Health, happiness and HUNGER

[stoney321]

Man, what a productive day. Built onto a flower bed (bed is now 3 ft x 25 ft) and I am broken. My body: she is broken.


Yesterday I ripped up all the sod, tilled in 80 pounds of compost, then passed out last night in front of Veronica Mars. (eee!) Today I planted:

• winter savory (2)


• bluebonnets (21)


• creeping rosemary (5)


• blue salvia (3)


• obedient plant (1)


• gladiola bulbs (5)


• yellow rose (1)


• navy/baby blue iris (7)


• spirea (1)


• poppies (will be their poison) (10)


• cosmos: orange (10), yellow (3), pink (3)


• red salvia (1)


• artemesia (2)


• chameleon plant (2)


• society garlic, variegated (1)


• sedum, autumn joy (1)


• sedum, mexicanus (1)


• spanish lavender (1)


• Texas yellow primrose (1)


• Persian sheild (1)

I am frigging tired. Have eaten well all day. My goal for the past few weeks has been to eat 7 servings of veggies and 4 servings of fruit a day, and I've been at it... Measured myself today and have lost an inch all over! WOOT! Operation Bikini Ready is still on, and will hopefully end in sucess.

Tonight is Lost, black-bean pizza (Boboli bread shell, schmear of salsa, drained can on black beans, layer of monterrey jack cheese and diced tomatoes on top. YUM!) and hot hot soak in the tub. Maybe some cucumbers on the eyes. Maybe I'll eat them. I know this: I'm too pooped to work on any of the WIPs I have. Crap. But pretty garden! Exercise! *shuffle*


Lemme know if I've missed something in your journal, or elsewhere. Oh!! sdwolfpup has a "fandom shame" vid on her LJ and it's hilarious! Buffy Season 7 as set to "La Resistance" from South Park. Hee!! love you all!! *feeds everyone jumbo tomatoes with fresh basil from my garden*

Comments

[inlovewithnight.livejournal.com]

Will there be pictures of garden, once everything's in bloom? :)

I did a Firefly vid to "Going Through The Motions" from the Buffy musical, but I know Firefly's not your thing...still, Sarah Michelle Gellar's voice as applied to Nathan Fillion. Good times all around.

Go forth and soak!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I shall download TONIGHT!! (Works best if said like Inigo Montoya, "There will be bloodshed..." Or maybe not.)

THANK YOU! WILL CHECK IT OUT! I LIKE CAPS!

I took some pics today, but I'm waiting for it to be a little overcast so the colors pop.

[somecandytalkin.livejournal.com]

Girl! You been busy! And yay for the gardening (can't wait to see it), good eating and bikini readiness. You go!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

sending you an email later with directions to mi casa. (You still comin'?)

I need to BATHE. I are stinkAY.

[somecandytalkin.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm comin'! Shall I bring my roller skates?

Bathing's for sissies. I'm sure it's a good stank.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Naw. I'll be too sore. :-)

Bathing IS for suckers.
GAH!! LOST! More later.

[desoto-hia873.livejournal.com]

Ooo, you planted savory! The Newfoundlander in me loves you. Summer savory tastes better, though. (Do people eat winter savory?)

<-- have FAR more energy than me

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Winter savory can be eaten, although summer savory is better tasting and more abundant with the tips fer pinching.

Guess which I planted? :-)

I have (at last count, I'll have to re-count tomorrow) over 30 different types of herbs in my herb garden? At least 5 are various thymes. I LOVE me some herbs. The curry plant is my favorite. YUM smell.

Re: <-- have FAR more energy than me

[desoto-hia873.livejournal.com]

Summer savory is my favourite herb. It's a Newfoundland thing - it goes into stuffing for chicken and turkey. Though Newfs call it dressing, not stuffing.

Fresh basil, tomatoes, and balsamic vinegar. Mmmm.

They have more way more energy than me, too, and I don't even have gardening to blame it on.

Re: <-- have FAR more energy than me

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

yum. Slap a few slices of buffalo mozzarella with those toms/basil and I am in hog heaven.

Funny: we say stuffing if it's baked alone, dressing if it's in the bird. I'd have to say basil is my fave. Mmm. Pesto.

[swmbo.livejournal.com]

FLOWERS!!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Many of them!! It pleases me greatly. Your morning post encouraged me to eat delicious foods today. Yogurt/rapsberry smoothy! 9 grain bagel! Many cups of coffee! Roasted tomatoes and onions!

Food and flowers: life don't get much bettern' that. OMG! Like, 36 hours and you are off!

[zyrya]

Your garden sounds gorgeous! I can't wait to see pics!

