Necessito Burrito, ayi!
Apr. 28th, 2008 11:08 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stoney321Okay, reading about delicious lentil soup has made me a wreck. I need copious amounts of food in mah belleh, right noo. [/Fat Bastard] Which, speaking of Fat Bastard, that's a fantastic merlot, especially given the price point. I'm just saying. Other things of note:
Spent the weekend with![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
marenfic (Lee had an emergency that needed tending. Lee? You're a wonderful friend. *hugs*) To say I had fun with Maren is an understatement. Funny, smart, enjoyable = Maren. There were pitchers of mojitos, delicious foods, her ADORABLE dogs that love me, her lovely husband (even though I kicked his ASS at Guitar Hero. I'm just saying.) and a house that is one of my favorite places on earth. Also, it is the PERFECT dwelling for the sure-to-come zombie apocalypse. If we can train her dogs to smell the undead, it will be THE perfect place on earth. But sorry, there's not enough room for all of you.
Oh! We saw Baby Mama on Friday, and while, sure, it's predictable in places, there were some really funny moments, and who knew Amy Poehler could actually act? Ditto on Tina Fey? Plus, Greg Kinnear is one of my secret boyfriends and he does not disappoint. He's dreamy. One thing I love doing (and I never do) is go to the movies. I love having someone that will laugh out loud (and not mind me laughing out loud) at movies. I loved waking up when I wanted to (not because children are being noisy and I have to) and having a good friend waiting downstairs for me. WITH A FRESHLY MADE POT OF COFFEE. *cries* That's... Y'all, I'm a simple woman with simple needs. I need a little quiet every day, I need coffee every day, and if someone will PROVIDE me with that? They have my undying adoration. Which she does.
One thing that was SO KIND of Maren was to sit at her kitchen table with me Saturday night (ain't no party like a Stoney party 'cause a Stoney party don't start!) and help me edit this one-day-wanna-publish-it book. (Um, is it rotten of me to feel supreme because she laughed out loud several times? Because that felt awesome.) Getting her notes on how to add/change/modify various parts was extremely helpful, too. So, I'll be working on all of that this week, and happily.
Side note about traveling. So, there was this YOUNG girl (I mean, she was technically an adult, but YOUNG. read: an idiot) sitting next to me on the plane ride back. Let me help those of you who aren't used to traveling:
Maybe it's because I'm a mother, but I have 0 patience for "I'm bored! There's nothing to do!" Make something to do. Good lord.
Anyhoo. I helped Maren and her husband with some landscape advice (hahaha, I love drawing people into my world of plants, muah ah ah!) and talked about the "retaining wall" I put along the edge of my garden. Basically, I had some stone bricks lining the edge originally, but I didn't like how it looked snaking down the lawn, essentially. So, I tiered the bricks, and like how that looks far more. Here are some pics for her (and anyone else curious.)
This is a VERY SIMPLE edging, because the slope isn't that great. (I do have to get a real retaining wall at the back end of my property soon, when I get my pool in. \o/ The Mr. indicated that we'll get started on that in a month. FINALLY. Jeeeez.) Some pics of two of my roses that are in bloom, too.
Here's the base - again, very simple. I needed it stacked to help keep the stone steps in place. You can't really tell, yet, but there are big grasses just starting to wake back up that will fill in most of the bare spaces you see. Um, my husband sucks at keeping our lawn nice. I have a lawn service taking over that job, so I don't want to hear it about the ugly Bermuda. :)
Maren? That's the "dry river bed" I had to take every single rock out of to get the weeds out. Bah. Stupid Korean ginko! <-- invasive plant in my garden. I decided to not cover the edge of that with the stone bricks to help funnel water out. (We get flash floods where I live, so channeling water is a good thing.) That big leafy green shrubbery is my oak leaf hydrangea. The top of the picture is the top of my head. It's a good foot and a half or so taller than me, and still growing. <3
This is the side bed where I have my tomatoes and basil and dill and strawberries growing (you can't see the berries here - but they taste SO GROOD.) I stacked a different kind of stone on this side, because I have an abundance of this limestone. Maren, this is the stuff I said you are welcome to, if you come haul it off. :D Those are my bluebonnets in the background - just about done for the season.
