Come with me to my balcony ...

Good morning!  It's a fine sunny Monday morning.  My hu-mom is getting ready to go to work, so I thought I'd show you what's happening on my balcony. 

 Well, OUR balcony ... cuz I share it with my hu-mom.  When she's good.

This is my view when I look out from my living room.  It's sure nice to see green things growing!  My hu-mom tells me those big bushy things up high are radishes and that I won't like them.  She gets all bothered and excited when I jump up on the balcony railing to check them out, so I guess I'll let her think I don't like them.

 I REALLY like lettuce though!  Fortunately, it's growing down where I can help myself whenever I feel like it.  For a long time this spring, my hu-mom got excited about me eating the lettuce faster than it could grow, but now it's growing faster than either of us can eat it.  I'm not too wild about Rhonda and Rhoda the flamingo twins ... they whir their wings in the most annoying manner when I least expect it!

 Here are two more things I REALLY like ... peas and spinach!  My hu-mom stuck those plastic pole things in there to keep me from nibbling on the peas and spinach.  Ha!  They don't really stop me ... but don't tell her, ok?

 My hu-mom is all happy because her tomato plants have flowers.  I have no idea why she's happy about that ... I tasted one, and it was YUCK!

 She's also happy because her hot pepper plants have miniature peppers starting.  They are up high so I can't taste them.  Hmmm ... I wonder what hot peppers taste like?

 Earlier this morning, my hu-mom was sitting in her chair on my our balcony and doing her knitting.  She is knitting a fuschia sock.  I don't think it's for me.

 She told me that she is thinking about adding a fold-down cuff to hide the ribbing, but can't decide what kind of pattern to put on the cuff.  The pattern for this sock is her own design.  It didn't come out of a book.  (My hu-mom thinks she's rather clever when she invents her own design ... silly hu-mom!)

Maybe you bloggy readers have a pattern suggestion for her?  She really hates to have unfinished socks around cuz they tempt me.  What!?!?  Why wouldn't I play with unattended knitting?  Doesn't she realize I'm a CAT?

Enjoy your Monday!

Following Gus . . .

Have you read this book?

I watched the TV series ages ago ... twice ... and thought the book might be a good read (although I don't go for 10 pound books too often!).  Couldn't do it the other way around I'm sure.  Read the book first, start picturing and hearing the characters in my mind, and I'm sure to be disappointed by someone else's "vision" on the TV or movie screen.  I was NOT disappointed with this book.  In fact, having enjoyed Robert Duvall's version of "Gus" Captain Augustus McRae ...

... it was easy to enjoy the book hearing that smooth-talking southerner in my head!  I give this book 5 stars out of 5.  Great long rainy weekend reading!  It is a 10 pounder, so you might want to read it on your E-reader instead of actually carrying around a heavy book.

I guess it was an "entertain LD" kinda weekend ... I took myself out to see this at our local movie theatre ...

Not the 3D version though.  It was plenty exciting 2D.  Since I've been a "Trekky" since the 1960s (used to watch the original Star Trek with my Dad), there's seldom a Star Trek ANYTHING that doesn't make me happy!  And this latest movie did not disappoint.  Only thing that bugged me was the appearance of - and subsequent death of - Captain Christopher Pike.  I REMEMBER what happened to the original Pike, and this shift in story line was a bit irritating.  The younger version of Spock was FABULOUS!  We even get to see him SHED A TEAR!  Oh, and kiss a female officer!

As mentioned above, it was a rainy and chilly weekend, not very conducive to balcony gardening.  I didn't get my balcony composter built ('cuz I was a little busy reading Lonesome Dove and going out to a movie ...), so that task has been put off for next weekend.  I can, however, report that my radishes are up ...

... and the lettuce I seeded is up ...

... and my kale is hail and hearty! 

Okay, I cheated a little on the kale having put out bedding plants instead of seeding it.  Can't wait!  It's going to be a grand salad soon! 

