29 April 2012

garden friday | big sunny-day round-up


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the view from the deck off the bedrooms. oh, there are so many projects yet to be tackled, but I do love this yard.
It's very unruly this year, but it has possibility.


I love mornings like this past Friday's: sunny and happy. A quick, easy bagel breakfast with my guys, then I slip outside with still-damp shower hair for a little solo (well, plus kitty) time in the garden. Doesn't hurt that it's a beautiful, warm day. Sun-dried hair -- does it get much better?

With the alternating rain and sun (my favorite combo), there's a lot happening out back. Ready?

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starting to fill in everywhere


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peas & pablo. just look at those bedroom eyes. what a flirt.


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the peas and their pretty white bonnets. I'm trying a new variety this year, 'Sabre' from good old Renee's. They're a pretty short, tidy variety, but I have to admit I'm kind of missing my tall, high-climbing Laxton's Progress and Tall Telephone.


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greens bed: wee dino kale (remember this monster?), spinach & volunteer arugula


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new anti-kitty screens for the spaces between asparagus rows. I love that sweet kitty, but lately he's made it his job to get in there and wreak havoc. Toby built these to order and I adore them. And him :)


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Purple is the color of so many flowers, especially herb blooms. Have you noticed? I've inadvertently planted a very purple garden. I think bees must like purple, or see it very well.


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pretty purple sage blossoms. I started all this sage from a couple microscopic seeds a couple years back.


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purple rosemary blossoms.


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as for juicy edibles... the alpines are going nuts lately. between Jacky and me, they don't last a day once they go red.


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and the award for most forgiving plant goes to: 'prince consort' black currant. I kind of... forgot about this one in the garage for a while. It hung out in its shipping envelope for a loooong while. It happily sprouted a bit in the dark, and I finally planted it in the garden. Within about four days, it started growing like nuts. In possibly the most questionable spot in our yard (I read somewhere it just doesn't care). Go figure. Love plants like this!


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pretty black currant blossoms


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blueberries in the works


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'hauer pippin' apple is getting its season started. it's my latest bloomer by far.


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'bearss lime' blossoms


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'lisbon lemon' blossoms


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wee baby meyer lemons


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our neighbor's energetic 'cecil brunner' climbing rose. such a pretty borrowed view.


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more 'cecil brunner'


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pretty, pretty 'cecil'


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my own 'aromatherapy' rose. despite its somewhat tacky pink color, the scent is HEAVENLY. Today, I made homemade rosewater with two of these blooms.


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'aromatherapy' rose


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and, finally... from the files of the life and times of the youngest garden helper. in a recent fit of "I'm sick of being out here MOM!", he clipped off this succulent's ONLY flower spike (look how pretty last year's was!). I was bummed, but... he's three. To my surprise, the clever plant gave it another go. Flower Spike, take two!


Well, that's the haps from this garden! Hope you had a lovely, sunny, peaceful, plant-iful weekend.

20 April 2012

garden friday | architectural interest


it's Day 1 of the playhouse build, and he's already starting with the 'no girls allowed' business. Sigh.

Project Playhouse, day 2

progress

Day 3: no sun, but hints of a roof!

Assistant Jammie Man checks for level.

Day 3: finito! (minus a few details for another day)

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Take one totally random, ancient, concrete, weed-filled box... clear it out... chop up some wood... zip in a few screws... et voila!... kid heaven! Jacky is now supreme overlord of the garden. Thanks to Handy Daddy.

It's an incredibly gorgeous, warm (hot?) day out today, with forecasts for more of the same. So, this brief update is about as long as I can manage in front of the computer :) Hope your weekend is lovely!

13 April 2012

garden friday | thunder and sun


On the morning news today, San Francisco's rainfall was at the top of the list, which never happens (thankfully, I guess). Nearly TWO inches in less than a day. Insane. Plus? A crazy, cracking thunderstorm that lasted for hours. They usually don't last long enough for me here in Northern California. I think my memories of San Diego's violent, seemingly house-splitting thunder are still really strong. And it seemed like there were thunderstorms there all the time. I guess I miss them. Guess I like 'em.

Today, the sun is out again. Project Playhouse is underway. The head builder and his apprentice are trying to co-exist with power tools and lumber long enough to get a big chunk of the structure complete today. Me, I bring tea and snacks and keep out of the way. I've already been put on notice that no girls (much less moms) will be admitted. Seriously, where do they learn this stuff? Is it tucked away in that Y chromosome? I just laugh. He's requested curtains, so I know I'll be admitted at least once :)

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peas, trucks and chicken wire. a garden in transition.


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apple blossoms. I just love them.


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more 'Gravenstein' blossoms


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the next row of salads. accompanied by the ever-present arugula volunteer. to think I almost bought arugula seeds this year!


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borrowed beauty. every Spring, our neighbor's monster 'Cecil Brunner' rose blankets the fence with an avalanche of delicate pink blooms. it's almost time.


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and what's this? oh, only one of my favorite non-edibles. if it flowers, i'll die happy.


Have a beautiful weekend!

12 April 2012

all the pretty mommies


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Recently, from our bathroom vanity...


