Fall for Trees

Many of you know that I am a nature lover and would not be incline to cut down a perfectly healthy tree. Right? Well, a few weeks ago I remember saying to my partner that soemone is going to get hurt from the hundreds of acorns falling into the driveway. Not to mention the dents that have found the new car's roof.

Last Thursday I came home and while walking to the mailbox I slipped and fell. I hardly remember what hppened except that I stepped on the dreaded acorns and it amy have looked like Elaine Bennis (of Seinfeld) as I tried to right myself. No luck. I fell head and shoulders first, no hands to block my fall. This is not the way to meet your neighbors, nor do I like all that drama and attention focused on me. The police and ambulance responded to the 911 call and after hitting my head I decided it best to go to the ER. As the EMT's took care of me I felt the pain in the shoulder and after several hours in the ER it became more intense. There was a minor scrape on my face and a large one on my shoulder. Glad it was not the other way around. I inisisted on a CT, just to be safe. Then it turned out that there is a fracture in my right clavicle. I thought it was going to be bruised..... Too much drama. Oh, I had barely started taking the meds when the bill arrive, I kid you not.

I am typing this in part to see if I can. Trying to see if I can drive or work. We'll see what the doctor say's later. It's always something....So do we cut down the tree? I cannot be objective. Lots of kids wait for their bus in my drive way every morning, does that change your mind?

Best & Worst ll

How could we not mention the best coffee; Starbucks, my fave Pike's Place. "Get your motor running, head out on the highway......"I need no fancy latte's etc. Worst, the price tag. For now I am enjoying some swiss almond flavored coffee and the first cup of the day is always the best.

The best time of day, early morning when only I am awake and I am enjoying the first cup of coffee. The downside I am so congested that I can barely breathe. Getting up early today so that I can begin taking up yoga again. I have been talking about it for a year or more. I joined the gym a month ago and really need to go more often.

Good lunch yesterday at Applebee's; a smoked chicken, apple and walnt salad with gorgonzola, ummm. The best part was having lunch with a friend who always makes me laugh! that's a talent! Worst, lunch is only one hour and it's back to work.....

More later...gotta go

The Best and the Worst

The best book that I have read lately was "Certain Girls" by Jennifer Weiner.
The worst, Shirley McClaine "sageing while aging." she writes about Atlantis, quantum physics, and psychological ideas that are beyond me. Great actress, author?

The best lunch I have eaten lately is the Cobb salad from Salad works. I'm addicted to these.
The worst, leftovers from the fridge. I don't like em, but who can afford to waste.

Best new artist, hands down Shemekia Copeland. Check her out on U-tube.
Worst, the Decemberists, Rake's song which is a story of a father killing his children after their mother dies. Who would write this stuff.

Can you add a few ideas Merci, Mommonator, Pax?

XPN

The high point of the XPN festival this weekend was Shemeka Copeland on Friday night. Hope that the link works, please check her out.

7 and 7

It was Merci's blog a little while ago that asked for seven things you love and to pass it on to seven blogger buddies; Mommonator, Pax, Shannon, the Vault, Klaus, Freudian slips and ET. Could not forget ET. So here goes;
1. Love having a good massage.
2. Serenity.
3. Gardening; spring flowering trees and bulbs.
4. A book that you don't want to put down.
5. Hearing a good laugh of a friend and laughing till I cry.
6. Haring birds sing in the backyard.
7. Knowing that something is good is coming.

Celebrity Sighting

A few days ago while taking a walk through the new and improved Voorhees Town Center, I noticed a familiar face. After taking at least one second glance I walked right up and told J.C. Romero that we were glad he was back to pitching with the Phills. He stated that he was glad to be back too! His voice grew stronger as he told me that he is still fighting his previous 50 game suspension. Before I knew it or realized it, I was patting him on the shoulder and encouraged him. He said thank you "Mam." When did I become Mam, not Ms. or Miss? J.C. had none of that aggressiveness and tension that is palpable while watching him pitch his usual seventh or eighth innings. He was happy to have been noticed and as I walked away from him I noticed that he was looking around, I believe to see if anyone would notice that he was there. If anyone but me did observe him they did not ask for attention. At I looked for familiar faces to share this anecdote, everyone asked why I did not get an autograph? Just didn't, althought in hindsight, it may have drawn the attention that he appeared to be looking for. Corny or not it brightened my afternoon. Hopefully the team will be happy with their newly acquired pitcher but as for me. I may have found my new favorite Phil. Thanks JC, go get 'em.