I did a bit of knitting too.  Sorry, no pix of that.  Over the last couple of years, I have accumulated a bunch of Cascade 220 wool as I usually buy an extra skein in addition to however much I actually need for a particular project.  Every so often, I HAVE TO dream up some kind of project to use the "extras".  Sometimes, I just cast on with one colour and let imagination take its course.  That's what I'm doing this time ... I cast on with off-white, switched to black while sitting in a crappy meeting, worked some off-white "snowballs" into the black, then switched to a bright yellow and black herringbone pattern ... oh, I guess I'll just have to take some pix to show y'all!  My buddy took a look at this project and proclaimed "Why that sweater is just plain NUTS!" ... which gave me the idea of working in some squirrels holding NUTS (knitted snowballs or popcorns).  It's a sweater that will always make me laugh!  I suspect you'll laugh too when I post the pix.

Have a GREAT week y'all!

Getting excited!

July 3 today ... 3 more sleeps (until launching off on my innovative European vacation)!  Hope you're going to follow my adventures!

So how was YOUR long weekend?

Cloudy / rainy here.

 The Boots and I enjoyed balcony time together and caught up on our reading.

"Hey!  Get your thumb outta the way ...
I'm still on that page!"

Sometimes I really need a couple of quiet days to just hang out on the balcony with La Feline.  It recharges my batteries!

I did manage to get myself dressed and out once over the weekend ... took myself on a Saturday night movie date. What a waste of money and time! "That's My Boy" ... an Adam Sandler thing. I find Adam Sandler's brand of humor thoroughly obnoxious. Had I realized he was in it, I would NOT have bothered ... I bought my ticket based on a brief synopsis about "a teenaged father reuniting with his grown son" ... thought it sounded like an interesting story line. NOT!  I have to admit, however, inflicting this movie on myself was my own fault.  Usually I take the time to check out movie trailers on line and read multiple reviews before heading out to the theatre.  That will teach me not to be spontaneous (in the movie-going department)!



Then, just to add insult to injury on Saturday, I missed the last bus of the evening and ended up WALKING HOME. I don't mind an hour long walk, but after NOT enjoying a movie date with myself, wasn't such a happy camper. Of course, once I got home, I was AWAKE and energized ... not a good state to be in after 11 pm!



I guess The Boots was too busy reading (and snuggling) to cause further gardening havoc.

What's left of our lettuce is growing well ...
I'll re-seed the middle of this pot AGAIN this week
(shhh!  Don't tell Bootsie!)

I have no idea what this happy little plant is
in the planters on my balcony railing ...
but it is sure PURTY!!!

I just heard there's a weekly Scrabble thing happening at our local book store ... YES!  I've been feeling Scrabble deficient lately.

Cheers!

Leaving On A Jet Plane ...

Infidel socks - the right one.
Apparently holding up both feet at the same time
is a feat I can no longer manage
without falling over!
(Oh damn!  The date is wrong on my camera again!)

... no, I'm not leaving on a jet plane, but if I were I might wear my new "Infidel" socks!  Actually, next week I'm treating myself to a week of "Staycation" ... a holiday at home.  No grand plans beyond a challenge to "do something tourist-y" at least once.  Hmm.  Will have to think on that.  I'll keep y'all posted!

It's been cool and rainy here, so my balcony garden is looking (mostly) quite luscious.

Look what "volunteered" to reappear this year!
These little beauties are one of my absolute favourites!

This is why MINT should be restrained in small pots!
Mint, anyone???

My BASIL needs to take lessons from the MINT!
Not even enough for one little batch of pesto!

HEY!
LOOK AT THIS!
SOMEBODY has been nibbling on the HOPS VINE!

WHO?
WHO HAS BEEN NIBBLING ON THE HOPS VINE?
WHO DARE INTRUDE ON MY BALCONY
AND NIBBLE ON MY ... er ... the ... er ...
... never mind ... I'll just go inside now ....



I really don't know what you're insinuating ...
I would certainly never nibble on the Hops Vine!

The Boots and I spend a lot of hours outside on the balcony.  However, this past week, she attempted something that might put an end to her unsupervised balcony time.  She was out there, and I was in the kitchen doing up supper dishes.  I caught movement out of the corner of my eye, glanced across our apartment to the balcony, and there was Mizz Bootz precariously performing a very wobbly tiptoe across the upper edge of the balcony railing! 

