From one of Em’s old drawings.

Bowl of Skulls

One of my old book assemblages

Thank you Herr Dishwasher for another beautiful Sunday.

From one of Em’s old drawings.

Bowl of Skulls

One of my old book assemblages

Thank you Herr Dishwasher for another beautiful Sunday.

What a man needs in gardening is a cast iron back, with a hinge in it.

Charles Dudley Warner 1870

Before

After

In keeping with our scorched earth policy we didn’t stop until our green waste container was about to bust. We got most everything even the Mutabalis rose which is one of the scariest roses in our garden. It will grab you with it’s hooked thorns and not let go.
We planted one blue hydrangea under the center window and hopefully there will still be a few left next time I go to Trader Joe’s for the other side of the walkway and I think we’ve settled on vinca as a ground cover to be planted just before the rains come.

Next week. Or the week after.

The back gardens.

the dishwasher is away for a few days and my plans were modest.

eat well
read
walk
sew
bathe the stinky dog

i’ve  done almost all those things.
the eating well part…
does a bag of potato chips for dinner count?

here’s what i’ve been sewing

i was sewing neat little circles on my other quilt finished it actually, all that’s left is the binding.  it made me crazy though and i was suddenly in the mood for raggedy edges and hanging threads.  so that’s what happened.  though it didn’t happen quickly or easily. it went through many permutations and may go through some more before i call it done.

it’s done for now.

the dishwasher is away for a few days and my plans were modest.

eat well
read
walk
sew
bathe the stinky dog

i’ve  done almost all those things.
the eating well part…
does a bag of potato chips for dinner count?

here’s what i’ve been sewing

i was sewing neat little circles on my other quilt finished it actually, all that’s left is the binding.  it made me crazy though and i was suddenly in the mood for raggedy edges and hanging threads.  so that’s what happened.  though it didn’t happen quickly or easily. it went through many permutations and may go through some more before i call it done.

it’s done for now.

this is where i escaped to this week in sf. the hotel tomo.
six things i love about this hotel.

1. it’s relatively quiet as it’s in japantown and most of the shops close early and open late and there are no bars or clubs in the neighborhood.

2. all the rooms have these anime murals in them. like this one…

it wraps around the wall to this…

3. the curtains…

4. the bean bag chairs.

5. the fact that english is the least heard language in the lobby or restaurant.

6. the room is big enough to accommodate a  yoga mat.

i did my usual rounds in town. first stop SCRAP where i found enough fabric to keep me busy for about a year. ok maybe a couple of months if i hit an obsessive streak which i tend to do when there is cool fabric on the shelf. i hit the thrift store where i found an alabama chanin jacket for $7. i missed tanpopo for a bowl of noodles because i went and had a thai massage here instead! felt like they took my body apart scraped and cleaned off all the gunk polished it and put it back together so it fits nicer and moves smoothly. thank you baby jesus! i did manage to have my bowl of cha-ya delight on my way out of town.

an excellent trip
the homecoming was even better.

this is where i escaped to this week in sf. the hotel tomo.
six things i love about this hotel.

1. it’s relatively quiet as it’s in japantown and most of the shops close early and open late and there are no bars or clubs in the neighborhood.

2. all the rooms have these anime murals in them. like this one…

it wraps around the wall to this…

3. the curtains…

4. the bean bag chairs.

5. the fact that english is the least heard language in the lobby or restaurant.

6. the room is big enough to accommodate a  yoga mat.

i did my usual rounds in town. first stop SCRAP where i found enough fabric to keep me busy for about a year. ok maybe a couple of months if i hit an obsessive streak which i tend to do when there is cool fabric on the shelf. i hit the thrift store where i found an alabama chanin jacket for $7. i missed tanpopo for a bowl of noodles because i went and had a thai massage here instead! felt like they took my body apart scraped and cleaned off all the gunk polished it and put it back together so it fits nicer and moves smoothly. thank you baby jesus! i did manage to have my bowl of cha-ya delight on my way out of town.

an excellent trip
the homecoming was even better.

it’s now 105 degrees in Cambria. i know this isn’t anything unusual in lots of places. places 20 minutes away from here frequently reach these temperatures but here on the coast this is… not usual. i spied some furry movement in the central garden and went out to investigate after checking the whereabouts of all our furry creatures. easily done since both outside beasts are laying in the shade. stunned and queen lu is in her scaredy spot. where she lays when she knows the dishwasher will soon be after her for a bath.

it was the phantom cat that lives in our yard. she/he is very skittish and won’t ever let me near. a pretty little thing white with a striped tail. she took off towards the hill and when i turned to run back into the house before i burst into flames i found…

the first little tomatoes from the tomato tree! they aren’t even fully ripe yet but i’ve had my eye on these two watching as the first blush of orange appeared near their stems so when i turned the red literally screamed out to me amongst all that green. i wonder how i’ll know when the green zebras are ready? maybe i’ll just wait for the cat to show up again.

summer has arrived. finally! it should last another day or so.

this morning was cold and dark and i had to make my own damn coffee which i don’t do well. the dishwasher has spoiled me beyond repair. at first i thought it was the coffee maker broken but on the third day of his absence i discovered the coffee pot has to face a certain way for it to actually brew. cheeky bastard.

i’ve spent most of the week stitching and yes, knitting socks. it is my spiritual practice after all.

summer has arrived. finally! it should last another day or so.

this morning was cold and dark and i had to make my own damn coffee which i don’t do well. the dishwasher has spoiled me beyond repair. at first i thought it was the coffee maker broken but on the third day of his absence i discovered the coffee pot has to face a certain way for it to actually brew. cheeky bastard.

i’ve spent most of the week stitching and yes, knitting socks. it is my spiritual practice after all.

these summer mornings have been so gray and dreary it’s been almost impossible to convince myself to go walk but the dishwasher’s weekend debaucheries are taking their toll.
so i must walk.

first hill.

santa rosa cemetery.

these summer mornings have been so gray and dreary it’s been almost impossible to convince myself to go walk but the dishwasher’s weekend debaucheries are taking their toll.
so i must walk.

first hill.

santa rosa cemetery.

a walk through the garden yesterday morning with lu close behind. she stands guard when i open the gate and follows quickly hoping to get into the lair where she likes to sit and survey the garden and nap and snuggle. there is no sweeter dog. i am sure. and that is the tomato tree behind her. green zebras and another i’ve forgotten but it’s red and they are ripening. a few more weeks and we will be swimming in tomatoes.

The lime tree in front of the studio and the lemon tree… both have tiny fruit and have had for a while. the big producer so far this year has been the parsley which i have twice cut down. and then there is the tomato tree… pictures soon.