Thanks for the vid rec ... I DLd, laughed hysterically, left feedback. If only the show's writers had had this sense of humour for season 7.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

It's a young garden, so it isn't lush. Yet. We moved here almost 1 year ago to the day, and not ONE blooming plant on a half acre. !!! I've been busy...

Have taken many pics, taking more this weekend...

Wasn't that vid funny? Loved it. It's up there with MrMonkeyBottom's Spiderman vid.

[zyrya]

Lawks, I hope you never see my garden. We've been here for six years and it's mostly dirt and dog poo. And rosemary. I can't seem to kill rosemary even a little bit.

What special flower did Emily get?

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Yup, I have lots and lots and lots of rosemary because you can't kill it. Hooray!

Emily got a big pot of pale/hot pink and red cosmos. Airy, ferny foliage, daisy like flowers.

Then she asked if I would cut off all the orange roses for her. NO. :-)

[mirasol.livejournal.com]

Good on you!

I miss my garden. SO MUCH that it requires capital letters to convey my pain. I'm afraid I'm the kind of gardener that plants and neglects or over-fusses in just the right amount to make them grow beautifully. I went past our old house the other day and I was happy to see that although all the windows in the house have been changed, the garden is exactly as we left it.

Having laid a patio and dug out/built up flower beds myself I can completely sympathise with the ouchies that go along with the feeling of well-done, and I'd recommend a nice long soak in the bath.

I wouldn't usually say anything about my fics, but I just did one that's got a little bit of schmoopy figging and spanking. Whether or not that's your thing...

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Thanks for reccing yourself! I'm pooped and my eyes are crossed, so I'm sure to miss a bunch of posts.

I have one more bed from scratch to make, then no more until fall. Or I can hire some handsome sweaty, naked workers to prep it for me.

Went by my old house with the 100 year old garden and BAWLED. They ripped EVERYTHING out and put stupid shrubs in. Street-->grass-->shrubs-->house. Waaaah! I had over 40 roses there, not to mention all of the old timey strawberry geraniums, purple oxalis, woormwood, phlox, and on and on and on. [/sorrow]

[mirasol.livejournal.com]

Oh God, sweetheart, that's just heart-breaking - some people have no taste at all. Look at it this way, though, you're starting your new garden from scratch and it's going to be just perfect. Plus, looking for and choosing all those new plants? The only bad bit is the paying for them.

I'm itching to do something with the garden here, but I'm loath to get too attached again.

My old garden was delightfully haphazard, with lots of things growing where they shouldn't just because I'd put them there as a child. Really, it's like a countryside cottage garden in the middle of the city. The bay bush is a definite tree now, and the honeysuckle winds it way all around the jasmine, clematis and wisteria. The herb garden bed is full of mint, parsley, lavender, oregano, chives, summer savory, basil, borage and coriander. In the fruit bed are gooseberry, blackcurrant and rhubarb.

As for the other plants: irises, bluebells, aquilegia, geraniums, forget-me-nots, foxgloves, liatris, globe thistles, hollyhocks, lady's mantle, lambs' ears, lupins, penstemons, cornflowers, carnations, primulas, red hot pokers, campion, sweet peas, lily of the valley, freesias, tulips, hostas, nigella, fuschias, and some roses - there are more but I can't remember them all now. I'm sorry to say that I don't know what variety the roses were apart from a damask rose and two tea roses.

We didn't have enough space eventually to make a grass lawn worthwhile, so we took what we had up and replanted with chamomile (anthemis nobilis). Bloody gorgeous - alway green, slow growing and a delicious scent when you walked on it.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

EEE!! I have a beautiful Bird of paradise in my garden. It's tripled in size in it's new home. Should have lots of blooms this September.

Your old garden sounds GORGEOUS. Freesias are a tropical here (meaning, they die off and don't come back - boo!) and I made a vow to only have native plants, or plants that can survive the fluctuation of Texas' seasons. But that leaves me with most of your list! Except fuschias. Only a one month plant here. *sigh*

And grass is EVOL. Too much maintenance. I have in between my flagstones out back: lemon thyme, regular thyme, dwarf mondo grass, creeping phlox. Love it. I need to grow chamomile in shade, and my shade is scarce. (Two year old trees, you see.) The old house had the fifth largest pecan tree (our state tree) in the entire state of Texas. 120 feet across, 108 feet high, 130 inches around its base.... I'd get 100 pounds of pecans off that one tree before I got tired and left them to the squirrels. Took me over a year to be convinced to budge.

Good thing about being an MG (master gardener): lots of friends with large gardens who want to share with me. I got some lovely house warming gifts! (David Austin rose, gingers, oak leaf hydrangea...)

