Favorite Pots, Taking Inventory, And What Works for Me

This year, like last, I have 'favorite pots'.  It's interesting how our tastes and color preferences change over  time.  Here are the two I like best.

 Clockwise from top:  lime green nicotiana, osteospermum, purple verbena, lime green and hot pink geranium, and purple angelonia

Clockwise from top (again cropped off (sheesh)):  lime green nicotiana, black sweet potato vine, orange (although it doesn't look it) osteospermum, lime green/hot pink geranium, and purple angelonia.

You would have to be a hanging salami to not be affected by all the horrendous stuff going on both within our country and around the world.  It's downright awful (or offal).  Either way, it's depressing.  Add to that myriad annoying, but nonetheless affecting occurrences like people's lack of manners, belligerence over the smallest of slights, and the public airing of personal disputes.  Unfortunately, I could go on and on and on...but, and you can thank me later, I won't.  We're all dealing with enough to merit the aerial spraying of Prozac. 

What I will do, however, is what I can do:  I'm going out there and I'm going to hold the door for people even if I have to wait; I'm going to wave-on the car across from me at the four-way stop; I'm going to smile at everyone I see and just for a few seconds, try to make my small corner of the world a sweeter place. 

Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty...

The garden seems to be doing well. We've weeded, watered, weeded, and weeded some more. I can't help but think what weeds there would have been if we hadn't put down three inches of mulch and Preen!!
The rabbits are still living under the steps. There seems to be a new litter -- what a surprise-- my sex life should be as good. I think, however, I've found an effective means against them. We continue to put down Deer Scram and spray Tree Guard, but now I'm vigorously brushing Azrielle and putting her cat hair in planters and directly onto some plants. I've even begun to empty our vacuum cleaner right into the garden. Take a close look at the pot with the snapdragons and verbena! It skeeves me out a little, but what the heck! And Azrielle is getting rid of her winter undercoat. I wonder if I could shave her....Azrielle! Oh, Azrielle!!!...

Rosie Returns Day Lily

First Tomatoes - 6/24 - Heirloom Golden Cherry
Heirloom Back Krim by the 4th of July???
Side Patio - Lamb's Ears, Star Gazer Lilies, day lilies, plumbago and planters with geraniums, creeping Jenny, and purple verbena

Verbena that the rabbits have finally left alone -- look closely to see why...
Cat hair!!!!

Let the Planting Begin...

I've done a lot -- still have some left, but wanted to share what I've done before the *&^%#*^ rabbits eat all of my efforts. Even with the strongest repellents on the market, they love my impatiens, verbena, and roses. Mind you, the impatiens and verbena are in pots! They're climbing in and feasting. Time to borrow one of the grand dogs. Keep in mind that nothing is in full color, yet. Our weather hasn't been consistently warm enough, but I know it's coming.

These lovelies are waiting to be planted.

My Turtle Garden

The Back Garden


Lemon Tree; Gerbers; Verbena, Red Geraniums, and Creeping Jenny; and a pot in waiting. These are the steps the bunnies live under.

The garden that got away -- we'll be reworking this beginning this weekend.

Heirloom Tomatoes and the patio corner garden

Plants on the patio steps
So now you know that I haven't been spending ALL of my time on Facebook!

A Moment on the Lips, Forever on the Hips

Middle child attended a college in Central Pennsylvania. I used to love driving up to see her or to pick her up. I'd drive West on I70, through Frederick, and then Hagerstown, Antietam/Sharpsburg (where the bloodiest battle of the Civil War took place as over 21,000 died in about 12 hours. And where they say the creeks ran red.) And then North on I81 for about a half hour. We'd go to see her play field hockey, or to take her and her friends out for dinner or pizza. Once, she wanted me to help her plant flowers in front of the house they rented. It was about 95 degrees that day and the house was not air-conditioned; thought I would melt. I weeded dirt that was like concrete, planted geraniums and enjoyed being there nonetheless, moreso for the conversations we had and the time spent together; happy finally, I had not killed her when she was a young teenager.

On an excursion to bring her home, I remember loading up our car with her stuff. She said she wanted to stop at the Dairy Queen for ice cream. (This was unusual for her -- slim, gorgeous, weight-conscious, so I took her seriously and we stopped.) I had something delightful, which I, of course, regretted (as soon as I'd finished and licked the cup) as I might as well just apply the stuff to my ass. We got back into the car and drove South on I81 toward home.

Interstate 81 goes all the way from Canada through to Route 40 in Tennessee; it is, therefore, a common choice of truckers. Many drivers will try to avoid using 81 because of the number of big rigs and trailers, but I don't usually mind. On this particular day, the road was crowded with big rigs. I had no trouble merging into traffic and we drove in silence for a bit. I was lamenting my ice cream splurge when I noticed a huge rig carrying half a house had pulled in behind me. It had gotten separated from its convoy -- warning cars before and after. I didn't think anything of it until a pickup, equipped with flashing lights and a huge "Wide Load" sign pulled in front of us. I looked at my daughter; she at me, smiling, the lights from the truck in front of us reflecting off our faces, the ice cream and many other indiscretions still on my mind. I said, "Somehow I knew it would always come to this." She giggled and we drove on.

Harbingers of Spring and Turkey Puttanesca

I sit here two months too early anticipating what I will plant and where. Taped to my printer is this photo of part of last year's planting -- my 'stepscape'; it makes me feel better. Forgive the poor quality; it's a photo of a photo.


Last night's dinner was supposed to have been Turkey Puttanesca -- a recipe I 'cooked up' a while ago, but time got the best of me and we wound up carrying-out a couple of sandwiches. I'll be cooking the puttanesca tonight. Some of you may have enjoyed spaghetti puttanesca -- (this means old whore -- probably a reference to the dish's spicy, peasant origins) -- a tomato based sauce with olives, capers, and red pepper flakes. This recipe is my take on that, with a nod to the Greek dish, pasticcio.



2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 tsp minced garlic (or more, to taste)
1 red pepper, seeded, cored, and chopped
1 pound of ground turkey breast
1 17 ounce can of tomato sauce
1 tsp salt
1/2 tps ground black pepper
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 cup black olives, sliced in half
1/2 cup Spanish salad olives
1 tbs capers

Saute onion and pepper in oil in large frying pan. Add ground turkey and cook until browned, breaking up large pieces while cooking. When turkey is sufficiently browned, add tomato sauce, salt, pepper, cinnamon and cloves . Stir well and simmer for ten - 15 minutes, adding water or chicken stock if too thick. Add olives. Taste for seasoning and adjust if needed. Lightly stir in capers; heat to warm.
I serve this over brown rice, but white rice or pasta would be great.