Spring Planting Update April 24, 2011

My last blog was about going out and buying plants for the garden.  Oh, M'God, you gotta plant this stuff?  Yea, we did the next day.  I had Good Friday off, Charlene didn't have to work until the next night so we made another run to the Green Thumb Nursery.  This time, Charlene wanted another Sweet Olive Tree (or bush) to replace the one she's had for several years but gave up the ghost (no pun intended on Easter Day).  She found one and I found onions - not sets but plants.  We planted them yesterday.  Today is grey and sorta drizzly.  Probably the worst Easter Day for the past eleven years I've been in Cowlifornia.  But that's OK, we've had great weather for months compared to the rest of the country.  I took a stroll through the yard with camera in hand, taking the following pictures.  Remember, click on the picture to see it full size, then use your 'back' button to return here.
First up, the green beans Charlene planted between the back porch and the driveway

In the horrid-turquoise planters are two tomato plants and more green beans and a rogue Cleome flower from last year:

Then, as I walk through the gate, Charlene's new Sweet Olive tree, uh, bush next to the bird bath.  Two more planters waiting for another trip to the nursery for something we haven't thought of yet:

As I continue walking to the back, here's our 18 sweet corn plants.  About every 18 inches, I've planted large white onion plants  - you really can't see them in this photo:

As I turn to the left, here's more onions -green onions.  Mmmmm! Onions!   Aaahg!

  Just around the corner, on the way to the greenhouse is the Iris bed:

Here's inside the greenhouse.  The 3 tomato plants look intimidated by all the room.  I know better - in a couple of months, there will be tomato plants from hell, pretty much from ground to roof, wall to wall:

Going up to the back gate is our Angel Trumpet tree, bush or whatever it is.  It smothers us in blooms every month or two, year round:

Those of you who have been here know that on the other side of the back fence are dual train tracks.  On the other side of the tracks and down 50 yards is a 20 acre field that always has something growing, year round, for the 11 years I've been in Cowlifornia.  That's pretty neat as Ohio turns brown, dies off in late Fall until Springtime.  In the past seven years we've lived here, that field has been a bean field, celery field, strawberry field and other stuff I can't recall (old timers disease).  About 3 months ago, they made 10 acres into a Red Raspberry Field.  I took a walk over there today and shot the following pictures..... and ate several dozen totally excellent red raspberries.  Ok, here's those pictures:

Charlene had to work a 12 hour shift last night (7 PM to 7 AM), came home, went to sleep for abut 5 hours, woke up, needed food.  For my Easter Special, I went to the Golden China Restaurant and got her Kumpao Shrimp, Shrimp fried rice, egg rolls.   Complete with chopsticks, milk and several napkins, she enjoyed her Easter meal:

Spring Planting April 16-17

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This afternoon, Charlene announced, "I'm going to Green Thumb Nursery, wanna go?".  I ask what she was after and she replied, "Tomatoes".  Huh?  I told her that I didn't want to plant until the first of May.  After 3 planting seasons with the greenhouse, I've figured out I need warmth and sunlight.  From February on, I've planted tomatoes but the best crop was planted in May.  Charlene has just worked two twelve-hour shifts, back to back.  She wants to play in the garden now and she's going to the nursery whether I do or don't.  We don't often go to Green Thumb so it's always a fun place to go.  Yea, I'll go!.  It's a great nursery with an extremely knowledgeable and friendly staff.  Great plants, too.  I pass a giant 'preview' display of peppers and tomatoes.  The peppers catch my eye.  Not the hot pepper kind, rather the big, green/red bell peppers.  There are a gob of different kinds here.  I can plant these this weekend with no worries.  I keep grabbing more pepper plants.  I end up with 9 pepper plants, more than I need but, too late, they're in the little red wagon I'm pulling through the isles (instead of a baskart).  I'm now the proud owner of

 

