Enjoying every moment in the garden this month. If there is morning fog it burns off early and the days though getting shorter are clear and not too warm. It is sunny/hot though in front of the studio where I’ve cleaned up the pots a bit. I decided to go for simple and dramatic instead of color. I planted this feather grass

and this umbrella grass.

The roses we hacked a couple of weeks ago went into pots with some of the bacopa and the roses are already leafing out. If only they’d quit with the black spot and rust already!

Scottie built the dogs a proper house complete with name above the door and many pillows inside.
The trash, recycle, and green waste now have a little home as well and we’re all happier for it.
No more mud and spider webs to crawl through, no ugly plastic dog kennel. Now the real test will be whether they go into their little abode when it rains as opposed to standing out in it whining which is what they usually do.

There was no work in the yard this weekend as Scottie took off for the desert and left me to my own devices and those devices included laying in the hammock reading and drinking my vodka mojito. I did water some but discovered our watering system for the ginkgo garden will not work. We’ve got a little bunny sprinkler that we set in the center of the garden and it gets to every corner. However, the little hens and chicks under the tree seem to get way more water than they’d like. They’ve begun to rot so I’ve had to use the hose and aim instead which I actually enjoy so…..

We spray painted our old metal motel chairs last weekend (before last) and man are they bright. Yes even for me. That key lime green has been toned down believe it or not with some leftover lemongrass paint from the shutters and trim but it still requires eye protection to look at straight on. The table’s marigold is also a bit over the top. I’d thought it would be a deeper orange. They are growing on me. Those chairs have been with us for years and have been through many incarnations. I think my favorite was when Scottie painted one in zebra stripes and the other like a cowhide. They’re old and rusty but they still rock and provide perfect seating for ginkgo garden viewing.

September and October are normally the best time of year here on the central coast and so far so good.
New plantings:
grasses in the pots in front of the studio and a coleus in a pot next to the Japanese maple.

This morning before I even opened my eyes it occured to me that the lights in the fish tank are supposed to go off during the day! Just like yesterday morning when my first thought was, that there was no way granola could be that expensive!
I can’t wait to hear tomorrow’s revelation.

This morning before I even opened my eyes it occured to me that the lights in the fish tank are supposed to go off during the day! Just like yesterday morning when my first thought was, that there was no way granola could be that expensive!
I can’t wait to hear tomorrow’s revelation.

It’s just me and Lu today and maybe all weekend if things go as my daughter has planned. The Dishwasher is off playing with guns and I am left to captain our little ship. I’m no count at it. I’m easily distracted. Yesterday I bought the fixin’s to make my own granola and it wasn’t until this morning I realized I was grossly overcharged. Looking at the receipt this morning it appears I bought some $57 worth of tea! I don’t even like tea. I was thinking about the stupid raccoodle Maria was telling me about earlier in the day. A poodle crossed with a raccoon? It’s too grotesque to even think about but ever since she mentioned it I haven’t been able to get that horrific image out of my mind. That and the tremendous fear of being a single parent this weekend was eating away at my brain when I forked over all that money for breakfast cereal.
And wouldn’t you know it, every time that crazy Dishwasher leaves town something goes wrong with the fish tank. The lights have gone out and though I know nothing about it I know the lights aren’t supposed to go out in the morning.
Not that I mind alone time. I actually love it more than is decent.

It’s just me and Lu today and maybe all weekend if things go as my daughter has planned. The Dishwasher is off playing with guns and I am left to captain our little ship. I’m no count at it. I’m easily distracted. Yesterday I bought the fixin’s to make my own granola and it wasn’t until this morning I realized I was grossly overcharged. Looking at the receipt this morning it appears I bought some $57 worth of tea! I don’t even like tea. I was thinking about the stupid raccoodle Maria was telling me about earlier in the day. A poodle crossed with a raccoon? It’s too grotesque to even think about but ever since she mentioned it I haven’t been able to get that horrific image out of my mind. That and the tremendous fear of being a single parent this weekend was eating away at my brain when I forked over all that money for breakfast cereal.
And wouldn’t you know it, every time that crazy Dishwasher leaves town something goes wrong with the fish tank. The lights have gone out and though I know nothing about it I know the lights aren’t supposed to go out in the morning.
Not that I mind alone time. I actually love it more than is decent.

It’s just me and Lu today and maybe all weekend if things go as my daughter has planned. The Dishwasher is off playing with guns and I am left to captain our little ship. I’m no count at it. I’m easily distracted. Yesterday I bought the fixin’s to make my own granola and it wasn’t until this morning I realized I was grossly overcharged. Looking at the receipt this morning it appears I bought some $57 worth of tea! I don’t even like tea. I was thinking about the stupid raccoodle Maria was telling me about earlier in the day. A poodle crossed with a raccoon? It’s too grotesque to even think about but ever since she mentioned it I haven’t been able to get that horrific image out of my mind. That and the tremendous fear of being a single parent this weekend was eating away at my brain when I forked over all that money for breakfast cereal.
And wouldn’t you know it, every time that crazy Dishwasher leaves town something goes wrong with the fish tank. The lights have gone out and though I know nothing about it I know the lights aren’t supposed to go out in the morning.
Not that I mind alone time. I actually love it more than is decent.