Our THIRD FLOOR balcony - summer 2010.

Mizz Bootz is an indoor kitty.  She has claws, but I keep her front claws trimmed short so she doesn't scratch things (especially me).  She does NOT have sufficient claws to dig into wood railings!  And it's a long fall down to the ground!

Anticipating a heart-wrenching SPLAT and picturing horrendous vet bills as the happiest possible outcome, I walked over as (not) calmly as humanly possible, lifted her down, and explained in a very (not) calm quiet voice the potential negative results of her trapeze ballet.  WTF?  Last summer, she was practically too chicken to even LOOK THROUGH the railing!

I want my chicken kitty back.

Next week's staycation might be very interesting!

The May Long Weekend

After a visit 'down south' the previous weekend, I decided to spend part of my Saturday searching for signs of spring here in 'The North'.  Well, that's not exactly true ... my mission for the day was a trip to the health food store to buy some essential oils (more on this later), and I had my trusty little digital camera along and took some pix of the evidence of spring during my travels.  (There ... I feel much better for having 'fessed up!)

There has been quite a change in The State of Blooming Things in a very short time ...

Flowering bulbs ... finally!
Pretty pink tulips.

More bulbs!

Apple blossoms!

Soon-to-be lilacs!

A tree dripping with pretty catkins.
This nameless tree has white bark ... I know fruit trees,
not ALL trees!

 All that evidence of spring ... and the fact that the world as we know it didn't end at 6:00 pm on Saturday night! ... was enough to send me home and out onto my balcony, which I have to admit never got cleaned up last fall and was looking pretty disgusting.  Here's the BEFORE pix:

Looking to the left ...

Looking to the right ...

 A bit of digging, sweeping and re-arranging, and here's the AFTER pix:

Looking to the left ...
Yes, I moved my chair to the other end.
That way I can sit in the sun with my morning cuppa tea!

Looking to the right ...

 Most of last year's Balcony Inhabitants survived the winter ...

Humper and Thumper appeared quite glad to be back outside.
They weren't too fussy about wintering beside the bookcase ...
especially when Mizz Bootz played her rambunctious hockey games around the bookcase!

Rhonda and Rhoda the Whirling Flamingo Sisters
seemed a little doubtful about returning from their winter vacation
before the 1st of June ...

As the clouds grew, Larry the Lounging Lizard
appeared to worry that his heat rock was seriously malfunctioning!
I'm sure I heard a little lizardly plea for a little lizardly scarf and toque ...

The Little Rosemary Angel lost her head and one wing over the winter ...
She has been relegated to a safe corner while her neck and wing "heals"!
Let's hope that glue holds ...

 The May Long Weekend really is too early to get serious about planting anything outdoors here just yet.  We could have another snow storm!  Or at least another frost or two!  However, I couldn't resist adding SOME greenery to the balcony ...

L. & E. brought me over some parsley plants.
They enjoyed their own very first yard and garden last year,
and are thrilled to find some things reappearing this year ...
including parsley ...

They also brought me some mint.
I think it's peppermint.
Smells yummy!

I bought a half dozen little seedling geraniums.
They only cost $1.20 each, so if they get frozen,
no big deal!
However, I hope they don't ...

 After all that hard work, I baked bread.  Well, that's not exactly true ... my trusty bread machine baked bread while I was busy digging, sweeping and re-arranging, and it was finished just in time for me to relax out on the balcony in my (re-positioned and freshly cleaned) chair with my book, a cuppa green tea, and a slice of hot home-made bread with honey! 

Yummy for my tummy!

Mizz Bootz, the self-appointed Defender Of The Balcony,
kept a close eye on all those nasty helicopters
(AKA hummingbirds)
that kept invading Our Air Space!

 Had to deal with a bit of Long Weekend Company (nice to have guests, but nice to have them leave, too!), but did manage to get a bit of "thinking pink" knitting done ...

Cables and ribs ...
Little Person Cardigan worked from the neck down.

Armholes divided from the body ...
sleeves get picked up and knitted later.

Body knitted THIS FAR from where the armholes are divided off.

I know!  I know!  The date stamp on my pix STILL says 2154 instead of 2011!  I WILL change it ... eventually!