I moved on down the display, casually eye-ing the tomatoes.  Not yet, not until May.   Charlene and I are wandering the numerous isles of a bizillion plants.  Flowers and vegetables, trees and bushes, tropical and desert and on and on.  I come to the tomato isle where Charlene is looking and notice Green Thumb has the latest hybrids, the old standbys, early maturity, late maturity and Old Fashion Heirlooms.  I couldn't take it any longer, I plunged in and filled up the red wagon with tomato plants.  Here's the ones I got for the greenhouse:

This one is an Heirloom called Mortgage Lifter.  Full maturity, very big, juicy tomatoes

Here are two plants Charlene got for the planters away from the greenhouse:

We both saw the corn.  We both knew we had to have it.  2-6 packs of yellow corn and one 6 pack of white sweet corn:

I scrubbed the greenhouse, inside and out with soapy water and bleach, including the roof.  A thorough rinsing and it's ready to go for another season. 

 

Just around the corner in this picture is our 'Iris' patch.  Charlene planted many colors but only this one comes up. There's some kind of weed that looks like (in Ohio) a fine fescue grass so the first photo is called "Iris with Weeds" and the other is called "Other Iris with Weeds".  

I'll try and keep you all updated on the progress.

Cinnamon Poop

Bathroom Sprays.  Really can't live without them.  But most are just wrong.  They just 'mix' with the poop smell in the bathroom instead of eliminating or covering it up.  We are always trying various brands and 'flavors'.  Air Wick, Glade and other companies make about a zillion different 'flavors' and most just don't cover it.  Fresh Linen, Citrus, Lemon, Vanilla, Potpourri and on and on, it just smells like scented poop.  Tried Oust, Fabreeze - don't matter.  Is there any out there that really work?  Charlene bought some Glade brand 'Apple and Cinnamon'.  It just smells like Cinnamon Poop........ Lysol?  Uh, I don't want it to smell like a public restroom that just got cleaned.....

Paybacks are a bitch!

For most of this winter, I've been sending pictures from Ventura, sunny skies, blooming flora, warm temperatures.  Kind of 'rubbing it in'.  Three fourths of North America has had a miserable, long, never ending Winter.  Snow, cold, more snow, more cold.  Never ending.  It costs a fortune to live here so I figured that we're getting our money's worth.

Since I live in Southern California, my Ohio State Buckeyes are 'on the line' every football Saturday.  Lately, they've done me proud.  Everyone else around here roots for USC or UCLA.  They haven't done too well.  So, with the Buckeye's Basketball team being number one in the polls for weeks and weeks, I had to start 'rubbing it in' on that side, too.

Payback time.

Last week, the weather went to hell in a hand basket.  Two inches of rain, cold temperatures, gray skies, wind.  Last Saturday, 5 miles up the coast, a tornado.  5 more miles further up, snow-SNOW right next to the Ocean!  OMG!  The end is near!  Yesterday, an extreme cold front came roaring through - snow down to an unheard of 500 foot level in LA, Snow in Griffith Park (home of the LA Zoo and Griffith Observatory).  Cold rain and wind all day.   We've had major 1) High wind warnings, 2) Tornado warnings 3) Flash Flood warnings 4) Winter storm warnings, 5) Freeze warnings.  And that's just in the last week here in Ventura County.  Last night, the furnace broke.  Tried my best but couldn't get it going.  Thank God for the little ceramic heater brought in from the garage and our gas oven, door open and fans blowing warm air everywhere.  Waiting for the furnace guy now.  Overnight low of (yikes) 38 degrees.

.....and.......

My number one Ohio State Buckeye Basketball team, undefeated until I started my bragging, have lost 2 games, falling from number one to number two (or number three, depending on which poll).

Maybe I should just sit in the corner and keep my mouth shut........ Nah!  That's an impossible task.

Here's a picture of melting (temporarily) snow on the mountains in back of us.  Click on the pic for a larger version, use you browser's 'Back' button to return here.

