June 2013

Jun

30

Days of Summer #3

Uncategorized  Posted by / 0 comments

P1070136Real hot here today. Real hot. Even so, I did a few projects today. First and foremost, my flamingo friends, Helen and Ellen, moved into the backyard, right after getting married in San Francisco today. We are all really excited about their nuptials and couldn’t be more pleased that they have chosen to make their home here with us. The chickens have been a little standoffish, but I am sure they will warm up and be having them over for for happy hour real soon.

Next, back to the vegetable garden. I unearthed a cache of giant onions and the first of the green beans. Always exciting to find something you didn’t see the day before. Lots of baby tomatillos coming along, and I am guessing one more week and we’ll be inundated with cherry tomatoes.

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By 11:00 a.m.  I was running for cooler climes. So I retreated inside and started putting together my air plant project. I bought these little glass hanging vases yesterday at the floral supply house as homes for my epiphytes, or air plants. These little things grow without soil and with very little water. And hopefully, by tonight, they shall be suspended from my bathroom ceiling in their glass houses. Between those, the terrarium, and a staghorn fern my friend Stephanie gave me, my bathroom is starting to resemble a greenhouse. I love it.

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And last but not least, Bryan and I tried out a new recipe tonight. Pizza with a crust made out of cauliflower! Thanks Teresa for passing this one a long! It was delicious and I was able to load it up with several of those leeks. Probably not the best day of the year to turn the oven on, but it was worth it. Here’s the link to the recipe if you are intrigued and want to try it out for yourself: http://www.theluckypennyblog.com/2013/02/the-best-cauliflower-crust-pizza.html.

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So, just a little warning that tomorrow I’ll be taking a break from  Days of Summer. I got a Pride Parade to go to, people! And its a historic one indeed! But don’t worry, I’ll be back on Monday!

Jun

29

Days of Summer #2

Chickens / garden / summer / Terrarium / Uncategorized  Posted by / 0 comments
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Today I woke up with the chickens on my mind. And good thing, as there were three eggs and a whole lot of squawking waiting for me. Not sure what those ladies have been to, but their digs were filthy. I suspect they had a rave, or at least a kegger. while I was away last weekend. Spent a good portion of the morning doing deep cleaning, much to my chickens’ dismay. I felt a whole lot better though.

Then, it was on to terrarium cleanup. Small, teeny, tiny gardens encased in glass,P1070129 or terrariums, are one of my new loves. Until today, my terrarium was occupied by a wee blue armadillo. At approximately 11:00 a.m. PST, the armadillo was served its walking papers to make way for a chihuahua duo who share a striking resemblance with two real life little dogs. These were hand-made by a student as a thank-you gift. By far one of the best gifts I have ever received, and certainly deserving of a place of honor.

The day came to an end at Hopmonk Tavern in Sebastopol, listening  to my friends Dave and Karen play music, while I sat back and sipped some ice cold wine. Only made better by the fact that summer still has a loooong way to go.

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Jun

28

Days of Summer #1

do it yourself / garden / summer / tomtaotes / Uncategorized / vegetables  Posted by / 0 comments
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I am often asked what exactly it is I do aaaaaall day long in the summer, given I am not at work. Typically my answer is something like, “what don’t I do??!” The days fly by, a blur of friends, family, projects, gardening, trips, time in the studio, so on and so forth….But I thought in honor of that question, I’d do a little experiment and document here for you my many days of summer through a series of short “mini blog” posts. Here goes!

Day 1

After two days of weird freakishly winter like rain, my garden was looking a little raggedy. Dahlias flopped over, tomatoes falling out of their cages, things basically in need of some TLC. So that was what I did this evening. Staking, a little weeding, and some harvesting. Most exciting discovery was the first of the cherry tomatoes and a TON of leeks. Tonight’s homework assignment: find leek recipes.

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