waiting for the outside

the chilly windiness of the outside has made me rethink my over-exuberant ideas of planting the tomatoes and basil this weekend. looks like the nights would be cold enough that I'd have to cover them at night.

but this basil, (Thai, Genovese & "Large Leaf") is so ready to go outside.

soon.

yesterday, while the sun was briefly shining, I did put a new patch of mint in the backyard. visions of mint juleps.

or, mojitos.

great things list #10, dance party

under the red glow. with the stars out above. and cocktails everywhere.

little known outside of the fair city of Lawrence. is the knowledge of the funtimes to be had. during the spring & summer, while a dj plays out back at the Replay Lounge.

fortunately, I got a reminder last weekend. with my dear friends.

(the live music inside, performed by friends, was an added bonus)

at the end of the night, when I didn't get to walk back to my old house (as I used to), was bittersweet. but maybe dance parties are best when rare, rather than routine.

day for earth

the first morning-glory sprout.
















plants purchased for planting. salvia. petunias. coleus. mint.

time to hire someone to mow the lawn.
or just frickin' do it myself.

it is a pretty day here, for earth day.

today's a.word.a.day

suspire (suh-SPYR) verb tr., intr.

To breathe; to sigh.

[From Latin suspirare (to breathe up), from spirare (to breathe)

(E. note: As one can expire, so one can suspire.)


This word seemed mighty appropriate. For how I'm feeling today. The past seven days have definitely given me a reminder. To breathe in new air. And keep myself going.

sun patterns

the air seems warmer. or maybe it is just the sunshine
this morning making it seem so.

















this week's weather is going to be great for everything that wants to grow. (making mental note to plant more bulbs around the Apricot tree)

this weekend I'm looking forward to an overnight trip back to my old home. I'll be tagging along, to see friends. and to have a drink in a favorite bar.
but first, I must work this week. to earn the fun near the end.

new

new growth. the basil seedlings, some now at a month-and a few days.















turkish rug. happily accepted from my stepmother. who felt she no longer had a place to display it. (of particular importance, is that she bought this while shopping with my best friend, in Istanbul) the Grey Kitty promptly showed her napping-approval. leaving a patch of fur.
some day it will be on a wood floor, in a newly painted white room. (when am I going to just take this project on? it hounds me)















lemon balm regrowth. (suggested as a must have last year by my friend t.)
it already looks triple the size it did when planted.















more signs of things I planted in the fall.















sprouts, from the compost in my garden bed.

also new, is that my little company has been purchased by a bigger one. and we now wait. to see what other new things this might bring.

this weekend I'll be acting as a delegate for our congressional district caucus. a new experience. with my new Obama tee.

--and, it is rainy here. which is good for everything growing outside. but makes my hair fuzzy.

--hoping that in 2-3 weeks. I'll be planting tomatoes. or, other new things...outside.

and finally yet most importantly new, my niece and her growing chunkiness & cuteness.

pop up

always fun to see what I've planted, show up.

especially after a drudge of winter.
nice to see some bright colors outside again.

baking for a birthday

as I baked this cake today. for my lovely sister-in-law's birthday.
I thought of how it is also a one-year birthday for this adastraland blog.
I always enjoy a reason to bake a cake.





























the cake is a devil's food recipe, from MS. similar to this one.
I included a layer of Nutella on the top of the bottom layer.
And then iced with a simple powdered sugar/cocoa/vanilla glaze.

And here's to one year of this little blog. I'm curious as to what it will
contain in yet another year. I guess every year when the daffodils
are blooming, I'll also have this anniversary to think about. and possibly,
a reason to bake a chocolate cake.

great things list #9, Spring

today is the Spring Equinox.
First day of Spring.
A season of Hope.
a day that most of us who make daily drudges through winter, look forward to.
though it could still snow, or freeze, basically Spring is here.
I can tell walking outside, I can smell things. the air is actually verdant. b/c the world has thawed. and living outside again.

dreaming of fresh basil on fresh tomatoes, all warm from the sunshine.
the basil sprouts, above. at 17 days.

dreaming of zinnias. in the summer.
















and now the time comes, to start feeling busy because the outdoors must be tended to.

1. move compost pile to garden plot, work into soil at least 2 ft. deep
2. rake up leaf piles that have acted as mulch through winter.
3. plant peas?
4. trim crazy-lady looking shrubs around house.
5. plant pansies in front.
6. buy many cubic feet of peat moss
7. clean up new daffodil bed, around trunk of the Buckeye. line in red bricks.
8. repair, or have repaired, the crumbly edge of concrete front stoop
9. go to greenhouse/nursery, for boost of spring/summer fever. try not to dream bigger than yard allows.
10. plant grass in bare patches of backyard.

