Violet Monday

Did you know each day of the week is associated with a particular colour?  Did you know each colour represents one of the body's energy chakras?  I discovered this lately, so have been experimenting with wearing and eating the appropriate colour on the appropriate day.  For example ...

MONDAY is VIOLET day ... so I am wearing a lavender-coloured silk shirt and had BLUEBERRIES with homemade yoghurt and toast for breakfast ... apparently approved by Miss Boots!  (Blueberries are considered both an indigo and a violet food.)

 VIOLET AFFIRMATION: 

Let the violet energy flow through me and cleanse my body to give new life and new energy!

 

In the balcony gardening department, it's now mid-August, and the hot peppers are starting to redden up ...

 ... as are the tomatoes!  (finally!)  Last night, I treated myself to a yummy "Pico de Gallo" dip made with tomatoes, onions, parsley, and hot peppers ... all from my very own balcony!

 The parsley has been well-consumed all summer (by both human and cat!) and is now going to seed.

 And the carrots are standing tall!  I've been eating every second carrot in an effort to thin them out a bit.

 It's been a VERY satisfying garden season on my balcony!  I'm so glad I went veggies this year instead of flowers ...

Kale, lettuce, hot pepper, Lemon Balm, Sugar Snap Peas ...

Cherry tomatoes, baby carrots, nasturtiums

... and I'm quite amazed at the amount of veggies produced in such a small space!  (Okay, nasturtiums aren't technically a veggie ... but the flowers taste darned fine in salad!)

Have you read this book, "The Tower, The Zoo, and The Tortoise" by Julia Stuart?

It's our current SHELF LIFE: SENIORS TALK BOOKS book here at our centre.  If you appreciate British humour or history, it's a great light-hearted read.  If you want to "read" at a deeper level, it's an interesting look at grief and family relations.  I personally give it 5 stars out of 5 stars ... but we'll see what the rest of the group gives it.  (Voting on how many stars is sometimes the liveliest part of the book discussion!)

Have a great week, y'all!

Three Tales from the Balcony

FIRST TALE:  Balcony Appies

Once upon a time, one VERY hot afternoon, a slightly bored human went out onto the balcony in search of a perfect before-dinner appetizer.

 

She took a container of salty Kalamata black olives with her on this quest, and browsed the available balcony vegetation.  She started with a bitter lettuce leaf, added a sweet pea pod, and then a tiny HOT pepper, as well as an olive.

She rolled these items up like a cigar, and munched them down.  Then she browsed the balcony vegetation again and rolled a different selection around an olive.

 

She repeated this over and over, washing each fresh creation down with "something chilled", and contemplating mystery and intrigue on the balcony.

SECOND TALE:  Jack's Bean Stalk

Hey!  That doesn't LOOK LIKE a pea shoot!  I know I've been enjoying Balcony Appies, but I'm quite certain those aren't pea leaves!

And look there ... behind Rhonda and Rhoda the Flamingo twins ... climbing up the post!  That doesn't LOOK LIKE parsley!  Parsley does NOT climb balcony posts!

 

AH HA!  Tight little red flower buds!  I think I might have an answer to THIS balcony mystery ...

 

Jack's bean stalk is climbing up onto OUR balcony from the balcony directly below!

I wonder WHO or WHAT is going to climb up the bean stalk???

 

 

THIRD TALE:  Potato Assassination Plot

 

I am a Norfolk Pine.  As far as seven year old Norfolk Pines go, I'm rather average in size.

Us Norfolk Pines do not grow at extraordinary rates.  We generally produce one modest quartet of branches a year.  I think this year's quartet of branches is quite ... well ... modest.  Norfolk Pines are not generally prone to extravagance.

Unlike the "patio pot-sized" tomatoes who also live on our balcony ... they are growing and spreading at the most alarming rate!  Really!  Such a ridiculous show is quite uncalled for!  And a terribly unnecessary waste of water!

The tomatoes, however, are NOTHING compared to the potato!  Our human planted one little organic potato in the bottom of a giant plastic pot.  Oh, how I laughed!  That little potato looked so silly way down there in that big pot ... it was even too little to see over the edge!

 

And then the little potato grew ... and GREW ... and GREW!

 

Now that damned potato is TALLER THAN ME!  I can't see around it anymore!  As if living next to a crazed tomato isn't difficult nough!  The little potato has even STARTED BLOOMING!  What a show off!  It makes me feel so terribly ordinary and ... rather insignificant.

 

 I can't take it anymore! 

BUD THE SPUD MUST DIE!!!

 

(No potatoes were harmed during the photography for these tales.  However, Bud the Spud has sent a plea for assistance via Jack's Bean Stalk to the Witness Protection Program.)