Tagged for Ten

Tagged by Mommonator to name ten things people don't know about me:

10. I don't like bowling but I coached Special Olympics years ago.
9. I don't like SCI-FI.
8. I once compeated in beauty pagents.
7. I grew up around boats at the shore and still am a lousy swimmer.
6. Tied for warmest smile in high school, but removed myself from the list as I was the editor of the yearbook.
5. I am glad my Mom made me learn to sew.
4. I am distantly related to Al Gore.
3. I like almost any kind of music.
2. I cannot play any musical instruments. Do spoons count?
1. I have driven in NYC, Wahington D.C. but am nervous getting on Rt. 295.

http://alice paul institute

HIT THE DECK

After all the rain I could not believe that grass could grow that high in just two weeks. It was 8-10 inches tall and the newly planted annuals were lost amidst the managerie. Two lawn movers and aching backs later we restored normalcy. The plants are all doing well drinking up the bounty of the skies benefits. I planted three flats of annual, and some seeds and barely made a dent in my dreams of a new garden. I spent nearly the whole day outdoors and loved it, see weeding and beautifying is not a task for me.

Nasturtiums have always been relagated to containers, this year hanging pots on the deck. Found some white and green marigold seeds, hope that they get a start in the beds before the heat arrives. It's a gamble. Decided on three cherry tomatoe plants for one twenty four inch pot but I could thin them, I suppose. Took some time today to go looking for deck furniture found the best adriondack chairs made of composite materials that cost as much as indoor furniture. The budget for outdoor stuff will probably mean sitting in plastic chairs once again. That is not the worst thing in the world. As long as there is plenty of good food and cool drinks, who cares?

The local nursery was looking for extra help, I admit I considered it. How many folks are going to agree to work weekends? This might be one way to start the next chapter in my autobiography. Humm.

Wanted to go to see the Star Trek movie based on the reccomendations of Chicken Scratch's early opinion. Of course, he is biased, but he was not the only one who reccomended it. With 75.5 million in ticket sales reported for the weekend, someone likes it. Even my sister wanted to go again......go figure? Had lunch with my mom, sis, her daughter and husband who was a riot. Then to the hospital to pay my respects to a friends mom. A very busy day!

More gardening questions for you experienced toilers. How many tomatoes can I put into one deck pot that is twenty four inches tall and about as wide? One cherry tomatoe, two or three?
I am used to gardening in the earth, not containers. I am sure Pax can sign in on this one.

I used the break in the rain to plan a flat of zinnias in the back. They are cinnamon and whit striped. I found seeds for white marigolds, sunflowers and nasturtiums that will be added to the soil and deck containers this weekend. I cannot wait for some sunny weather to enjoy the outdoors. But first I must find some furniture. Adirondack chairs, or maybe the retro metal chairs of the 1950's. Most stuff looks like it would not last more than one season or is over 500.00 f0r table and chairs. I plan to arrange a seating area on one side and a dining area on the other. Never had such a nice deck. I an invision the margarita's flowing and the tapas for all of you who helped me move in. Soon as the rain let's up.

Rain, rain, rain

I took advantage of the break in the rain yesterday afternoon to finish some weeding and applied patch grass applications wherever it was need. Despite the aforementioned remarks I have never seen a lawn as nice anywhere, except maybe a golf course. Thank Goodness, it rained as I awoke, no watering needed. Despite all the rain this spring there were two azalea bushes, maybe three that had died. When I extricated them from the soil it appeared that the roots were as bound together as they were when they left a nursery. No wonder. Does anyone else have difficulty with perennials and small shrubs burning out with the ever changing climate. Maybe azaleas can only thrive in a micro climate that provides shelter from the brightest sun. Hope that the soon to bloom peonies and hydrangeas do better. I never did go our for the herbs and tomatoes that I wanted to fill deck containers today. Just stayed in pajamas and read a good book. Made dinner, read a book, watched baseball and read a book. A good day, despite the rain!
How did you spend your Sunday? (ironic, don't you think?).

