A monday birthday & some other bits.

I'm back!

My blogcation was rather uneventful. I did get a few ideas hammered out for a new layout and got a little more organized with post content. My biggest frustration with blogging is that I want this to actually be a place where my true self is reflected-- I want this blog to supplement my future business ventures, I want it to help me meet new people, I want it to be a place where I can remember & share special events and I want it to be place that my peers enjoy checking out. My next frustration with blogging is actually with myself-- I am interested in so many things-- but usually not interested in any one thing enough to feel like I can provide good content. Maybe that is just an excuse to not just put myself out there more or explore those interests further.

See blogging is therapeutic-- I just worked that out right there.

I've been telling R lately that he needs to just accept that he is  somewhat of an oddball-- and own it-- as a way to overcome social anxieties (says the gal who gets dangerously high blood pressure at the grocery store).

But, whats that saying?  
Maybe you should take your own advice (Ryan)!

SO on my blogcation I came up with a little plan-- we'll see how it goes.

feb 2009

Today is my loves birthday.

Last night I surprised him with a homemade-Hawaiian pull apart pizza (uh-maz-ing).

This is the first year I haven't gotten friends assembled for his birthday, so I am feeling like a bad friend-- we live in a new town, and our local friends are working OT, and it's a Monday. So tonight I guess I am going to make him something yummy to eat after I kick his ass at the gym. : P

R is my best friend, favorite buddy, the love of my life and one of the best humans I have ever met-- I am SO GLAD he was born and in my life!


and last but not least... we found a condo that we really like-- it's in a little downtown area near the river, across from a really pretty church that has bells singing all the time. It's actually a very cool deal-- so we'll see what happens. We've decided to stay put until we find something to buy-- I am ready to live near civilization again so I am hoping the process moves along at a good pace. 

In the meantime, we are designing a hydroponic wall system so when we make the move we can start a hydroponic garden on our patio. This is very exciting because we've been talking about hydroponics for years. More on this later I am sure.

AND that's all she wrote.

Anything exciting happen to anyone?

Namaste!
r

Saturdate, Dinosaurs, and my garden

Saturday has been dubbed date day; I don't like to paint the town we live in with the "Boring" brush, because I am a firm believer that if you are bored, then you are boring; but PSL is not designed for younger folks. Going out dancing is for the city folk now... Unless R's company has some kind of movie premier or holiday party, then I am like this:

yep.. 

Okay back to Saturdate.

SO, since our town has more Hospices than Starbucks our dates have been slightly bland with a side of margarita. {One thing that is not slim pickings around here are Mexican restaurants, yum!}

So after spending the afternoon eating Mexican, chasing rainbows and buying TP at Sams Club...

......We remembered that bowling is fun, and that there are lanes right down the street. So bowling it was.

We got there just in time for the Rock n' Bowl; were I got to see Axil Rose do his hip shake, the Pixies Debass(er), and I saw a very interesting country video {with the ugliest animation I've seen in a long time} about a Mr. Mom.

However, no matter how good {or bad} the music was, I suck at bowling. Not just a little bit of suckage, a lot of suckage. So we decided to play pool, and guess what? I suck at pool too. So we went back to the arcade, where R beat me at all of the things I thought I was good at (The Hoops game and skiball)... Whatever, I am a better cook than he is.

I hate being bad at things because it makes me feel like I am not intelligent enough to understand how to be GOOD at whatever it is; forget about the fact that practice makes perfect.

So with my deflated ego in tow we headed home, and watched Meet the Parents.

Now I am giving my arcade loot a new home in my garden; meet the dinos.

A T-rex and Velociraptor are now protecting my jalapenos.

  

Speaking of my plants, my tomato plant must be on crack because it is growing, growing, growing.. It is really incredible. Once I get a weeks worth of pics I'll post them all up at once so we can see the progress. 

Same branch as above, beginning of last week.

I've got about 7 tomatoes going, 3 jalapenos and 3 peppers going right now; All the plants have buds started for more fruit too. 

So that was our Saturday, I hope everyone is having a splendid weekend. 

Namaste!

r

 

More garden.

My garden grew by two; this weekend we added a tomato plant and a jalapeno plant to the crowd. 

They are really liking their new place in the sun, and I am too. 

 In a few days, these will look like.....