Snow on our Topa Topa Mountain

Whoa! I'm Worldwide!

I was gonna write about the Delta IV Heavy launch from a few days ago and signed into my blog.  I change or add things from time to time and thought that I'd change the 'wallpaper' on the main page.  Never remember how to do that so I just start clicking on things until I stumble into it.  Before I got there, I stumbled into a 'stats' page.  OMG!  I never knew I had 'Stats' until now.  I couldn't believe it.  I have people all over the world reading this blog.  To steal a line from John Denver, "Far Out!".  I mean, I mean, I'm sitting here on the Group W Bench, stunned.  It's kind of neat to see what devices (Nathan and his iPad) and what browsers people are using to read my blog but, from all over the world?  Russia?  Czech Republic?  Norway?  Brazil? Ooooo!  The Boys from Brazil are following me....  Below is a screen shot of my stats page.  Unbelievable, eh?  Cow lovers around the world follow me..... or crazy people do..... Should I be scared?
Click on the pic below for the full sized readable version.  Use your browser's Back button to return here.

Freecycle

There's a part of Yahoo.com that features a service to the community called "Freecycle".  If you have a Yahoo account, you can find it through them.  Freecycle is a bulletin board type of service where you can post items to give away free, keeping stuff from the landfill.  You can also 'request' an item.  This is how we found 'Cat'.  We've given and gotten stuff through Freecycle for years - it's a green solution both money-wise and landfill-wise.  Checking my e-mail tonight, I found the following (and hilarious) posting:

Offered is a bin of dinosaurs. I'd say at least 20. Various sizes.They've been
living in our front yard for some time. Been played with in the dirt, and grass
shoved down their throats. Just a heads up these will probably need to continue being outdoor toys.

If you have a Yahoo account, check it out.  If you are always low on funds and need something, check it out.  Sometimes, the postings make for a good laugh.......

The Book Signing

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A few weeks before Christmas I ordered Charlene a book by one of her favorite authors, Robert Crais.   The only problem was that it wasn't release at the time and wouldn't until January 11.   I told Charlene that her 'last' present would be delivered about the second week of January and I think she forgot.  I had ordered this book through my favorite store, Amazon.com and knew from past experience that it would be here on the release date so I did some research and found that the author would be in Santa Monica (about 70 miles as the road travels) on Tuesday for a 'reading' and signing.

Of course, I 'really' had to twist her arm to go to the signing/reading thing.  Charlene hates freeways so for the trip to the little bookstore in Santa Monica, we took the Pacific Coast Highway.  Normally a beautiful drive along the ocean, I found it extremely creepy dark at night.  The drive home was bright, fast creepy freeways.  At least I could see what was going to hit us......

The bookstore, "The Diesel Bookstore" is located in Santa Monica, right beside Brentwood.  The thought occurred that this is O.J. territory but then I remembered he lives in Florida now and I shouldn't worry about knife attacks.  Oh, wait, he now lives in a Nevada jail.  Cool.  The bookstore is located in an open air food court.  Three or four restaurants surrounding an open air court.  The center of the court has a huge screened-in outdoor gas fire pit.  Since it was very cool and sprinkling, the fire felt great. 

We decided to get some chow from one of the places, settling on a fish basket.  We skipped the baked potato menu.  Sitting by the fire, eating hot fries and Kelly-Style breaded fish.  Yummy and the fire felt so good.

Then, the author, Robert Crais came out to the court area and did some jokes, letters from readers and did a reading for us from his book.

He has a great sense of humor and a nice 'reading' voice.  All the while one of the restaurants was 'catering' this affair with all sorts of gourmet things.  All food was served on plates made from, uh, I guess, palm fronds.  Lightweight and strong and unique.  Very cool.