I just like the color contrast of the yellow sundrops with the blue irises. Um, that line is a guy-rope to keep my sapling from blowing away in our 100 mile an hour straight line winds of springtime. <-- the one thing I hate about where I live. It's almost over, though... I hope. Side note, I rescued the sundrops from a neighbor that didn't like it and ripped it out of the ground and tossed it on the curb. It was half dead this winter, but has come back nicely. :)
Aww, this is myswmbo memorial rose, in honor of a co-worker of hers that passed away suddenly. (I like to plant things in honor of people's passing, and he seemed like a lovely person from her accounts.) I like how sunny and lively the blooms are, and they're prolific little guys, too. That pleases me.
And last, my favorite of all my roses, my Texas State Yellow Rose. Just buttery and velvety and smells gooder'n heck. That blossom is about the size of my open palm, too. <3 <3 <3!!
Okay, so I've been out of the loop for several days. What's been happening? (Aside from Boobie-Gate. I'm well aware of that piece of... well.) :) Anything else? Will someone PLEASE come make me a sandwich? Or cherry pie? Mmmm, PIE.
Spent the weekend with
marenfic (Lee had an emergency that needed tending. Lee? You're a wonderful friend. *hugs*) To say I had fun with Maren is an understatement. Funny, smart, enjoyable = Maren. There were pitchers of mojitos, delicious foods, her ADORABLE dogs that love me, her lovely husband (even though I kicked his ASS at Guitar Hero. I'm just saying.) and a house that is one of my favorite places on earth. Also, it is the PERFECT dwelling for the sure-to-come zombie apocalypse. If we can train her dogs to smell the undead, it will be THE perfect place on earth. But sorry, there's not enough room for all of you. Oh! We saw Baby Mama on Friday, and while, sure, it's predictable in places, there were some really funny moments, and who knew Amy Poehler could actually act? Ditto on Tina Fey? Plus, Greg Kinnear is one of my secret boyfriends and he does not disappoint. He's dreamy. One thing I love doing (and I never do) is go to the movies. I love having someone that will laugh out loud (and not mind me laughing out loud) at movies. I loved waking up when I wanted to (not because children are being noisy and I have to) and having a good friend waiting downstairs for me. WITH A FRESHLY MADE POT OF COFFEE. *cries* That's... Y'all, I'm a simple woman with simple needs. I need a little quiet every day, I need coffee every day, and if someone will PROVIDE me with that? They have my undying adoration. Which she does.
One thing that was SO KIND of Maren was to sit at her kitchen table with me Saturday night (ain't no party like a Stoney party 'cause a Stoney party don't start!) and help me edit this one-day-wanna-publish-it book. (Um, is it rotten of me to feel supreme because she laughed out loud several times? Because that felt awesome.) Getting her notes on how to add/change/modify various parts was extremely helpful, too. So, I'll be working on all of that this week, and happily.
Side note about traveling. So, there was this YOUNG girl (I mean, she was technically an adult, but YOUNG. read: an idiot) sitting next to me on the plane ride back. Let me help those of you who aren't used to traveling:
- do not put your FEET on the chair back in front of you. (I'm not joking.)
- do not take your SLIP ON SHOES OFF in order to put your FEET on the chair back in front of you. (Again, I am not making this up.)
- do not assume I am on your side when the person in front of you complains about said feet.
- as soon as we land, you do not need to immediately turn on your cell phone and start talking loudly just because you are incapable of having a moment's quiet without something electronic passing the time for you
- I/the person sitting next to you do/does not need to hear you a) argue with your mother about why you love your boyfriend and have to call him right away, zomg, because he gets so jealous or b) hear you argue with your boyfriend because you forgot to tell him you were going out of state for the weekend and maybe you met some new guys but pffft whatever quit being jealous and I love you and oh my god he just hung up on me (hint: I DON'T CARE. NOR DO I BLAME HIM.) or c) call your BFF and tell her how stupid everyone in your life is and how hot Chip from some party you went to was and blah blah blah.
