meg's garden: Daybook

A page from my day

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:19:07 GMT

FOR TODAY August 25...

Outside My Window...

Treetops bending in the strong wind, silhouetted against a clear blue sky

I am thinking...

about the best way to juggle things so we can pay for Sam’s wisdom teeth removal- the *%&$#@! insurance company denied the authorization as “not covered”

I am thankful for...

the provision of my Heavenly Father; we have two substantial checks coming in the next couple of weeks, which will go towards one need, one indulgence, & one hope

From the kitchen...

Pork loin roast leftovers, asparagus, maybe some mashed potatoes (it’s been awhile- I wonder if I have any), & some of the best Clementines I’ve had in a long time

I am wearing...

Blue patterned skirt, green short-sleeved sweater, & blue loafers

I am creating...

Now that Ravelympics is over, I must spend time with my neglected sewing machine- I’m working on a tabard apron & matching potholder for the Fall Apron Swap (due to mail out on Friday), piecing the last 8 blocks for this year’s church quilt, & putting the final five rows together before sending it to my partner for the final stitching.

I am going...

to miss watching the Olympics every evening (though it will be good to get to bed at an earlier time); I’m not a sports fan by nature, but I was mesmerized by the excitement & talent that flowed across the screen every night- I often found myself cheering out loud for people I’ll never meet.

I am reading...

I’m still working on The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs, & Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell

I am hoping...

to taste my own cantaloupes before winter- I found three melons this weekend & we should still have hot weather for at least another month.

I am hearing...

The Humming Chorus from Puccini’s Madame Butterfly

Around the house...

The sewing machine & paraphernalia has again taken over the dining room; I saw an awful lot of dust clinging to the ceiling fan this morning (Oh, Saaam!); the lawn is in need of trimming & the grass should be cleared from around the sprinkler heads

One of my favorite things...

hot, buttered popcorn- sometimes, this is all I’ll eat for supper J

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

Now that I’m done with choir (Sunday was my last day), my evenings stretch out free of commitments; the fridge & cupboards are looking a bit sparse, so some grocery shopping is in order; some raking & flowerbed clear-up needs doing; then this weekend, we are headed off to the Caledonian Club Of San Francisco 143rd Annual Scottish Highland Games being held in Pleasanton.

Here is picture thought I am sharing.

Ever hear of a self-service cat?

Please drop by Peggy's page, The Simple Woman, to read entries from other Daybooks around the world.

Pen in hand

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:55:36 GMT

FOR TODAY July 28...

Outside My Window...

Blessed bright blue skies after weeks of hazy yellow (though there are now fires in Yosemite, 75 miles to the east)

I am thinking...

my weight (up), my daughter (silent), my son (sick), my bank account (gaunt), my hopes (glimmering)

I am thankful for...

my dear Chris- husband, lover, friend, partner, ally, & support; our life would be dark & hard without him

From the kitchen...

there is lots of experimenting going on with the goodies we brought back from Oregon- we found the best (& biggest) Asian market ever, so we are fully stocked on sauces, seasonings, rice, & noodles to try out.

I am wearing...

A red & brown floral skirt, red knit top, brown leather slides, & a bright green sweater- it is very cold in here!

I am creating...

a new skirt, since my favorite one has developed an inconveniently placed hole that isn’t repairable.

I am going...

to meet with a new group of knitters tonight, one that was formed on Ravelry & is meeting in the next town over.

I am reading...

Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen, Corpse Pose by Diana Killian (who also happens to be in one of my favorite singing groups, The Browne Sisters), & The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs

I am hoping...

to get caught up on the pile of backed-up work- the first of the month is just around the corner.

I am hearing...

David Russell playing Peschatore che va cantando by Pietro Paolo Borrono; a crop duster working the nearby fields; my boss banging around her file cabinets

Around the house...

daddy-long-legs have proliferated into every corner of every room; it’s time for a good turn-out of all the kitchen cupboards; the garden isn’t as prolific as I would like- I have no carrots or lettuce this summer & the cucumbers are coming on slowly- but I do think the lemon tree has finally set some fruit

One of my favorite things...

a new treat- Ice Breakers Restore Mints, Pomegranate Lemon-Aid (I’ve only found them at Target so far)

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

Dentist appointment Tuesday for Sam, senior portraits on Wednesday, back to choir practice on Thursday, Chris’ birthday on Saturday

Here is picture thought I am sharing.

Here is where I was wandering this time last year- a view thru the Rose Arbor at Butchart Gardens, British Colombia

As the month ends...

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:22:34 GMT

For Today, June 30, 2008...

Outside My Window...

I can see patches of blue sky pushing their way through the layers of smoke haze that have blanketed the Valley & glimpses of the hills to the West for the first time in nearly two weeks.

I am thinking...

about my presentation for Garden Club next week; my theme is “Home Composting” & I’m trying to decide on either a general overview of options, or an in depth focus on one type (my new research has been on vermicompost- aka, Worm Farming)

I am thankful for...

meg’s garden, my little corner of this cyber neighborhood. For two years as of today, I have been given the privilege of glimpsing into the lives of creative, generous, caring, & inspiring people, while sharing the things that are important in my world. I can only hope that I have been able to give back a portion of what I have received to those kind enough to visit & encourage me.

From the kitchen...

I’m trying something new- a Moroccan dinner of spiced chicken, couscous, & grilled zucchini

I am wearing...

A brown short-sleeved tunic, a patterned skirt in red, peach, & brown, & brown leather slides

I am creating...

An apron for a summer swap, a pair of toe-up socks for my MIL (Christmas is coming), & my first attempt at recreating my favorite slip.