The food just kept coming and we were on the 'outside' of the crowd so we got served often, and plenty.  The servers would come in waves with something new every few minutes.  First there was gourmet crackers with some kind of crab meat stuff on top, then Deviled Eggs with a different filling than I'm used to (complete with Caviar on top), Butternut Squash Soup with mushrooms, Steak Tallot (to absolutely die for!), Mini sandwiches with a seafood meat, expensive cookies and meringue cookies.  Of course, gourmet coffee and teas from around the world.  Much as I'm not a seafood fan, I gobbled continually.  Worse than Thanksgiving.  It was so good and so free....

When the reading was over, it was into the bookstore to get Charlene's copy signed.  There was probably only 10 people ahead of her but it took almost an hour as Mr. Crais is very 'reader friendly' and talked about anything and everything with his fans.  I wandered throughout the tiny bookstore while Charlene talked to everyone in line including Mr. Crais's wife.  I've taken pics of some of the books that caught my eye:

Finally it was Charlene's turn.  This guy is very accessible, very approachable and very likable.  He's just very 'very', I guess.

He saw me with my camera and came out from behind the counter for a shot with Charlene.  Nice ending to our little sojourn.  In the background is still more food.......

The Pinning Ceremony

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Friday, the 10th of December was the final act in Charlene's quest to become a Registered Nurse.  It was the Graduation from Ventura College School of Nursing.  Three years to get her Associates Degree and all the pre-req's out of the way, get accepted into the College Nursing Program and complete the two year grueling course.  Over a fourth of the students that started didn't finish.  Those that did experienced lack of social life, family life and zombie-ism.  What a wild and crazy two years.  We personally lost Charlene, the kitchen table (joined occasionally by the living room coffee table), sanity, sleep, companionship and a whole lot of other stuff as Charlene doggedly attacked her studies.  Study 'till she fell asleep 'at the books', wake up at three in the morning and continue.  NS30 was the worst.  That was last Spring Semester.  Rarely saw her - when we did, she was deep in concentration on studies.  Shhhhh!  Your Mom is studying....

That all came to an end last Friday.  Sort of.  Charlene had finished with a 'B' average and was graduating.  The graduation ceremony is called "Pinning".  You have to buy your own 'Pin' that is R.N. related from a list the College gives you.  In a ceremony on stage, you are 'pinned' with it by someone you get to choose.  Charlene chose Rolanda, her CNA professor from 'undergrad school'.  A wonderful teacher, mentor and friend.  Nic and Trav and I were there, as was our neighbors across the street, Cherie and Miles, our good 'crazy' friends, Bobby and Sarah.  He's a chemistry professor at Ventura College and she attends art classes there.

The ceremony began with the graduating students walking down the auditorium isles carrying candles (electric ones) and placing them on the stage front as they climbed the stairs and took their place.  There were the usual amount of speakers including Ralph James, Charlene's 5 year councilor and Board of Trustee member.  His speech reminded all the families in the audience what a sacrifice the students and families had gone through.  Round of applause for the students and a round of applause for the families.  Damn right, Ralph, damn right!  Applause for all of us, but especially the students and our Charlene!  Several of the students gave speeches and one of them, Kiela, left us rolling in the aisles with her review of the two-year program.  I know I was and I'm sure the other families were remembering all the little horror stories of the past two years, the lack of sleep, lack of 'having a life', the medical procedures, tests, stress and all sorts of mean nasty things semester after semester. Several different friends of mine had a daughter go through R.N. college and knew exactly what our family was experiencing.  But, Friday, it ended.  Charlene was Pinned.  Officially, she is a Registered Nurse.  Now, she's studying for her State Exam, the NCLEX exam (whatever that stands for is beyond me and I'm afraid to ask).  To quote my black friends in Ohio, "You Go, Girl!"  What a job well done, My Love.........

Finally !

Three years of Undergrad School to get her Associates Degree.  Two years of Registered Nursing College.  It completes with the Pinning Graduation Ceremony on Friday, December 10, 2010.  Congratulations to my wife.  Charlene, I am so very proud of you!  Wish her well by sending her an e-mail to  charlened@charter.net