- do you really need to pull out makeup brushes to put on foundation as we're coming to a land? I mean, really? You're LANDING. With a STICK in your hand close to your eye. Not too smart, ding dong.
- do not sigh heavily as you flip languidly through your US Weekly because you are SO BORED, ZOMG and how long is this stupid flight, anyway? It's called a book. Or a nap. LOOK INTO TIME MANAGEMENT.
Maybe it's because I'm a mother, but I have 0 patience for "I'm bored! There's nothing to do!" Make something to do. Good lord.
Anyhoo. I helped Maren and her husband with some landscape advice (hahaha, I love drawing people into my world of plants, muah ah ah!) and talked about the "retaining wall" I put along the edge of my garden. Basically, I had some stone bricks lining the edge originally, but I didn't like how it looked snaking down the lawn, essentially. So, I tiered the bricks, and like how that looks far more. Here are some pics for her (and anyone else curious.)
This is a VERY SIMPLE edging, because the slope isn't that great. (I do have to get a real retaining wall at the back end of my property soon, when I get my pool in. \o/ The Mr. indicated that we'll get started on that in a month. FINALLY. Jeeeez.) Some pics of two of my roses that are in bloom, too.
Here's the base - again, very simple. I needed it stacked to help keep the stone steps in place. You can't really tell, yet, but there are big grasses just starting to wake back up that will fill in most of the bare spaces you see. Um, my husband sucks at keeping our lawn nice. I have a lawn service taking over that job, so I don't want to hear it about the ugly Bermuda. :)
Maren? That's the "dry river bed" I had to take every single rock out of to get the weeds out. Bah. Stupid Korean ginko! <-- invasive plant in my garden. I decided to not cover the edge of that with the stone bricks to help funnel water out. (We get flash floods where I live, so channeling water is a good thing.) That big leafy green shrubbery is my oak leaf hydrangea. The top of the picture is the top of my head. It's a good foot and a half or so taller than me, and still growing. <3
This is the side bed where I have my tomatoes and basil and dill and strawberries growing (you can't see the berries here - but they taste SO GROOD.) I stacked a different kind of stone on this side, because I have an abundance of this limestone. Maren, this is the stuff I said you are welcome to, if you come haul it off. :D Those are my bluebonnets in the background - just about done for the season.
I just like the color contrast of the yellow sundrops with the blue irises. Um, that line is a guy-rope to keep my sapling from blowing away in our 100 mile an hour straight line winds of springtime. <-- the one thing I hate about where I live. It's almost over, though... I hope. Side note, I rescued the sundrops from a neighbor that didn't like it and ripped it out of the ground and tossed it on the curb. It was half dead this winter, but has come back nicely. :)
Aww, this is my
swmbo memorial rose, in honor of a co-worker of hers that passed away suddenly. (I like to plant things in honor of people's passing, and he seemed like a lovely person from her accounts.) I like how sunny and lively the blooms are, and they're prolific little guys, too. That pleases me.And last, my favorite of all my roses, my Texas State Yellow Rose. Just buttery and velvety and smells gooder'n heck. That blossom is about the size of my open palm, too. <3 <3 <3!!
Okay, so I've been out of the loop for several days. What's been happening? (Aside from Boobie-Gate. I'm well aware of that piece of... well.) :) Anything else? Will someone PLEASE come make me a sandwich? Or cherry pie? Mmmm, PIE.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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Date: 2008-04-28 04:13 pm (UTC)Lawks, the youth of today!
:)
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Date: 2008-04-28 04:14 pm (UTC)Julia, and it's going to be May in two days, this is ridiculous!