Arbor Day = Garden Day

Last Friday I took a vacation day and the weather could not have been more perfect. Each year at Arbor Day I try to plant a tree, if not a tree, then a shrub or something that will grow to beautify the earth and decrease CO2 emissions. Each time I have moved to a new home I have vigorously dove into gardening chores, and this year was no exception. After cutting grass that was eight inches tall, I planted a 3' red japanese maple sapling. Trying to be frugal and honestly its easier to transplant a smaller tree. Then it was on to a beautiful red azalea bush for a corner of the porch that needed a lift. The borders were cleaned for annuals yet to be determined; the mulch applied to finished beds. I was tired and muscles ached but yet it was a happy day. I f everyone of us planted just one tree...OK I give this retoric every year. The very next day the heat spike to the 90's.
Now it's on to the dead limbs of towering white pines along the back of the property. Those limbs close to the ground have been brutally chopped by neighbors presumably and many lower limbs are dead. I am trying to remove them but as I told Shoebee I am intimidated by power tools. String trimmers not withstanding.
Settlling into this new house has its challenges and I guess I need to give it more time. It's a long long way from the Garden of Eden. By the way I have not even driven by the old garden/house to see what it looks like. I am sure it's beautful as the trees there are maturing and a miriad of colors in spring. With time and God's blessing I can do that again, no problem. Happy planting to you gardeners out there.

Earth Day II

You may not recognize the name Gaylord Nelson more likely you'll remember Earth Day. It was founded in 1970. In 1995, the Wisconsin democarat received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his environmental efforts from President Clinton. Monday's Inquirer (2005) reported his passing and according to W. Meadows, president of the Wilderness Society,"Anyone who cares about the quality of our air, water, and land should be grateful for the life of Gaylord Nelson."

Going Green

It seems that April showers bring May flowers....
Well it's done nothing but rain here and it's a little depressing.
I bet the grass is six inches tall in the back yard but verdant does not begin to describe its beauty. The tulips I planted last year look good in shades of ivory and scarlet. With Earth Day and Arbor Day looming it's time to think of someway to give back to the Earth.

I have finally started reading again and have gone through several books, Jane Heller who writes women's humor with a mystery thrown in, or is it the other way around. I am reading Garrision Keilor's childrens book "Sandy Bottom Orchestra" perfect for a preteen. On deck, John Grisham, Jimmy Carter and the Dali Lama. A group that has no rhyme or reason, just whatever interests me at the time.

The extra bedroom has been set up for excercise for a couple weeks now and the truth is it had not seen any sweating going on, unless you count climbing the stairs......I am runnin low on excuses.

Everthing Must Change

The original Garden of Eden is gone. I have not blogged since October, with packing moving and legal matters there wasn't much free time. I cannot help but daydream of the gardening projects and improvements to be done in the future at the new house. You can expect some future changes to this site, it's time for an upgrade.

The best thing about the new house might be the simple joy of multiple bathrooms. Yeah, maybe many of you take that for granted. I am just barely old enough to remember that indoor plumbing was one considered a luxury. My Grand pop was the only one in the family that had a real indoor bathroom when I was born. It was a time when folks grew their own food and tried to live close to nature. Now that paradigm is consider "green" and new.

There are many things once considered luxuries and now are deemed as something more important. Why does every child need their own cell phone at nine, ten or even twelve years of age. Just to text their friends? Why does every room have a t.v.? When I was a child, only the rich kids were lucky enough to have a corded phone of their own in their bedrooms. For that matter kids shared bedrooms until adolescence.......

Sounds like I am ranting I know, the point is with the economic downturn do children or adults know how to live with less these days? Where do we begin to draw the lines during these times?
(I'd like to start a dialogue on this topic, especially after reading the Mommanator's recent blog.
What changes are you willing to make?