Finally, I hope everyone got to read this NYT editorial on Obama and his historic & honest speech about American's racial divide and its ability to be a more perfect union. Or for that matter, read the speech/see the speech. A profile in courage, healing the racial divide, a ray of hope.
I believe in the greatness of this country, its citizenry & its power to lead by example. But I think our country has been, and is being, torn apart by divisions politically, religiously & economically. And so I hope, though our greatness has been fractured, it yet can be rebuilt. By its people & its democratic process. Obama has the strength & integrity to lead us through that.

A chorus of our Union, touched by the better angels of our nature.

the bunny has an owner

my niece was born today.
she'll always have to deal with shamrocks on her birthday.

so happy our little A. finally came along.
hope she loves her bunny.

butterflies, owls & polka-dots

as I've finished the blanket with butterflies,
and beginning a soft bunny. all for the new little one
on her way.















realised, that my little nephew will also need some
presents. during what will be a big shock to his
rather center-of-the-world existence. so while also
planning to buy something with buttons, lights and noises.
decided to make a soft pillow















a polka-dot softie. pillow-cased in owls.

great things list #8.

when the sprouts show up.

(its been nine days since planting)

finally signs of warm things

daffodils. poppies.

the sun is out today. and it is warm. so warm, I was in flip-flops.
as I took these photos.

I do believe, that I have not yet scowled today. and I will
try not to, when the cold comes back in a few days. I'll
try to leave it behind. with winter.

my goodness, the urge to just be pulling all the mulch from
my plants is huge. but, it will freeze again. it will likely snow again.
so, all I can do is look. and wait.

great things list #7

seed starting.

the sunny morning, got me inspired. I've not wanted to
do this on a cloudy, cranky day.

these are the beginnings of Basil. Genovese & Siam.

also. nervous about political events taking place today.
in Ohio & Texas.
damn politics. love it all, in a nail-biting way. here's hoping
what happens today, is what is best for all of us.

hey march

this picture is from last year. in late February.

today, it is too cold and windy to go outside & find signs of Spring.
but I'm hoping signs exist.

and thanks March, for NOT snowing last night, as predicted. if my seasonally affected mood gets any worse, my scowl will become permanent.

late winter

the angle of the sun right now, as it sets. sends this great color into my south & east windows.

so, March starts tomorrow. goodbye unfortunately nasty February.

supposedly, Spring is on its way.

though, I have yet to walk outside without scowling at the cold wind.

beyond chairs

in, L.A., stopped at the Eames Gallery.
the three of us are particularly enamored of the Eames'. and one of us wanted to buy a gift for an Eames-obessessed someone.

Ray & Charles Eames are probably most famous, for the Eames chair. But their work in architecture & design influenced an era of design.

Molded plywood. A style light & modular. Or simply modern.
Their influence can be seen by going into EBay and typing in "eames" -- and you will pick up hits described as "eames-style" or "eames-era". From kitchenware to lamps to textile design.















The Gallery had an exhibition of Charles Eames' photos. 100 images. Of the things that inspired him. Took some more pictures-of-pictures. Something I've been having fun with. Because you get to see the photographs, through another lens.

A few more photos over on my Flickr page. Seem especially drawn to images of domesticity.

steve & oscar

the fact that I was in L.A. the same weekend of the Oscars, didn't connect with me, until our drive around Hollywood on Thursday, and K. points out that the red carpet is already set up. I turn, and there, like a huge prop standing on the street corner, is Mr. Oscar.
just like on tv.

that's the thing about L.A. Lots of it is just like TV. It is TV-land, after all. though what you'd never know from watching the Red Carpet pre-Oscar stuff, is that on the other side of the "wall" bulit for the red carpet glamour. is a pizzeria. and a tourist knick-knick shop. and a 24-hour photo. and a quick cash place.




















So we walked around the high-security maze of red carpet set-up chaos. and wandered in front of the Grauman's Chinese theater. checking to see if our feet were bigger or smaller, than the footprints of the famous.















So, as Oscar hovered above. I found Steve's signature & imprints. My hand fit nicely in his. It also fit nicely in Matt Damon's. And my feet were the same size as Henry Fonda's.

colors and bits of other cultures

We took a stroll down Olvera Street in downtown LA.

Also, we missed the Chinese Lantern Festival that afternoon. (Chinatown neighbors Olvera Street). Loved the cross-cultural decorations around the park's bandstand. Red lanterns and papel picado banners.

Papel Picado banners. First, I always want to buy one. But I don't, because, what to do with it? Second, I remember in high school art class, Mrs. O., had us make paper cuts. But I can't remember how mined looked. Or, where it went. Seems fun, to try again.

It was cool & rainy, the sun setting fast. People milled about under umbrellas. We stopped in the Plaza Church, the interior bright white with an altar-wall of gold. Despite the inside shimmer, it seemed especially somber, with dark rain falling outside. People silently praying in pews. The altar outside the church door, lined in lit candles. A serene sight in the evening dark. And busy with kneelers, even in the rain. I wanted to photograph the scene. But, felt, again that internal conflict. Whether or not it is a sign of admiration, or an act of disrespect.















The street's marketplace, lined with little shops, & a middle corridor of stands. It looked like mercados in Mexico. Night fell, and the shops & stands glowed.
