Bacopa. This summer’s favorite for pots. This one is spilling over it’s pot on the wall on the back deck.

Another weekend spent in the yard!

We stole away early on Saturday to avoid all the drunk clowns on little motorcycles. Pinedorado again. This is the first one since we’ve lived here that we haven’t gone to. I couldn’t bear the thought of it this year for some reason so we opted for a trip to the Evil Home Depot.

Things we (mostly Scottie) did this weekend:

The Gingko garden is now done. I was planning on planting chamomile between the pavers but since I couldn’t find any, I opted for some wooly thyme which has lovely little purple flowers. I finished planting the nasturtiums seeds, threw down some mulch and have been sitting the rest of this afternoon watching Scottie go go go. He’s building the dogs and the garbage cans a little house! He also finished the deck in front of my studio, dug up and cut up the dead fig tree and finished the fence around the Gingko garden. The man is unstoppable.

The fig tree, we discovered was eaten away at the roots by those cabrones, the gophers. Just as well, it was too close to the studio. Now that area will have to be rethought. A bocce court? Should I just keep paving it? I’m too tired to even think about that today. It’s been unbearably hot this weekend.

More nasturtium seeds in the driveway. I also have some calendula seeds that are almost ready that I will also broadcast in the driveway. Easy, low water and reseeds itself like crazy.
If and when I find some cerinthe, I’ll plant some in the driveway as well.

Also planted four little english lavenders around the plum tree and so far Cassius has been behaving. Going up the hill to do his dirty work.

Planted another 40 daffodil bulbs in the driveway and more in the central garden.

I think I’m ready for my vodka mojito and then a nap.

Happier Days for sure. I miss those. I miss seeing that goofy smile. These days it’s dark and gloomy around here. She’ll be chatting and laughing on the phone one minute and the next I’ve gone and spoiled it by asking a question or just being in the same room. I get the dead eye stare and silence and the quick getaway. It’s heartbreaking it is and Scottie tells me I should love her for who and what she is and I say I love her in spite of that. I can hardly stand looking at these early pictures anymore. I know this will all pass but today, this week, it’s a hot searing pain in my throat.

Happy Birthday baby.

Adieu Miss Patricia

This pretty little vignette taken at Miss Patricia’s beautiful little cottage on the farm. She leaves tomorrow for India to continue her study of Ayurvedic healing. I can’t imagine the Inn without her! She always had something witty to say and I so enjoyed ragging on everyone with her. Her twisted little french take on everything. So refreshing. Now there is Lori who I don’t think I’ll take to as well. She goes to church way too much. When she told Patricia that she went to church twice on Sundays and on Wednesday evenings Patricia said “Oh, you must be very bad”. With a straight face. Patricia said things like that all the time, deadpan. I’d watch people’s faces for the light to go on but mostly it didn’t. I won’t miss Super Cheap, her little terrorist Chihuahua who always tried to attack my Lucy and scared her to death. It’s a sad thing to watch a 50 lb Bulldog shiver with fear of a Chihuahua but even I was a little afraid of Super Cheap myself.
His name isn’t really Super Cheap it’s really Too Petit. Super Cheap was what some old lady thought Patricia was saying as she was trying to coax the little devil out from under the woman’s bed. He’d run into the woman’s house when Patricia was taking him for a walk. She always walked him without a leash because she wanted him to be free. I always imagined him squashed under the wheels of some car. Free at last.
Anyway, I will miss you Patricia! Bon Voyage.

Yolande in full bloom. It almost looks like one of those paper flowers it’s so unreal. I hope it survives the beating we gave it this weekend. As it stands now it’s only a bunch of sticks in the ground and in some pots. But that is what the Mutabilis was just a few weeks, months ago and look at it now.

It’s a monster. Like the Yolande, it is not a grafted rose. I purchased it years ago at the San Jose Rose Garden when Charles Duncan and I were rose crazy enough to take our 2 very young daughters on a 4 hour road trip up to the Rose Festival held there every year. The Buff Beauty is also one from that trip that Charles decided he didn’t want. I’m ever grateful.

We had a real honest lightning and thunder storm the night before last. It woke us in the middle of the night and in the morning I could see the garden smiling. I don’t believe it’s ever rained here in August and I vaguely recall one other thunder and lightning storm in the 13 years I’ve been here.
Can I have some more please?

The Vermicomposter

I’m guessing not many people are excited by the thought of worms. Well…..maybe some freaks are. Like me. I am so proud of my little wormy bin. Years ago we had an in ground 4′ x 4′ vermicomposter which we forgot about after the first few months. It was way out in the back and I always forgot to dump my veggie clippings in it and then we started piling wood on it and in front of it and eventually the neighbors ivy vined covered it over. I always felt a little guilty about that so when I found that bag of worms last week I was thrilled and relieved. I had this empty bin in the attic from this years organizing frenzy and it just so happens to be the perfect shade of purple. Right now they’re happily rubbing themselves all over my peach skins, lettuce leaves and coffee grounds. Happy little worms.

