tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76799493488847636672012-02-01T07:02:12.773-06:00and a little bit 'round the bendPatricianoreply@blogger.comBlogger241100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679949348884763667.post-28250288634722143232009-03-21T09:33:00.016-05:002009-03-21T10:07:39.331-05:00

Well, it looks like spring is finally here, save for the late March freeze we always have. I thought I'd post a few pictures of the pretties I'm finding in my garden this week.Mom's Christmas gift bloomed very prettily for me. Everybody got either an amaryllis or paperwhites this year. She thought they were kind of cheesy, but I thought they were a perfect gift. I'm happier with the pink iceberg

Patricianoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679949348884763667.post-1306710983370266842009-03-06T08:06:00.003-06:002009-03-06T08:10:30.499-06:00

There's not much gardening going on yet, but this headline on MSN caught my eye. All I can say is, if this is the best we can do, we're in serious trouble. Really, is it too much to ask that a guy not look like he pulled his clothes out from behind the sofa cushion this morning?

Patricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679949348884763667.post-40129143028225375562009-03-03T19:25:00.003-06:002009-03-03T20:07:16.916-06:00

That's the question I wanted to ask the twenty-something who was sitting behind me in the restaurant this evening. I had to get up and leave before the urge to take him by the scruff of the neck and rattle his teeth for him got too strong. The topic of conversation -- or, rather, monologue -- that was being loudly aired was childhood vaccinations. The speaker was waxing passionate over the

Patricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679949348884763667.post-35607923947500523562009-01-03T14:40:00.002-06:002009-01-03T15:09:52.755-06:00

It apparently just waits until the middle of winter to do it. Although, you couldn't tell it was winter by the weather around here. We've been enjoying temps in the seventies for this past week or so here in Central Texas -- which will be more than accounted for during the summer, of course, so we're enjoying them while we can. I've been off work since Christmas Eve for the holidays and have

Patricianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679949348884763667.post-1193097235051461052008-12-28T14:16:00.002-06:002008-12-28T14:23:37.361-06:00

Here's a photo of my DD and her new husband-to-be. He came by last Saturday and asked my permission, which I was happy to give. Erik's matured into a lovely young man over the last few years and he's got a good head on his shoulders, so I'm sure they'll be fine. He proposed on Tuesday during a horse-and-carriage ride through down-town Austin. They won't be getting married too soon, though. Erik

Patricianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679949348884763667.post-76231390887858896292008-12-03T17:36:00.004-06:002008-12-03T17:50:04.738-06:00

But now I'm back. The Fall semester is nearly over, just a couple of papers to write and a final exam to take and I'll be free for the holidays... sigh... I'm not so sure my GPA will survive the semester, but I have. Sometimes I wonder why I'm doing this to myself at all, especially when I look in my study and see all those balls of yarn and the shelves to finish putting up and the sewing machine

Patricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679949348884763667.post-60853253725830809042008-06-21T14:48:00.003-05:002008-06-21T15:14:48.491-05:00

It is dry, dry, dry. I've been watering every couple of days or so, but it just seems to disappear by the next day. We're in drought restrictions for the summer, now, so I can only water enough to keep everything alive at the moment.Just a few minutes ago, though, the wind kicked up and some dark clouds are building. The bamboo - dry and crinkly as it is - is leaning over almost double out there.

Patricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679949348884763667.post-3917397962146024252008-06-01T11:33:00.005-05:002008-06-01T12:00:58.373-05:00

I do own a lawn mower. I'm stating this for the record, because if a stranger were to look at my lawn right now, they wouldn't be able to tell. I've been the proud owner of a Black and Decker electric mower for about a year and a half.I've read complaints that electric mowers just aren't as efficient as gas powered mowers, but it's never been an issue in my garden. My yard isn't big to begin with

Patricianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679949348884763667.post-57966505716470082842008-05-29T09:45:00.004-05:002008-05-29T09:57:09.061-05:00

Look what's blooming in the garden! I happened to notice the first flowers in the patch of Mexican Petunia growing under my bedroom window as I was leaving for work yesterday and had to stop and take a couple of pictures.Until I moved into this house, I never really appreciated the Mexican Petunia. Sure, it's pretty. Its little purple trumpet-shaped flowers have a texture like crinkled tissue

Patricianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679949348884763667.post-40047845713257284052008-05-27T09:16:00.011-05:002008-05-27T09:49:13.356-05:00

“If only one lily is to be grown, it may well be this.” George Slate, Lilies for American Gardens. The Regal Lily is a species lily, Lilium regale, that was introduced into the gardens of Europe, and then America, around the turn of the 20th century. It is the parent lily for many of the trumpet lily hybrids that currently grace our gardens. They are early summer bloomers, and are hardy from

Patricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679949348884763667.post-77892779170668820082008-05-25T18:46:00.019-05:002008-05-25T22:01:38.867-05:00

Well, summer's officially here in Central Texas. The temps broke 90 deg F, and I broke down and turned on the air conditioners. Bye-bye $56 electric bills. It'll be interesting to see what the bills are, actually. The window units will be on some times during the day, but I've still got all the lights switched over to compact flourescents and I got rid of the television months ago. I was shocked

Patricianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679949348884763667.post-35410174981731192562008-05-10T11:06:00.011-05:002008-05-10T11:30:18.825-05:00

Look who came to visit late last night - or was it early this morning? Either way, a sphinx moth popped in through the open window and bounced around the living room until I turned off the light and he found his way back out to the porch. Some one else who has done much more research than I has a wonderful post on sphinx moths, here.We had another visit last night as well from a katydid. Selkie

Patricianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679949348884763667.post-60446029237637880382008-05-04T20:54:00.014-05:002008-05-04T22:01:24.237-05:00

I'd almost given up on the Cypress Vine this year. I planted one last year that just about covered the porch in the couple of months it was there before the first freeze, and I loved it. Although this vine is an annual, according to all the websites, it self-sows freely; in fact, the jist of the comments was "plant it once, have it forever in your garden - and your neighbors' gardens - and their

Patricianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679949348884763667.post-60151162560266308762008-05-03T17:58:00.018-05:002008-05-03T19:07:39.265-05:00

It's been a while since I posted; I'm afraid the second half of my semester got a bit more franticthan I had anticipated. I've almost finished with finals, though, and I seem to have survived another semester with my GPA intact. No more classes until next fall, so I'll have a bit more time to devote to the garden and crafts. Here's hoping for a nice relaxing summer before I have kick it into gear

Patricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679949348884763667.post-50661190605982475602008-03-21T15:23:00.012-05:002008-03-21T16:09:37.639-05:00

My new camera has arrived. It's a Canon PowerShot SD750 with 7.1 megapixels, which my daughter tells me is fine for what I want. Now, I can start showing more photos with my posts, as soon as I figure out how to use the thing. Here are a few beginners' shots.Here's the fairy statue peeking out from among the oregano, verbena and evening primrose. Sweet alyssum is growing around the rosemary at

Patricianoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679949348884763667.post-56574793317839986022008-03-17T14:50:00.005-05:002008-03-17T15:02:06.765-05:00

I reached my first weight loss goal this weekend: twenty pounds! I'm down to 200 pounds and had to go out and buy new clothes for work and school, since nothing I had that still fit was suitable. Shelli and I hit the Coldwater Creek outlet at Prime Outlets on Sunday. I can't afford to do that often, but it sure felt good to be down a full size in pants and tops! Lady Banks had a surprise

Patricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679949348884763667.post-17276138035656061102008-03-15T18:59:00.009-05:002008-03-15T20:04:14.393-05:00

After spending the last couple of mornings digging up yellow clay and mixing in compost and sand, I've finally made some new additions to the front bed. I've planted some thyme along the walkway -- probably too close to the walkway, but we'll see. There's a delphinium behind the cooking sage and to one side of the new rose bush. The Double Bridal Wreath Spirea will go into the ground tomorrow in

Patricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679949348884763667.post-91742270421474470482008-03-13T10:33:00.004-05:002008-03-13T11:04:05.497-05:00

I was out this morning with the weed-whacker, taking out the Johnson grass and other bits that were trying to absorb the brick pathway back into the soil while trying not to take out the little Venus' Looking Glass seedlings that were starting to peek out from between the bricks.Venus' Looking Glass, or Triodanis perfoliata, is one of my favourite wildflowers. I've been quietly encouraging the

Patricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679949348884763667.post-84210418250420495402008-03-12T10:29:00.005-05:002008-03-12T10:36:12.082-05:00

My freshly-planted Lady Banks rose is blooming! Her first two buds opened fully this morning. I'm sorry there's no picture, but after spending several probably very entertaining minutes trying to focus the webcam on the flowers while balancing my laptop on one hand without dropping it, the best shot I got was the one I've attached below. Time to invest in a camera.

Patricianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679949348884763667.post-3256602304726244682008-03-11T21:49:00.003-05:002008-03-11T21:53:33.398-05:00

My friend Laura just sent me the best article from The Onion. Yes, of course it's a spoof -- it is from The Onion. For an archaeology geek, like me, though, it's priceless.Archaeologist Tired Of Unearthing Unspeakable Ancient Evils

Patricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679949348884763667.post-66191376217125506582008-03-11T10:23:00.005-05:002008-03-11T10:34:57.966-05:00

James Beard’s Banana BreadThis is the best banana bread recipe I’ve ever found. I use it over and over again. The crust is crisp and the body of the bread is fine-grained, tender and moist. The banana flavor is perfect – well-flavored and not too sweet. I’ve made it both with and without nuts, and I think I prefer it without. The recipe lists either butter or shortening, but I’ve always used

Patricianoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679949348884763667.post-46610408945175172442008-03-10T10:54:00.018-05:002008-05-29T10:00:56.718-05:00

This morning started with the thunderstorms the weather reports had promised, but it's settling into one of those drippy days -- not enough rain to keep me indoors, but too much to allow me to really do anything once I get outside. So, I think this last day of my three-day weekend will be a lazy one. The cat in the photo to the right is Oliver. He insisted on going out last night at midnight and

Patricianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679949348884763667.post-21373715324727903182008-03-09T11:57:00.008-05:002008-03-09T12:55:55.429-05:00

I transplanted my scabiosa babies this morning before lunch. They'd been incubating in their little peat-pellet nursery for a couple of weeks, and had started to out-grow it a tad. Most of them had developed their secondary leaves and all of them had little white rootlets poking out from the pellets, so it was time to move them to a larger playroom -- in this case a variety of 3" - 8" pots (and a

Patricianoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679949348884763667.post-81052926891284177832008-03-08T08:56:00.000-06:002008-03-08T11:04:12.553-06:00

I've seen so many lovely Blogger blogs that I've finally been converted and decided to migrate my original blog over here."So what do you blog about?" my daughter Shelli asks dubiously. It's a good question, so I'll address that. I blog mainly on things that occur in daily life. I write about my garden, which is largely year-round here in lovely zone 8b Buda, TX. I write about my daughter and my

Patricianoreply@blogger.com0