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Date: 2008-04-28 04:21 pm (UTC)I am 21, and I do use my cellphone to communicate. I do wear make-up. But I don't have it attached to my ear every 5 seconds, and I rarely put on make-up unless I'm going out to the movies or something. When I'm on a plane, I want to be COMFORTABLE. I also either a) read a book, b) listen to music, c) omg for realz I sometimes do hw *gasp*, oh and d) write fanfic ;)
Oh, and I just wanted to point out something, even though I know nothing about gardening and the like (and btw, your garden is teh!gorgeous!! Um, the whole "dry river bed" is good that you removed the stone there, but what about the grass in front of it when it drains down to the end? You might have a severe mud/dead grass problem if you guys do have those flash floods. Maybe I'm wrong, and maybe I have no idea what I'm talking about, but I figured I'd put it on there just in case :P
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Date: 2008-04-28 04:22 pm (UTC)HAHAHAHAHAHA, we totally do "imagination" hands, too! (In fact, there is a box in my garage RIGHT NOW that the kids have been playing with for over a week. Hahaha!)
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Date: 2008-04-28 04:22 pm (UTC)(Does it help to know it was 43 this morning here? Which, for us is practically unheard of.)
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Date: 2008-04-28 04:26 pm (UTC)Aw, thanks for the comment about my gardens! I can't wait for them to fill in and start looking really good. (It's a baby garden, less than a year old.) As for the river rocks, I appreciate the concern! (Ftr, I'm a Master Gardener.) The lawn is sloped enough that the rain will wash down, and as it's Bermuda in hard clay soil, it's pretty damn hard to kill it or wash that away. My concern with flash flooding/standing water is for my leveled flower bed; I don't want the torrent to wash away/drown something I care about. :D
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Date: 2008-04-28 04:28 pm (UTC)I love 'imagination' hands. Makes her get all eye-rolly but smiling.
I can't imagine using celebrity fodder for my entertainment. I'd be bored stiff in about two minutes. Gah.
I fear for the future.
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Date: 2008-04-28 04:35 pm (UTC)YW! :) Yes, spring is here, and right now where I am, it's raining a lot after a really dry week, so it should be good and stuff will start popping up. Leaves are coming back on the trees, which imo is kinda late compared to usual, but at least they're here now.
Oh, well in that case Master Gardener, it looks like all will be under control - I hope I didn't offend!
Re-posted because I am an idjit at posting comments apparently.
Date: 2008-04-28 04:39 pm (UTC)I'm glad you schooled Mr. Maren's ass at Guitar Hero. All is right with the world. I'm even more thrilled that you and Maren had such a wonderful (and productive!) visit. As I said in a comment to Maren's post, Stoney/Maren: the best OTP, y/y? I do believe the answer is yes.
I love you, Stoney. Your email definitely lifted my spirits this morning, something I didn't realize how much I needed until it happened.
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Date: 2008-04-28 04:43 pm (UTC)Maybe it's because I'm a mom that the thing I have to comment on is how the "I'm bored" comment gets under my skin, too. I learned from a BFF who is a teacher that punishing a kid for saying s/he is bored gets them out of that habit right-quick. (I mean "punishing" in the same vein as the Corporal Cuddling the Engineers unleash on the Cats in that video which I can't link to right now). I think it took about 3 times of giving my daughter chores whenever she told me she was bored to teach her to find something to do on her own.
Re: Re-posted because I am an idjit at posting comments apparently.
Date: 2008-04-28 04:48 pm (UTC)Ooooh, blueberries!! I want to move into your mom's garden, okay? (We can't grow blueberries or raspberries in our soil here, woe.)
LEE: I heart you tons. I want you to come sit in my lap so I can play with your hair and give you lots of huggings. <3
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Date: 2008-04-28 04:50 pm (UTC)Turn off the XBOX, kids, and GO OUTSIDE!! (And leave me Guitar Hero, thanks. Hahahaha.)