So you are probably wondering why my mission for Saturday was a trip to the health food store to buy some essential oil?  Bear with me ... it's a bit of a long-winded story ...

I'm part way through a graduate degree, and have been feeling a little uninspired academically speaking.  For the past year, I've been fighting an urge to take a course or DO SOMETHING NEW AND DIFFERENT just for me, just for the joy of it, just to nourish ME.  But for the life of me, I couldn't imagine what that something was.  Music lessons?  Nope.  Language lessons?  Nope.  Belly dancing?  Definately not.  Finally, I asked "The Universe / The Great Ha-Ha / The Powers That Be" to give me a hint already 'cuz I knew I wanted to do something but couldn't figure out what.  The very next thing that floated into my world was an article about the health benefits of aromatherapy.  So I said "cute, Universe, but that can't possibly be IT!"  After six or seven articles / conversations / hints about aromatherapy ... and me stupidly responding "cute, Universe, but seriously now, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO FOR ME ALREADY?!?!?!?" ... I finally GOT THE MESSAGE (duh!) and enrolled in an aromatherapy course.  That's why my mission for Saturday was a trip to the health food store to buy some essential oil!

Have you ever asked for guidance in making a decision like that?  Or tried to ignore provided guidance when it was provided?  And what did YOU do over the Long May Weekend???

Mysteries solved

No, the mystery of my dead home computer has not yet been solved.  Well, it sort of has ... I know how much it's going to cost to repair it, and I'm now in the throes of contemplating buying a new laptop instead of having the repairs done.  So I'm posting via a friend's computer.

Today's mysteries are:

1. WHO KILLED JOHNNY JUMP-UP?
2. HOW AM I GOING TO SATISFY MY SUMMER ICE-CREAM CRAVING?
3. WHAT DISH SHALL I USE TO TAKE MY FIG/ONION/CHEVRE DIP TO TONIGHT'S PARTY?

Serious stuff, oui?  Oui!

First, WHO KILLED JOHNNY JUMP UP?

I have never had this happen before!  Normally, I start a bunch of Johnny Jump Ups, and a few months later, I curse both their longevity and productivity.  These guys simply could not have just up and died, so I want to know ... WHO DONE IT?  A Murder Mystery right on my own balcony!  Was it ...

... the BUTTERFLY hovering next to the corpse?  Or was it ...

... TOMMY THE TURTLE from down in the Basil Fields?  Or was it ...

... MAEVE THE MOOSE from over in the Norfolk Pine Forest?  Or was it ...

... the ANGEL lurking in the Rosemary bushes?  Or was it ...

... LARRY THE LOUNGING LIZARD down on his sunny rock?  Or was it ...

... HUMPER AND THUMPER THE BUNNY BROTHERS over by the Chives?  Or was it ...

... RHONDA AND RHODA THE FLAMINGO SISTERS from Sweet Pea Corner?  Or was it ...

... MISS BOOTS ON THE BALCONY WITH A WATERING CAN???

Hmmm . . . . . . . .

Second, HOW AM I GOING TO SATISFY MY SUMMER ICE-CREAM CRAVING?  Since I grow less tolerant of lactose with each passing year, AND I seriously love my ice cream during these hot summer evenings, this is a MAJOR mystery.

Well!  I did better at solving this one than the previous mystery.  I found this stuff ...

Oops ... sorry!  Fuzzy photo!  I was so excited about getting it open and chowing down when I snapped this picture.  This stuff is make out of COCONUT MILK ... nothing in it to disagree with me, and it tastes DARNED FINE!  Mystery solved!

FINALLY, WHAT DISH SHALL I USE TO TAKE MY FIG/ONION/CHEVRE DIP TO TONIGHT'S PARTY?  Serious mystery, folks, honest!  This is a VERY yummy dip, and not just any old dish will do!  I'd been pondering on this mystery for days.  Well!  I happened to be out of my office for a meeting this afternoon, and noticed this delightful little dish in a shop window on my way back to work after the meeting ...

Mystery solved!  It's perfect!

Okay, now I have to go get myself bee-oo-tee-ful for the party.  Laters . . . . . . . .