JACKY
Mommy, why are you using that?

ME 
[putting on makeup in the mirror]
This? It's lipgloss.

JACKY
But why are you putting it on?

ME
[smiling]
Uh, so Mommy can look... pretty?


[silence]


ME
[really not feeling pretty/put together/etc but doesn't every mom
look pretty to their child?? isn't that like a law of the universe?]
Do you think Mommy is pretty?

JACKY
No

ME
[smile. even he can tell. damn.]

JACKY
You're not pretty. You're magical.

ME
Oh.... I'll take that, thank you.
[kiss]

11 April 2012

let them eat salad


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It's kind of funny to remember, but when I was a kid, you could say I was a pretty picky eater. My likes: toast with butter (or, sadly, probably margarine) and salad with Italian dressing (the kind from the packet that you shake in the special carafe). Pretty much it. Most meat, I'd pick apart. Forget about most veg. Yep, if I had a basic salad drenched in lots of dressing, I was good.

I wouldn't call myself picky at all anymore, but anything green with a good dressing still tops my list. To me, the perfect snack is crudité, cut up and eaten at the kitchen counter, with some garlicky vinaigrette. Jacky also loves vinegar-y flavors (that's ma boy), so we always have a jar of homemade dressing in the fridge.

I recently had an overwhelming urge to make about a half-dozen dressings at once... the new Bon Appétit was the main culprit. My ever-present anchovy craving may have also been a factor. Some just-about-ready greens out in the garden definitely contributed.

Here's how I think I'm going to dress my salads and veg this Spring:

My Everyday Vinaigrette. Combine in a jar and shake:
--> minced/pressed garlic (1 clove) + lemon (1/2) + sherry vinegar (2 T) + S/P + tarragon (pinch dried) + dijon mustard (1 T) + olive oil (to taste; enough to emulsify)

Miso, Carrot and Sesame Dressing. (Bon Appétit April 2012) Combine in a jar and shake:
--> white miso (1/2 c) + veg oil (6 T) + shredded carrot (1/4 c) + grated peeled ginger (2 T) + rice vinegar (2 T) + toaste sesame seeds (4 t) + toaste sesame oil (2 t) + honey (2 t) + water (1/4 c)

Buttermilk Green Goddess Dressing. (Bon Appétit April 2012) Combine in a food processor and purée:
--> mayo (1/2 c) + buttermilk (1/3 c) + chopped chives (1/4 c) + chopped italian parsley (1/4 c) + chopped fresh tarragon (1 T) + lemon juice (1 T) + anchovy filets (2) + garlic clove (1) + S/P to taste

Gwynneth's Anchovy Vinaigrette. (from her book) Combine in a blender and purée:
--> olive oil packed anchovies (6) + dijon mustard (2 t) + red wine vinegar (2 T) + extra virgin olive oil (1/3 c) + freshly ground black pepper to taste

Jora's "Brown Dressing." The delicious-looking recipe with the funny name, that I know Jacky will love, being that he's a parmesan monster. (via Epicurious). Mash garlic and half the salt to a paste, then whisk in remaining ingredients until emulsified:
--> garlic (1 clove, minced) + salt (1/2 t) + balsamic vinegar (2 T) + lemon juice ( 1 t) + minced fresh basil (3 T) + finely-grated parmesan (1/4 c) + black pepper (1/4 t) + olive oil (1/2 c)


What's your favorite way to eat your greens?

10 April 2012

garden friday | glorious sun!


Here's a cure for a rainy day. Today, the drops are gently falling here and will do so most of the week. I kind of love it because I'm a lazy waterer. But, really... I do prefer sun, glorious sun. It literally makes me giddy. I'm easy.

But, I'm so tardy with my admittedly self-imposed deadline of Friday garden posts. No biggie, but it is a tad lame that I actually shot these almost a week ago. I just don't get that much computer time these days. I feel like there's some parallel between time and income. You know how they say, how ever much money you make, that's pretty much what you'll spend? Maybe even more? (Not the good savers, but most people.) I feel like, no matter what my work/family/activity situation is, I just never have enough time. I'm always 105% committed. It needs fixing, but how?

Anyway, thank you Kim for posting your glorious garden photos. They are stunning. And, you helped me get off my no-time train and just post some photos of pretty sunlight on growing plants. Ahhh.


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The artichoke is R E A C H I N G ! So frondy, so handsome.


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Alpine Strawberries. Find 'em and eat 'em.


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Oh, Mr Pabs loves a sunny day.


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Almost overnight, the 'Lisbon' lemon tree has about a hundred buds on it. It's amazing what happens with the start of a new season, plus the proper fertilizer.


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Peas are climbing and salad greens are ready for some light harvesting.


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Rainbow chard getting bigger.


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'Gravenstein' apple branch covered with flower buds.


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Lavender. The bees are quickly finding their way back to our yard. Butterflies too. Jacky is determined to learn how to sit very quiet and still, so that butterflies will land on his hand. He's really, really determined.


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Starts in the works: cherry tomatoes, herbs for replenishment, climbing vines, sunflowers + more flowers.

Hope there's just the right mix of sun and rain in your garden this week!

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