Of course, the colors caught my attention. And I left bearing little bits of Mexican art. Like big red & turquoise cloth flowers. And a pair of silver filigree earrings. With a peacock design.

Hopefully next time, I'll get to visit Chinatown too.

delicatessen & rugelach

something one misses, living in the small midwest, is the option to be able to eat at someplace, like Canter's in Los Angeles. A 24-hour jewish deli, opened in the 1920's.

A. & I spent a Friday afternoon walking about Hollywood.
(while K. was wowing at an interview for new job) we happened to
stop at Canter's. what caught our attention, simultaneously,
was the view from the front door--of a huge pastry case.
sights & smells of pastry goodness drew us in.















the possibility of eating a pink pastry box of rugelach for lunch was upon us,
until we glanced from the pastry case long enough to see that we were inside a deli. A very large one. And popular, it looked. So we sat. And narrowed-down our picks, from a jam-packed menu.
My turkey melt came on fresh-baked rye, crispy from the griddle. With melted velveeta. Caraway seeds crunched under my teeth. Our fries were golden chunks of potato. And an order of the "world-famous" pickles, were too sour for me. A. said they got better, the more of them you ate.
















Above us was a ceiling glass-tiled in fall foliage. All around us were the cafeteria sounds. Bus boys dropping plates into plastic tubs. Water glasses being restocked, clanking around. Muffled kitchen sounds. People asking waiters questions like, How's the Pastrami today?

The longer we were there, and saw the photocopied, framed magazine articles on the walls,
we understood we were sitting someplace...famous. wondered about the movie "deals" that have been made there. or scenes from movies filmed there. famous people. drinking deli coffee, and eating fries.

We ate. And sat out a heavy rain outside.
















Then we went back to the pastry case.
Ordered cinnamon rugelach, an almond horn (filled with marzipan and dipped in chocolate) and some chocolate "rolls". The russian chocolate coffee cake beckoned me, but scared me. As it was only sold by the pound. And it looked like something that might have changed my life. Down a road of dessert indulgence. The chocolate Babka was only sold in whole loaves. And I knew it would kill us with butter, if I took one back to K's apartment. (Babka has been fascinating me for awhile, I keep hoping to have an occasion to make one.)
And really, the options were so plentiful. Buttery, flaky, almond-y, chocolate-y goodness. It was overwhelming. And we left without macaroons, cream cheese rugelach, babka, coffee cake or fresh bagels. But what we left with. Made us swoon, nonetheless.

Our pink box sat on K's kitchen table all weekend. And we'd walk by, open it and pick at the goodies.

A. and I, after a weekend of eating, wondered where all the "california" cuisine was. Because nothing we ate in Los Angeles, would keep us a California-size Zero.

starting next week...

seed starting can begin.
plans for planting, have already begun.

from my notes, first the Gomphrena "Strawberry Fields"
and then, the basils. Genovese & Siam Queen. (so far)
(I'm wondering how fun it would be to also grow cinnamon basil, or lemon basil--might have to try that at mom's, since I've got limited growing space)

I simply can't wait. for the whole process to begin again.

little pots of dirt, soaking in sun on windowsills. sprouting.

butterflies found the blanket

the butterflies are getting attached.

only five-ish weeks left before I give it away.

cold nights

the sunsetting that hit my trees, from over my neighbor's house. seems like the only color nature has to give. lately. and it was so fiery brilliant.

from icy cold rains, to snow and frozen rain. our winter has succeeded in its seasonal duties. and as it lingers, we continue our exhausted wait, to see signs of Spring again.

seems like a good time to take a trip to southern California.

seeds

the seed catalog.
full of promises.
of spring & summer. of the warm sun. and wearing flip-flops. of insects buzzing.

the standard, has been Burpee. probably b/c it was always around Mom's house.

though I've begun to feel lately, that I should be a better citizen/gardener, and begin to focus on the more organic, heritage, exchange seeds. Like Seed Savers.

But a few weeks ago, when the colorful Burpee arrived. On a horridly cold day. And I ordered some of these. And they've already arrived.

("Fordhook" nasturtiums)












("State Fair" zinnias)












So many options. Basil. Rudbeckia. Cosmos. Daisies. Sweetpeas. Moonflowers. Hollyhocks. Need to get a garden plan on paper. And order more seeds.

being winter positive, as a last resort

time to not dwell so much on the dregs of winter.
















as my dear friend Q., up in Montana, has reminded me. there are good things about winter. so I've come up with a little list.
-- having reasons to drink hot chocolate or hot spicy tea
-- baking bread doesn't turn my house into an oven
--wool socks & sweaters, so cozy
--the cute factor of my nephew when all bundled up, stomping around in his little winter boots
--lots of time to read, since there is nothing to do outside
--garden planning & seed ordering
--Spring feels like a big present in the mail, when it finally arrives

Spring photo, last year, March 21 2007. (Almost there!)