommendations? I'm also keeping an eye out for one for the coffee house. I'm expecting we will have distributors that will carry industrial sized things. I'll see. Anyway, I'm interested to hear suggestions for convenient composting. Also... how much "scrap" becomes how much soil? I'm trying to gage what size I would want to have.
I am looking forward to:Mother's Day, I have no plans and my own mother and mother in law will still be in Florida.
My parents coming home the end of this month, and my girls are old enough to do day trips without much angst.
Camping with the Brownies in my backyard, this June.
The girls' gymnastics expos, also in June.
Camping this summer with my friend Lisa, no idea when.
Going down the shore with my sister and her boys, in July.
Working all summer, in preparation for opening the coffee house. Seriously. I'm excited to work again, it's been a decade.
Having both my children in school full day, this autumn, and being able to work and schedule my self care without stress again.
Peaceful blessings.
Good night.
Friday, May 02, 2008
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~We are generally getting our asses kicked in a variety of ways (of which I am no longer at liberty to discuss). There is hope, but every day it seems we get another piece of bad news regarding things coffee. Or maybe not. See, that's how it's going. Like a monstrous Universal bait and switch. It's exhausting. We will prevail.
~Ed is at a concert for the weekend. I'm glad. He's needs some carefree moments.
So do I.
~Therapy consultation today was validating, gratifying, encouraging, and comforting. We both met with J's therapist. I'm glad I went, I was totally bratty about having to go, but it was good for both of us.
~Scrapbook party (not a scrapbooking party, but a party where you buy scrap book/craft supplies) last night was much fun. Deb was very patient with Lisa and I and her rowdy relatives. We were an unruly bunch, except for my sister. She was practically perfectly behaved in (almost) every way, I would have worried if she'd been otherwise. We made some cute crafts and I got some good ideas. The stuff to buy is adorable and well... crafty, but easy for the craft-challenged. I bought some paper and some rub on letters/graphics (to put on photo frame glass, etc). There was a bunch of stuff I'd love to have, but it wasn't cheap. The paper is beautiful and I will save it for a thoughtful project of some kind. Beyond all that, seeing Deb again was great. She looks good and she is so easy to talk to. I highly recommend her company.
~I've added another strawberry plant and an eggplant to the garden in my yard (where I first started gardening several years ago, but left barren for the most part the past two years). Something has to thrive in this patch of dirt, but I've yet to find it. Eggplant is new to me, so I planted just one. I like it, and Ed's parent's like it, so if I get enough for a few pans of parmesan I'll be happy. I have four extra tomato plants that I cannot fit in the jacuzzi and I cannot justify sacrificing to the ground, they just don't flourish and they get horn worms right off the bat. I'm going to stealthily plant them in my in-law's backyard.
~The pansies I planted last week (or was it the week before last?) are looking as lovely as I had hoped. They should be downright glorious by the time they are fully spread.
I like to say "pansy."
~Yes, I am as braindead as I seem. No energy for proofreading, please pardon.
Good night.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
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Yum.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
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Ed began painting our bedroom and bathroom. The girls were allowed to paint on the walls, since he will be covering that space with red paint.
Each had her own wall (with the bed between them, to discourage bickering, paint fighting, and general naughtiness).
My oldest...I have no idea what those symbols are that she drew.
On the bottom, left it says, "your a charm!!" and she drew a diamond. Funny.
And the youngest...
I love the way she draws faces, the mouth is always off center and in motion.
And yes, person on the left has butterflies for eyes.
I hope you have had a peaceful weekend.
Good night.
Friday, April 25, 2008
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I planted Pansies,
in sunny bright yellows and velvety purples.
It is a risk, planting so early. I should really wait until after Mother's Day, as is the regional rule.
But I have faith that the earth and air are ready and waiting.
I surely am.
So I went ahead and planted lettuce and tomatoes in the jacuzzi too...
It is so good to be back in my church.
The soil under my feet and nails.
A serenity, much needed around here right now.
When I dig in the dirt, nothing hurts... nothing hinders... nothing worries.
Not even the hot sun prickling the skin on my winter-white arms.Good night.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
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Earth day feels like a farce to me. It creates no change, nothing is done and everything done is too late.
I laugh at myself... big deal I use recycled toilet paper and separate my trash.
I wish I could feel hopeful and I try to be.
But in the back of my head I'm preparing mentally,
for hard days in my old age.
Harder than expected, and not the least of what I/we deserve.
At least I'll be old. My children will live their lives on what remains when the earth finally says enough.
So I enjoy the tree plantings, while I use my paper towels.
I will continue to hope for the best and change my ways as I learn how.
But I believe it is too late, to preserve our earth the way we all will remember her.
And that just sucks.
True
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I hope you have a wonderful 38 year ERIN
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Thanks for accepting my friend invite, Jenny!
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Hi! Welcome to Astral_Storms. It's...almost as if you've been here all along.
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