I am going...

to replant my “Salad Bed” this week~ the lettuce, radishes, & carrots never took. We’ve tilled up the smaller raised planter, added a bag of chicken manure & some fresh soil, & hung some shade cloth, so I’m going to reseed with leaf lettuce, spinach, radishes, green onions, & carrots.

I am reading...

Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility for the Ravelry read & knit along, Slay Bells by Kate Kingsbury (an Edwardian mystery), & Moving On by Sarah Ban Breathnach

I am hoping...

the temperatures stay reasonable for the Holiday~ last year, it was over 105°, which discouraged all of us from doing anything beyond sitting inside all day

I am hearing...

David Russell’s Renaissance Favorites for Guitar, the laser printer cranking out month-end reports, & my boss chatting with her daughter for the 6th time this morning

Around the house...

The house is rather tidy, since Sam hasn’t gotten around to finding a job this summer; my portable sewing machine has taken up residence on the kitchen table- I believe it’s time to rearrange the study so I feel more comfortable working up there; I was excited to “find” two forgotten sprinklers in the front lawn- the guys have put in new pop-up heads, so now maybe my ferns won’t need hand watering.

One of my favorite things...

The smell of alfalfa- fresh or dried, it doesn’t matter

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

A mercifully quiet week ahead- no meetings, no classes, no appointments; I need to have my car smogged so I can send off the registration; I was considering spending the Fourth in San Francisco- we haven’t been in 2 or 3 years & it appears we will all have the weekend off.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

This is what the morning skies have looked like for the past couple weeks; fortunately, the air is beginning to clear as the winds change & the fires are being controlled.

Please drop by The Simple Woman blog, to visit other ladies sharing a glimpse of their day- maybe you could even join us!

Pen in hand...

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 03:38:54 GMT

Outside My Window...

I see more than a dozen bunches of grapes slowly forming on the vines, my potted hydrangea blooming in vibrant pink, & the lemon cucumber plant climbing toward the sun.

I am thinking...

About ways to swing the cost of a road trip up to Oregon next month & a possible stay-over at Crater Lake

I am thankful for...

A whole month off from choir commitments- I’m beginning to feel burned out & unmotivated to practice

From the kitchen...

Homemade spaghetti sauce with lots of veggies, grilled zucchini, & fresh fruit for dessert

I am wearing...

Navy knit capris & a sleeveless white shirt- just got back from a walk

I am creating...

More blocks for the Church quilt & working on Chris’ pullover vest

I am going...

To try making some new slips- it is getting harder & harder to find the kind I like (split skirt, like culottes, with no lace)

I am reading...

Still working through Back on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber & Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskill

I am hoping...

To be caught up on my backed up work at the job & back on schedule by this weekend

I am hearing...

The guys discussing seasoning for the sauce, Modern Marvels on the television & the floor fan humming

Around the house...

It is pleasantly cool inside after a hot day; Dahlia is napping atop the newspaper stack & chasing ghost birds; there are entirely too many bags sitting by the front door (& only half of them are mine)

One of my favorite things...

Classical Guitar music, especially Baroque

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

Haircut on Wednesday (my stylist finally sent me a postcard announcing her new place); at least two visits to the gym (must get back up to 5-6 days a week); lots of carting Sam around to classes & lessons; & another dentist appointment to cement in a new crown & start the replacement on another

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Lavender Hollow Farm

Please drop by The Simple Woman blog, to visit other ladies sharing a glimpse of their day- maybe you could even join us!

Looking forward, not back...

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 22:37:49 GMT

FOR TODAY June 2nd...

Outside My Window...

Blue skies, bright sun, and Old Glory flying proudly in the wind

I am thinking...

about ways to cut our fuel expenses; Chris commutes to work everyday & with gasoline topping $4.00 a gallon, we’re looking at a $600-$700 monthly gas bill

I am thankful for...

my husband’s willingness to trust my judgment, & the regional transit district that provides a (relatively) convenient commuter bus for only $112 a month!

From the kitchen...

hamburgers, green beans, & some homemade ice cream.

I am wearing...

navy slacks, royal blue knit top, & navy loafers

I am creating...

the Notting Hill Vest for Chris, since I haven’t bought replacement yarn for his kilt hose.

I am going...

put in for a few days vacation in July- not only am I ready for a break, I think it’s time to take a road trip up to Oregon to visit the in-laws

I am reading...

Back on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber, Murder on the Mauritania by Conrad Allen, & All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew

I am hoping...

to finish up these reports for work, so I can have my Saturdays free again.

I am hearing...

the sound of the laser printer kicking out pages of month end reports, the fax machine ringing, & J.S. Bach’s Suite in C Major

Around the house...

I’ve been sorting through the magazines & stacked papers on the desk; Sam is doing his semi-annual room rearrangement, clearing out the end-of-school debris; & the growing pile of shoes by the front door need to be addressed

One of my favorite things...

Kettle Brand Salt & Fresh Ground Pepper Chips- yum! (Plus, it gets us to drink plenty of water J)

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

Sam starts a second weekly tennis lesson (Tues & Fri) & a four-week golf clinic on Saturday; I have a dentist appointment to have a crown replaced; working on the new church quilt & mending a cut in the living room curtains (someone was practicing with his new sword L)

Here is picture thought I am sharing.

this is the new quilt I’m working on; it’s called “Almost Cathedral Windows” & is pieced & quilted at the same time!

Please drop by The Simple Woman blog, to visit other ladies sharing a glimpse of their day- maybe you could even join us!