today, when i woke it was so cool and breezy that i decided to work outside... after my morning rituals. it was a good choice. i tend to stay locked inside too much of the time; especially when it starts warming up; there will be plenty of 'inside time' once summer starts. i plan to stay in and edit recordings, for more cds, and do more art/photo projects- and possibly books- during the heat.
i finished the "Louisiana Americana" book last night, BUT saw that for the same price as for 30 pages i could have 40- so, have decided to add more photos that were not in the show, but WILL be in the book, and possibly in the show, later.
had an email that my new improvisational meditative cd "la meditation etheree- 1" [a meditation in 7 movements] is due online tomorrow [may 10] globally for digital download at most online outlets: amazon, itunes, etc etc etc
once outdoors, i piddled around with flower beds, moving things around on the patio and carport- TRYING to clean up. i did not get the good housekeeping gene, obviously. i am STILL sifting, sorting, & storing inside- but today said, "the hell with it" and spent the day in the great outdoors. i planted some things in the front flower bed that i will probably eventually move/separate: antirrhinums from new orleans; hosta from a planter on my porch; 7 apostles, which i had forgotten i potted about 10 of, from one in my yard. cannot believe the cold didn't kill them all. the elephant ears at my back porch/patio are doing so well IN a big terra cotta pot that i am afraid to move them. i did layer some roses and oleanders to hopefully move in the fall. plan to look around and layer everything layer-able.
seeing that more of my gardenias, in small bottles in the kitchen window had roots, i went and took more cuttings. the trick, i have found is to change the water every week. they need oxygen.
I didn't think i would be making a garden this year- but, seeing that my parsley & some of my lettuce was still alive [after Mr. B accidentally weed ate it all] i transplanted it all to one row, then mowed down the whole garden spot. i used the mulch [pine straw] from last years garden, and mulched the lettuce- then seeing the plot was fairly clean, put the blade on the lowest notch and mowed again. Disco! clean as a whistle.
SO i decided to plant some seed i had. i am and always have been a seed saver [i shouldn't say that, Monsanto will be knocking at my door] always collect grandma's 4 o'clock seed every year; my herb and flower seeds; even cantaloup and tomato seed from 'real' ones, which usually always come up. planted a bunch of sunflowers seed from the plants i had last year. unfortunately they are not the mammoth- and i don't know what i did with it- it was huge.
since my tiller is broken, i went 'old school' [truly GREEN] and used a shovel to dig the rows, a hoe to chop up the dirt, and a hand trowel to make the trench and drop the seeds in; and for watering, my grandmother's old kettle, which has been outside for 20 years. amazingly it hasn't rusted rust or got any holes. its perfect for watering, when planting. they don't make things like they used to. voila! le jardin:
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| L to R: 1 row of herbs & lettuce; 1 row of basil; 1 row of peppers |
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| the fig tree is abundant this year |
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| a transplanted grape vine @ the foot of the cross made from mama's lawnmower blades & metal garden stake; a little climbing rose is also there |
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| my own personal Walden |
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| a thicket of plum trees which volunteered from one tree my father gave me years ago; i've been moving them to make a long row |
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| L to R: 1 row of herbs & lettuce; 1 row of basil; 1 row of peppers- redux |
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| yet another generation from my grandma's nandina [aka heavenly or sacred bamboo] |
what a day! i am exhausted but feel the contentment of knowing i got some things accomplished. even had dinner on the patio and worked on some old oriental type wind chimes- have a bucket full of others that need some TLC and repairs. but, when the mosquitoes started gnawing my ankles i decided to call it a night. now for shower, snacks, and PBS. "after all, tomorrow is another day"- scarlett o'hara
[C]2012 DOUG DUFFEY