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Date: 2008-04-28 04:52 pm (UTC)I love all the weetiny baby leaves popping out with their beautiful lime-green newness. <3 (And come, on, no worries with me! I don't offend. Like... really. I don't. *squishes you*)
I would like to cuddle your icon until I have a purring mass at my neck, please.
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Date: 2008-04-28 05:20 pm (UTC)Maybe it's because I'm a mother, but I have 0 patience for "I'm bored! There's nothing to do!" Make something to do. Good lord.
Hee, neither have I. Patience for that I mean. And to think that my daughters are heading towards that? *shudders* Can they stay little girls forever? Pretty please?
*muchos abrazos*
Mari
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Date: 2008-04-28 05:35 pm (UTC)It's snowing below 2,500ft in the Cascades; I'm freaking out about having to go over two passes on May 7 and 8 (and 10; luckily we're not going over the Continental Divide this trip, I guess) with my relatively inexperienced son doing a lot of the driving. There's Minnesotan on my garden mailing list who's all jolly and reassuring about it, but I'll bet dimes to donuts she's never seen a car three cars ahead get knocked sideways by the compression wave from an avalanche.
Julia, having gone over high passes in the winter all my life, and nervous for a reason
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Date: 2008-04-28 05:38 pm (UTC)I need to go out and deleaf that rose, but all the blooms popped out and it looks gorgeous. I can't wait until it's tall enough to lay over the entry arch.
WTF is Boobie-Gate?
Re: Re-posted because I am an idjit at posting comments apparently.
Date: 2008-04-28 05:39 pm (UTC)There is no OTP. It is Stoney/Maren/Lee OT3, or nothing!
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Date: 2008-04-28 05:56 pm (UTC)Flowers!
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Date: 2008-04-28 05:59 pm (UTC)Flowers make everything better! *beams*
Edited to say that I completely missed that you are stabbing YOUR roomie's not boyfriend. Carry on with that! :D
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Date: 2008-04-28 06:03 pm (UTC)Oooh, I'm so glad that rose is covered in all of those beautiful blooms! More important than pulling the leaves off the bush, get any that fell onto the ground and throw them away. I completely forgot that I had made plans to do that very thing for you... Woopsie! Haha.
Good lord, Boobie-gate. Some nerd guy (see icon) made an ass of himself and tried to make an "opt out" of getting fondled at a con (if I summed up correctly) and rightfully so, all hell broke loose about how he doesn't get to touch boobs just because he wants, and wtf? It became a feminist thing, with meek women hemhemming the out spoken "oh no you di'int!" women on top of everything else. SHEEESH. Glad I missed that one - I don't need to screw with my blood pressure anymore.
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Date: 2008-04-28 06:06 pm (UTC)(And the post before this one on the garden tag has better pics, imo. Also: thank you!)
You know, about your girls: they have a mama that is TEACHING THEM. They're going to continue to grow into lovely women. This girl? You could tell she's the type that bosses her mother around. (A real whiny type, as well.) Your bambinas will be WONDERFUL. Just like their madre. :D
*abrazos y besos*
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Date: 2008-04-28 06:06 pm (UTC)Pretty garden is pretty! I love your roses and the dry river bed is a neat way for drainage.
Summer break is coming oh my. :) *starts plotting ideas* Arts camp is a good idea this year, and I'll pick up some craft stuff. May get into beading. Well one day is going for the Aquarium in Chattanooga, and maybe a jaunt up to Gatlinburg. Weekly trips to the library. I have a reader now! Oh and can't forget go to the park to ride bikes. Can't ride bikes on my road. Too many flyers.
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Date: 2008-04-28 06:13 pm (UTC)(Really? I will check it out then. And you're welcome!)
And yeah, I'm trying my best. For now I feel happy they're still 12 year old girls, content on living their childhood for as long as they can and not be like some of their classmates who spend their time trying to grow up too fast. *shudders*
*besos*
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Date: 2008-04-28 06:28 pm (UTC)Your garden is gorgeous! The color on that first rose is outrageously sunny and smile inducing. The jasmine has gone ape this Spring and the neighborhood smells fantastic.
