Magenta

Another color for feasting one’s eyes. It has been very hot out there the last few days. I hope the flowers enjoy it. It will cool down fast and we’ll have a break before any relentless Summer gets it’s hooks into us.

Enjoy!

Very White

Finally got some good pictures of the new white papavers.

You have to catch them in just the right light. Too much light and the image blown out. Too little and they look drab.

These are more of the fine crop of Annie’s flowers we got at Eileen Barry’s Wild Thyme in April.

The  tomatoes are doing very well. A closer examination gave e the distinct impression that we did get cherry tomatoes. I hope so. one plant is filled with many, many, little red bulbs.

I also stuck an old onion in a planter from which I expect to see pretty buds soon. Will they be shades of lavender?

Doubles

This morning’s picture is a delightful double. Two blossoms.

What a wonderful morning ritual, going out with the camera to catch a photo of the fresh new beauty.

There will be other colors coming soon. I can’t wait to see the white blooms. My long awaited black poppy will probably be the last out. It will be worth the wait.

My daughter and her boyfriend came to visit this last weekend. They filled the house with flowers. Peonies, sunflowers, gladiolas. It is such a treat.

I waited a bit to long to photograph them. The were so full and fresh. The love is timeless.

Morning Emergence

We have our first beautiful flower from among the plants that Frank bought for my birthday. He watched it emerge this morning. The wind help blow the outer green shell of protective petals away and there she was.

Stunning. We will soon have a second blossom. It looks like it may be dark purple. You’ll see.

There is a little purple near the center of this flower. I can’t wait.

This evening it will cool off and the annual solar eclipse will take place at sunset here in California. Feels like magic.

These lovely flowers are Annie’s and were found at Eileen Barry’s enchanting Wild Thyme.

Growing

The plants in our raised garden boxes are thriving, It makes me very happy! There are poppies galore readying themselves for display. They will be beautiful.

We have at least three kinds of tomatoes out there – Early Girls, Black Prince and I think little yellow cherry tomatoes. I might be wrong about the cherry as I don’t see a little tag for them. We will see.

The Early Girls already have tomatoes. Sweet. Grow, babies.

10 a.m. Rockin’ My Plimsoul

It’s 10  a.m. and I think it’s the perfect time to listen to Jeff Beck Group’s “Truth.” There is no one to disturb with the loudness. I’m all alone and truth be told, I’ve been watching way too much TV. It’s a bit of a scratchy copy but not bad. Years ago, I found wonderful speakers while checking out the goods at the Discovery Shop.

Yes, I’m spoiled by the iPod, not having to flip records to get the whole album, but the sound is so worth it.  Right now I’m hearing Jeff’s acoustic “Greensleeves” and I know it will soon roll into Rod singing “Rock My Plimsoul.” Ah.

I think I need a round-up of the Grateful Dead’s best versions of “Morning Dew.” Ask and ye shall be given. There is a web site with a list! I need to find them. A trip to Meteor Records in Anderson?

Iris

Spring days, oh so warm, and such a treat to see green leaves and beautiful flowers. I don’t know who planted these. It was before we moved into this house but they look great along the fence on the drive in. Thank you!

Nature is magnificent.

SunTime Soon

Frank went to Wild Thyme this morning to fetch some more beautiful poppies, white this time, and brought home some beautiful red salvia  for the delight of hummingbirds and butterflies. The sun was out when we planted them but it has grown cloudy and gray.

We planted six tomato plants and some chives. We can hit the Farmer’s Market for other veggies. We’re just around the corner from the Saturday market at City Hall. It was busy every single Saturday last season. Good for us all.

The warmth is due this week. Temperatures will get into the 80s. Great and groovy.

I will be taking pictures of the new plants. It is going to be so nice to have flowers to see from the kitchen windows.

Outside

Though it may snow before the spring has really sprung I think we are looking good. There has been wind and rain but that is March, Eh? I’m itching to grow something but I won’t rush it.

The catnip is roaring back. Herbs, the more aromatic the better, sound just right for this season. Tomatoes and also flowers for  butterflys and hummingbirds. Fuschias? Any good ideas, anyone?

Chuck b. over at My Back 40, is growing cherries on trees breed to need less chill. He’s in the Bay area. I need some. Too bad trees take forever to make their sweet fruit.

The rain is still falling and the buds are still popping here in the far North of California. Little violets pop up everywhere. The Iris are growing. Little plants stuck here and there in the thin dirt strip along the walkway to the house are growing. The aloe vera is happy. A desert plant I rescued from the R.S. three years ago is flourishing.  What pleasure to see happy vegetation.

We watched a big batch of Academy Award nominated films last week when Frank was on vacation. I did not care much for My Week with Marilyn. The casting was very weird. Didn’t like Kenneth Branagh as Olivier or Julia Ormond as Vivian Leigh. The story was boring. My big complaint, as always, is the near impossibility of one person being able to radiate the spirit of another. It wasn’t happening with Michelle Williams though I’m sure she did her best.

The Descendants and the Beginners were very nice to watch. Not super mind-blowing but really people, The Artist? Ah, well. Next year.

Haven’t had much energy to do any design related things in the house but did manage this week to add a little more Azteca to the bathroom and why the bleep not? 

 

 

 

 

It’s Now

It the day after my last chemo dosing. I’m still high from a combo of steroids, put into the  mix somewhere and at the same time a bit whoozy from last night’s atavan which I took to get some sleep. I’ve decided that having the steroids wake me at two or three a.m. with a strong desire to scrub the bathroom floor with a tin toothbrush isn’t really what I need to be doing, nor is making a giant plate of corn pancake. Both things would me happy but very fatigued afterward and throughout the next day.

Homey don’t play. Get me a scrub brush, Stat!!

Me the day after chemo, full of poison and feel good steroids. So fierce. Sometime I wish I could just be cranking on steroids all the time. I’d surely get into lots of trouble.

I’ve had the energy to get on the phone and straighten out all the dangling elements of various bills. Everything is smooth sailing for now. Not too shabby for Mercury retrograde. It is just spinning now before it appears to walk back through Aries to Pisces.

More good  news. I read in an email from one of the gay newsletters/magazines Advocate/Out, that tonight is the premiere of Jeffrey Lewis’ new show Interior Therapy. Hurray. Followed by Million Dollar Listings New York. Sweet, cheap but brilliant entertainment.

To balance my fierce steroid shots above I’ve decided to share  some beauty shots with you.

Easiest face-lift trick in the book = reclining.

I look like I should be demanding, ever so pleasantly of course,

“Darling, could you put a few more banana slices in my cream of rice.” Later you all, with Love.