 ...these. :)

 {In about 50-60 days, these guys should be ready to eat. There are other branches starting buds too, so I should have a couple to enjoy.}

 ..And a jalapeno is on its way too.

{Looks like about 5 will grow}

The petite bell-pepper plant is growing a new batch of peppers too;

I am expecting about 7 of those this time.

I love my happy plants. 

Namaste!

R

Fresh herbs in a jar center piece

My herbs were getting out of control-- Did not know that basil grows like a weed so it is a very good thing that we love basil because I have been eating a lot of this......

and Poor Man's Pesto.

As always I am trying to reproduce my plants, and I had so much fun watching that ficus root I decided to make the process a fixture in the kitchen & on the table..

{The ficus rooting over ~ 2 months time.}

 

 Now I have a new tree!

Gardening is by far becoming my most favorite thing. 

I've been wanting to bring some green indoors, especially the herbs so I can will use them in cooking more often. 

So this is what I did, and I think I might be in love...

I am most definitely using this as my center piece for Thanksgiving. I will spruce it up of course-- maybe add some candles, and some of the rooting plants from outside.  {Shown: Rosemary, Basil and Parsley}

once they grow roots they will be planted and given away as Holiday presents. :)


"Use plants to bring life." ~Douglas Wilson

Namaste!

R

My plants love November too.

It's no secret that I am obsessed with my patio garden.

I spent my morning repotting, soiling, pruning and setting up clippings for roots so they can be planted and given as gifts this holiday season. I decided that I am not purchasing gifts anymore-- I am encouraging a greener planet by giving my plant babies away. :)

Does that make me cheap or a hippie? I guess I don't care either way.

I went and got some more clay pots and soil.. and then I re-purposed a candle holder by melting out the wax and giving my little cactus some more room to grow.

Remember that ficus I have been rooting, well now he has a home. :)

.... and soon he will have some brothers and sisters. ;)

Then I pruned the money tree to see if I can get some roots. {I know it kinda looks like a pot plant, but trust me I am not in the marijuana growing business. I'm paranoid enough as it is. ;)}

.. and just 'cause, I took some pics of my thriving "pitcher plant"
{He's a carnivore just like a Venus fly trap}.... his name is Goomba.

My peppers are still ripening; since this is my first pepper plant, I am letting them ripen as much as possible so I can see how the process goes-- they are starting to lighten in color-- they started off as a very dark green and now that green is warming up, but I can't tell what color it it will turn next. .

..and my Flapjack/Paddle Succulents seem to be doing alright, but I can't figure out how to get them to grow babies, or prune them... more research on these guys and I will be good to go!

OH and I planted some tomato seeds, so they should be ready for planting after winter.
{Now's the time to start tomato plants}

Now I am going to enjoy the warm day, clean some and hang out with one of my fave gal-pals.

Have a great day ya'll :)


Namaste!

R

Friday Faves: A happy garden and some happy nails.

Okay- I love the nail decor fad that's happening. 

I'm not really one to give fashion advice-- mostly because I've been wearing the same crap since I was 20 and anything I think looks cute or fashionable probably makes me a great candidate for the TLC show What Not To Wear-- you know us weird, arty, nerdy/hippie chicks, we always look quirky, but not always in a good way. ha. I know I am not alone.

Anyway, while I am keeping my wardrobe low-key, I've been having fun playing with my nails. I've done a few designs and keep getting complemented by people whom I have deemed appropriate even fashionable dressers, so I thought I'd start showing off my nails since I've been having so much fun, and I don't mind the ego stroke.

 

OPI Nail Polish You Don't Know Jacques! as the base (My fave color for the past 3 months btw) and I have some nail polish pens from a few Christmas' ago that I used for the details.

And now, my Happy Garden.

...and I've been soaking some clippings from my one of my Ficus Trees for about a month now & this is what is happening...

Cool right?

I do this with all of my plants, and then give them to friends or repopulate my own garden.

Once I get some more roots on this guy, I'm going to put him in some soil and prep him for a new home. 

I am giving LIFE to my loved ones this holiday season in form of my sweet plants offspring. 

I love my plants. 

Tending to my garden is right next to playing with cats/kittens with a laser pointer 

on my Favorite Things To Do list..

Anyway nature is cool, and so are you.

xo, 

r