construction

after i had a wind induced corn casualty, i had to get bamboo out of the woods and make stakes. now everything's all strung up and safe (i think).

instar killer

i was trying to show the cadbury egg style goo that squirted out of this guys' back.

i'm very sorry, mr. cicada.

'to earthward'

that entire giant bush/tree in front of the house is entirely honeysuckle! i thought it was just a honeysuckle vine growing in some sort of privet or crepe myrtle, but flowers are sprouting even on the thick trunk. i've never seen it so big. with minimal research, i think its called a Red Rum Honeysuckle Shrub.

here's what else the internet told me:

"Honeysuckle is for people who live in the past instead of the present. They feel that their best days are behind them and that there is little to look forward to, and as a consequence they prefer to dwell on past happiness (or past misfortunes). In a more minor key, homesickness and nostalgia are also Honeysuckle states."

I was intrigued to find that paragraph; i wanted to leave it at that, let the sad words simmer and set with my head swimming in its own nostalgic and homesick thoughts of kid-summer. but those words actually describe what honeysuckle can be used to cure, according to this homeopathic theory that also includes cures for things like fear of the dark (mimulus), recieving bad news (star of bethlehem) and lack of faith (sweet chestnut). i tend to think the cure has to do a little more with the strong brandy that the herbs are suspended in, but maybe thats just me...

mary mary quite contrary

so here's the front yard garden: onions, lavender, tomatoes, bell peppers, zinnias, and cucumbers. i've planted marigolds between all of the bricks. it looks so dusty and barren; the bright hot sunlight in the pictures seems to suck all of the lushness out of the scene. i guess thats what i get for only using the camera on my phone for all of these photographs.


the leaves are getting bigger and i think the plants are okay. there are a few brown spots on the leaves already though.

the back garden has the corn, more squash, and hot peppers. when it was planted, the corn was no taller than my coffee cup.

its a beautiful clear day today and just 70 degrees. everything outside is glowing green and golden from the sun. the wisteria is finally gone and the thin petals fallen from the vines blanket our sidewalk, yard, and cars. it flutters down like a snow of greyish purple mulch and its impossible to win against, so i'm letting it gently cover and protect the centimeter-tall cilantro. the trees are now thick and green and loud with leaves and when the wind blows the oak sounds like waves at the ocean.

sew day

i've had this stretchy gray fabric with black vines and red flowers on it for years. last tuesday i pulled out my sewing machine and set myself up to the task of finally using it. i was wearing this comfortable plain teal dress and decided to try to make something like it. there wasn't much fabric - maybe 2 yards - so there wasn't much to play with. i did it hastily, but its not so bad. i did manage to raise and gather the neckline like i needed. and of course, keller helped.

cuatro momentos

patience

the seedlings have finally started developing grown-up leaves. these are leaves that, unlike the rounded baby leaves that first sprout from the ground, actually look like miniature versions of the eventual grown plant. i get excited when they develop because not only does it reassure me that the plant is healthy enough to keep growing, it also reassures me that the tiny seedling i've been nurturing is indeed the plant i want. until the grown-up leaves, i could easily be gently mothering any old weed. tiny cilantro leaves! and tiny squash leaves! oh, and it doesnt hurt that i love tiny things.