*hands you cranberry nut bread that just finished cooling*
Re: Re-posted because I am an idjit at posting comments apparently.
Date: 2008-04-28 06:36 pm (UTC)In our honor I use my HP trio icon.
<3 <3 <3
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Date: 2008-04-28 07:00 pm (UTC)Sounds like a most wonderful weekend! Except for the airplane seatmate, oh my. And with airplane seats so narrow that a ten-year old feels squished, it's really unpleasant when you aren't happy with the neighbors on an airplane.
We were just recently on airplanes, going to and from Tennessee to visit with the in-laws, but fortunately had no horrible experiences. There was one pleasantly chatty woman, nice enough but I wished she'd had a lighter hand with the perfume. *holds nose*
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Date: 2008-04-28 07:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-28 07:11 pm (UTC)Also, while I am too far away to be making sandwiches for you, I shall tell you how I solved my lunch dilemma. I found a can of Amy's Black Bean soup, and it is heating in the microwave, and I will adulterate it liberally with Melinda's XXX Hot Sauce, and dollop a great big spoonful of Whole Foods guacamole on top, and eat it with tortilla chips.
NOM NOM NOM.
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Date: 2008-04-28 07:15 pm (UTC)Anne, she took her shoes off and stretched to rest them ON TOP of the head rest of the chair in front of us! Someone was SITTING there! Mind boggling.
Fortunately, it's only an hour and a half long flight and I had a good book to read. :D
In-laws! I need to zoom over to your journal and catch up with you, missy! (I hope your ears were burning - I had to explain to Maren why you are one of the most awesome people I know. Ad nauseum. *G*)
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Date: 2008-04-28 07:27 pm (UTC)*hands*
Sorry for the run-on, it just kind of happened.
*slinks away*
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Date: 2008-04-28 08:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-28 08:39 pm (UTC)I didn't mean to wreck you with the soup talk!
(also, my god, it's already almost 4 and I've read THREE posts on LJ. Hahahh, oh self, you need a time machine)
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Date: 2008-04-28 08:43 pm (UTC)(holy smokes, get one of those and send me the plans, please. *slumps against you*)
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Date: 2008-04-28 09:46 pm (UTC)You should feel very, very proud of that garden. How come we never get to see pictures of the back where all the hydroponic marijuana is grown? What's with that?
Boobiegate was a whole level of fabulous fail. Oh the internet, you never fail to horrify and amuse.
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Date: 2008-04-28 11:56 pm (UTC)It sounds like a perfect time at the Maren household. But I didn't expect any less.
What's been up with me? Well, Aaron is now home for the summer. Go here to see him all bearded! As soon as it stops pouring, I'll be measuring the property on the other side of the driveway and asking for suggestions as to how I should lay out the bed, so please chime in.
If you're in Texas,
Date: 2008-04-29 12:54 am (UTC)http://www.pickyourown.org/TXnortheast.htm
Not that I have any idea what season of the year to plant them...
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Date: 2008-04-29 02:22 am (UTC)THE STARS AT NIGHT! ARE BIG AND BRIGHT!
DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS!
/Pee-Wee Herman voice
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Date: 2008-05-09 09:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-22 09:21 am (UTC)I am particularly fond of your rock wall. I moved for a new job two years ago and left my garden. I do not think I would have finished my dissertation without that garden to go to when my work was stalled. But my if I had full sun.. I dont think I have ever had full sun in a garden. It must leave you with lots of choices. That is okay though-- I will stay in the shadows with my hostas and succulents. My new house has all kinds of strange North Carolina trash though. I have kept my ministrations contained to my front walk while my back runs wild. It is the mullet of gardens.
Your blog is inspiring. Maybe I will think about trying to acquire the right rocks to tame the back. :)
It is hard to find the right rocks--such an investment and starting point. They are the bra to your bedding outfit--if they are wrong nothing can help. :)