Happier Days for sure. I miss those. I miss seeing that goofy smile. These days it’s dark and gloomy around here. She’ll be chatting and laughing on the phone one minute and the next I’ve gone and spoiled it by asking a question or just being in the same room. I get the dead eye stare and silence and the quick getaway. It’s heartbreaking it is and Scottie tells me I should love her for who and what she is and I say I love her in spite of that. I can hardly stand looking at these early pictures anymore. I know this will all pass but today, this week, it’s a hot searing pain in my throat.

Happy Birthday baby.

Adieu Miss Patricia

This pretty little vignette taken at Miss Patricia’s beautiful little cottage on the farm. She leaves tomorrow for India to continue her study of Ayurvedic healing. I can’t imagine the Inn without her! She always had something witty to say and I so enjoyed ragging on everyone with her. Her twisted little french take on everything. So refreshing. Now there is Lori who I don’t think I’ll take to as well. She goes to church way too much. When she told Patricia that she went to church twice on Sundays and on Wednesday evenings Patricia said “Oh, you must be very bad”. With a straight face. Patricia said things like that all the time, deadpan. I’d watch people’s faces for the light to go on but mostly it didn’t. I won’t miss Super Cheap, her little terrorist Chihuahua who always tried to attack my Lucy and scared her to death. It’s a sad thing to watch a 50 lb Bulldog shiver with fear of a Chihuahua but even I was a little afraid of Super Cheap myself.
His name isn’t really Super Cheap it’s really Too Petit. Super Cheap was what some old lady thought Patricia was saying as she was trying to coax the little devil out from under the woman’s bed. He’d run into the woman’s house when Patricia was taking him for a walk. She always walked him without a leash because she wanted him to be free. I always imagined him squashed under the wheels of some car. Free at last.
Anyway, I will miss you Patricia! Bon Voyage.

Happier Days for sure. I miss those. I miss seeing that goofy smile. These days it’s dark and gloomy around here. She’ll be chatting and laughing on the phone one minute and the next I’ve gone and spoiled it by asking a question or just being in the same room. I get the dead eye stare and silence and the quick getaway. It’s heartbreaking it is and Scottie tells me I should love her for who and what she is and I say I love her in spite of that. I can hardly stand looking at these early pictures anymore. I know this will all pass but today, this week, it’s a hot searing pain in my throat.

Happy Birthday baby.

Adieu Miss Patricia

This pretty little vignette taken at Miss Patricia’s beautiful little cottage on the farm. She leaves tomorrow for India to continue her study of Ayurvedic healing. I can’t imagine the Inn without her! She always had something witty to say and I so enjoyed ragging on everyone with her. Her twisted little french take on everything. So refreshing. Now there is Lori who I don’t think I’ll take to as well. She goes to church way too much. When she told Patricia that she went to church twice on Sundays and on Wednesday evenings Patricia said “Oh, you must be very bad”. With a straight face. Patricia said things like that all the time, deadpan. I’d watch people’s faces for the light to go on but mostly it didn’t. I won’t miss Super Cheap, her little terrorist Chihuahua who always tried to attack my Lucy and scared her to death. It’s a sad thing to watch a 50 lb Bulldog shiver with fear of a Chihuahua but even I was a little afraid of Super Cheap myself.
His name isn’t really Super Cheap it’s really Too Petit. Super Cheap was what some old lady thought Patricia was saying as she was trying to coax the little devil out from under the woman’s bed. He’d run into the woman’s house when Patricia was taking him for a walk. She always walked him without a leash because she wanted him to be free. I always imagined him squashed under the wheels of some car. Free at last.
Anyway, I will miss you Patricia! Bon Voyage.

They’re drilling outside. Right outside and it’s starting to feel like it’s in my brainteeth. The man upstairs name is Mr Muse. He talks slowly and steadily and I grow weary and sleepy. I’d like to dip him in chocolate and throw him to the lesbians.

Se me arruga el corazon taking my daughter to school this morning. Dressed in black baggy clothes with her eyebrows penciled in like some 1940’s movie star. Other girls standing around in pairs looking so mean and clean. I want to dip them in something. Not chocolate and not the lesbians for them either.

Ok if the drilling doesn’t stop soon…..

They’re drilling outside. Right outside and it’s starting to feel like it’s in my brainteeth. The man upstairs name is Mr Muse. He talks slowly and steadily and I grow weary and sleepy. I’d like to dip him in chocolate and throw him to the lesbians.

Se me arruga el corazon taking my daughter to school this morning. Dressed in black baggy clothes with her eyebrows penciled in like some 1940’s movie star. Other girls standing around in pairs looking so mean and clean. I want to dip them in something. Not chocolate and not the lesbians for them either.

Ok if the drilling doesn’t stop soon…..