Wednesday, 11 May 2022
The notion that the difficult becomes possible if attempted in small, familiar increments encoded in the phrase “one foot in front of the other” is bunkum. At least for me these days. When I walk, I have to (try to) remember to tilt my pelvis a bit, shorten my stride, keep my chin up, keep my shoulders back, watch out for cross-traffic, avoid other pedestrians (Covid), avoid stepping in doggie bombs…you get the idea.
Saturday, 7 May 2022
I know of one bed of this plant (although my identification skills are abysmal) in our neighborhood, and I don’t remember this plant from elsewhere [really, why would I?]. My magic identification app suggests this is Houttuynia cordata, which is native to greater Southeast Asia. The app indicates the Chinese name translates as “fishy-smelling herb” and the Japanese name literally translates as “poison blocking plant.” These are far more…entertaining…than “the plant that spreads rapidly and keeps a slope from eroding,” which might be a colloquial name chosen by observers of this bed.
Friday, 6 May 2022
Humidity and impending rain created an atmosphere such that I couldn’t face pulling ivy and the mattock work I’ve been doing for two weeks, so I opted to walk. Still humid. Still rain pending (in 49 minutes, professed my watch—and it was right). I’ve been sparing my ever-so-sensitive knees by not pounding the pavement with a daily walk, so I turned tables and headed out for haunts I haven’t checked up on lately. Mucho progresso at the neighborhood firehouse, and I’m sure the fire-folk will love the upgrades.
And our new favorite summer evening menu: salmon salad. Like this. With lettuce and tomatoes and a drizzle of “balsamic glaze,” a TJ’s prep that is made with grape must, and is yummy (thank you, Cuz, for introducing me to it!), although it may not sound yummy.
In short, a day of changed habits.
Wednesday, 4 May 2022
I’m staggered that the Chief Justice is more worried about the non-Justices doing something that might be termed underhanded than that that is just what several of the Lying-Under-Oath and Lying-to-Senators-in-Private regular Justices have done. Lying under oath BY A JUDGE seems to me to be a staggering problem with the institution of the Supreme Court. And thus for our nation.
Tuesday, 3 May 2022
Ants swarming like it’s a peony, no?
Voting day some states. Here early voting began on Monday, so our airwaves (if that still works) are jammed with Seriously Annoying candidate ads, and Even More Annoying ads contributed by outside organizations.
Monday, 2 May 2022
One year ago we were train-spotting in Missouri (among other things). What have I been up to? Mostly being a homebody.
Wednesday, 27 April 2022
I vanquished another privet today, or perhaps the joke’s on me, as it left several lateral roots behind that could spring up above the ground again very soon. The bed’s a mess, and needs more cleansing, but: progress. Neither of us has a plan for what to do with it. Very shady. Light-wise.
Tuesday, 26 April 2022
I had my way with a privet today. By “had my way,” I mean I uprooted it and sent it off to the compost. Took a half hour with a mattock—thump thump, wrench, strain. [This fading peony is much nicer.]
Sunday, 24 April 2022
We just started a new international television series. It’s called Pera Palas’ta Gece Yarısı, or Midnight at the Pera Palace. For enquiring minds: the Pera Palace is a real hotel that had its grand opening in 1895.
Turns out that just like Finnish and Swedish, we can’t understand Turkish merely by listening to it.
Friday, 22 April 2022
I got out early for my third day of Weed Attacking. Embarrassingly, I found this giant specimen, which has survived our awareness long enough to reach almost eight feet tall. Wish our basil had that much robusticity.
After a shower, we hit the road and headed south-southwest…where we could see Alabama from our perch. And spotted a great blue that I swear is on the Georgia side of the Chattahoochee.
On our return leg, we drove atop Pine Mountain…yes, there is a mountain south of Atlanta.