[mirasol.livejournal.com]

Yep, it was kinda pretty. Took me ages to be able to get the freesias to grow, but they were mum's favourite flowers and so I wouldn't let their tendency to die off continually get me down. I must have had about ten different types of fuschia - and the blooms lasted much longer than just a single month.

Yay! for your friends - that's brilliant. And now it's 3am here, so I'm going to bed. Nighty-night.

*hugs you gently*

[crazydiamondsue.livejournal.com]

My eyes crossed and I read one of those as "creeping saliva" and was terribly amused. Watchin' Lost are ya? Meh. I'm all alone on LJ...

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

at least you didn't think "creeping saliva" because that is not of the good. Ever.

No Lost. Re-run. Alias is on. I'm pooped. My back hurts and I want to lay down, but OMG! you might say something to me!!! (read the link. Bwah! We was flirtin'. Love you, Sue.)

[dusty273.livejournal.com]

Your garden will be so pretty once it blooms. And congratulations on the inch lost that's always good. ;)

*huggles*

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

THANKS!! I'm so glad that inch is gone... three more to go!

I keep digging like I've been and it may happen sooner....

How are YOU? Your babies?? I wore the headband you sent my daughter to keep my hair out of my eyes today!! Do you know that I randomly think of you and smile?

*hugs you and kisses your cheek! BOTH!*

[dusty273.livejournal.com]

I'm very glad you're putting the headband to good use. ;) And I'm even happier than thinking of me makes you smile. :D

I'm fine, a tad on the busy side at work, but that's good. And my babies are awesome, they're doing great at school and they're happy, which is the most important part. It makes me happy to know they don't need their dad for that. :D

Hope you and your kids are ok?

*hugs you tightly*

[mskakaako.livejournal.com]

Yo beeyatch, where you be at? Big things going down at my lj.

Just kidding. Haven't updated yet. I'm trying to work myself up to do my Shanghai post with the pics and stuff, but I'm damn lazy. And tired. You or the other hand, amaze me with you gardening prowess and you lost an inch ALL OVER? I have no living things in my place. Well, one crocus plant that a friend brought over when I cooked her dinner, but I'm sure that's going to die soon too. "Everything I touch withers and dies..." Dammit. I have to get in shape too, instead of y'know, making nachos for dinner. So bad. :(

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Sheeeeeeeeeeeeyit. I checked out the pics and I am more in love with you than before. CUrse our heterosexuality! *shakes fist at my love of cock*

Mmm. Nachos. No! No more nachos late at night! I made a rule for myself to quit eating after 8. But I've also seen your pictures ans you are beeyouteeful.

[kaydee23.livejournal.com]

Yummy pizza. I'm obsessed with pizza. That sounds delicious. I think I'll have it Friday night. Woo hoo. My weekend is partially planned.

I'm pathetic.

But new pizza recipe, yah!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Do you have Mr. Gatti's in Houston? I ripped it off of them, but they also use regular tomato sauce. The salsa makes it tste better.

My FAVE FAVE FAVE (kids, too!) is little sauce, spinach leaves, roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, crushed garlic, bit of mozzarella (or feta if Mr. S isn't eating it), tomato slices, sprinkle of salt. I LOVE PIZZA.

[kaydee23.livejournal.com]

I don't eat out pizza that much because I don't want to weigh 400 pounds:)

There is a place here called Star Pizza and they have the most heavenly spinach and garlic pizza on the planet.

I used to do Mr. Gatti's, Godfather's, and Pinnochio's when I lived in Dallas.

[spikefan.livejournal.com]

*feeds everyone jumbo tomatoes with fresh basil from my garden*

*swoons*

The only edible thing I'm growing is a little container of chives in my kitchen window, although I think I'm ready to deal with basil again. My spider plants are growing like crazy though and having babies and grandbabies. Someday I will have a real yard and a real garden--in the meantime it's potted plants.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Spider plants! I've also heard them called "airplane plants." Those are fun.

I love pots! You can grow TONS of things in pots. I have successfully grown potatoes, leafy green, onions and 'maters in pots.

Did you have a problem with basil? Your comment sounded like it... Poor basil. Such a bad rap. Hee!

[spikefan.livejournal.com]

Did you have a problem with basil? Your comment sounded like it... Poor basil. Such a bad rap. Hee!

Actually, the basil grew just fine...and grew, and grew. I love basil, but I can only use so much of it. I gave bags of it to everyone who would take some. (Since then, I have figured out how to dry it so it doesn't go bad before it dries out, so having a lot on hand isn't such a big deal.) They have such nice basil at the local farmers' market that it hardly seemed worth the effort to grow it myself, but it's fun to have the fresh stuff in the kitchen whenever I want it.

How big a pot do I need to use to grow tomatoes? How much hot (direct) sun can they take? We have one balcony that gets no shade until about 1 pm in the summer, and our rooftop deck is in full sun all day long--which has fried many a plant I have tried to put up there.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I'd get at least a 10 inch pot for tomatoes. The bigger, the better. And when you plant the tomato, put in a tomato cage to support it when it's bigger. I put my basil in full sun. 7am - 7pm, Texas heat. The trick with tomatoes and basil is to water DEEP. Meaning: pour on a little water around the plants (not the leaves), let it soak, then do it again until the water stops soaking. Then don't water until the top inch of soil is dry. AND MULCH.

You can grow Spanish lavender on your roof: it prefers reflective heat (like on a rooftop) and little water. Also: rosemary, creeping junipers (they are small), various sages and salvias.... I want a hacienda roof-garden one day.

[ex-dovil323.livejournal.com]

See, I'm here because I CARE!

So, can I eat your flowers?

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Yep. The nasturiums are yummy in salad. But don't eat the POISON IVY. Except I don't have any.

[anelith.livejournal.com]

Oh Laura, your garden is going to be so beautiful! I'm so sorry about your old one, though. I saw in your comments that you drove past the old one and the morons living there had torn up all your hard work. Waaaah! Whatever possessed them?

We had pizza last night too. Our local store sells the uncooked pizza dough -- you stretch it out yourself onto a cookie sheet, put on the sauce and toppings and bake. But my kids will only eat cheese pizza! Nathan loves to eat black olives but not on the actual pizza, go figure.

I hope you're not sore this morning.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Not sore this morning, but I woke up at 3 in agony: headache, sore back... Took some asprin, scanned the very quiet LJ, then back to bed. Right as rain!

I took pics yesterday, and will take some at the end of the season to illustrate how much a garden can grow in a few months. It looks spare right now, but I believe each plant will at least double in size. Which means more to share with Sue at her new house!

Mmm. Pizza. When my kids were finnicky, I'd chop of basil into fine strips and put it under the cheese. Or spinach, whichever I had. Gotta get that iron in somehow. Pizza dough is fun to make, espescially if you are having a bad day: you can work out your aggression while kneading the dough!

[paynbow.livejournal.com]

sheeee-it! That's a lot of flowers...your poor body!

I must partake in your operation bikini as well...lostsa fruit and veggies, eh? Well...I'll try... *g*

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I took a page out of my health nut BFF's book: graze, eat enough to be satisfied, never full, and no food after 8. I think the hardest part was not drinking a Coke every day at 4 like I used to.

Summer is fish and fruit diet. Meaning, all the fish and fruit I can eat, and little else. YUM.

[sangueuk.livejournal.com]

put me down for some tomatoes and basil - I can provide quality olive oil.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

*dies with wanting*

I'm all out of my jen-you-wine Italian olive oil from my neighbor's trip to the mother-land.

Toss a few slices of good buffalo mozzarella in there, and I'm pleased as punch. (Currently I am making a batch of mint syrup from the garden for mojitos tonight.)

[spikefan.livejournal.com]

I'm a big fan of Luccini extra virgin olive oil from Tuscany. I think you can get it at gourmet markets and some large grocery stores. Very yummy on tomatoes. Please share your recipe for mint syrup & mojitos. (I've only had mojitos at the local pricy Cuban restaurant and I'd rather make my own.)

[sdwolfpup.livejournal.com]

I don't care about you, I'm here about me. Me me me! :P

Actually, I do care about you but the extent of my gardening know-how can be summed up with - "water often and keep in sunlight." And even that doesn't work for everything. Just those little sprouts they make you grow in styrofoam cups in kindergarten. Oh! I did successfully grow a chia pet once. Go me. But I'm sure your garden will be super-fantastic, because you are super-fantastic.

Thank you for the pimp, BTW. I'm much obliged!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

BWAH! COncerning your gardening technique, I will say that 99% of plant death is caused from OVERwatering. Just in case you have a $600 a month water bill or something... ;-)

And sweets, no worries about the pimp. The idea is to get people to YOUR journal, yes? *hugs you, makes you hurry up with Deadwood so we can CHAT*

[bisi.livejournal.com]

Yay for pics.
Hang on. Don't they have to grow first? It'll be months

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm going to do a before/after pictorial. Mainly for myself, and for my gardening group: we like to show how much plants can grow. Lots of people OVER plant their landscape, and in two years are having to divide/prune/cut out half of their garden.