Composting

This is SOOOO easy to do and FAST. It takes about a week with my handy dandy machine. You start with "greens": kitchen scraps (including coffee grounds, egg shells, etc.), Add some "browns" like coir or sawdust or pelleted sawdust etc, put it in the machine which stirs it and heats it automatically. Voila' you have finished compost. It is in my kitchen, mostly doesn't smell at all, if anything, like vegetable soup. It made me a believer. So I have instant earthy smelling fertilizer for my garden, houseplants, etc. Plus, we don't send junk down my septic tank or into the garbage. Gosh, even a Republican can do this.

Erich's Birthday

Whacky cake...totally vegan for Lent..oh yeah I gues this post should have come before the last one...oh well...Serena cut the letters out of a fruit leather...is that crunchy enough for you???

St. Andrew Church Pascha April 18, 2009

Actually this was Holy Saturday when the new converts are baptized. The first picture shows Elena doing a prostration (It indicated deep reverence) amid the lovely blessed fresh flower petals and fragrant herb leaves. It is amazing to me that little children who are raised in the church don't need to be taught, they just do what they see. The new converts are Anna (Brianna), Patrick (Liam), and Brigid (Erin) Griffin. The last pic is actually Elena happily dressed up for church on an earlier day.

The Perfect Plant: Tillandsia (Air Plant)

Robert, one of the contractors working on our remodel, mentioned these plants, and I immediately bought MORE books and plants online. They are a member of the bromeliad family, epiphytes since they grow without soil. I have some oddball ways of displaying them...soap dishes, real sponges from Florida...in between my perfume bottles. They bloom, only need dipping in water twice a week, and are just delightful. There is also a sneak preview of the new bathroom. Note new granite, stone mosaic backsplash, faux wall finish, new mirrors, etc. More later. The gray granite is from our family room that's been there since our last remodel in 1997.

Outdoor Plants

I did get going on some outdoor stuff...mostly I planted succulents...a favorite since I came west back in '73. Erich's been handling the rest of the garden, preserving the lush Italian country villa look we've tried to create.

Second Phase of Plant Mania: Houseplants

You can see how wildly pervasive the plants have become. I bought ones that were easy to care for, tolerated the light conditions I had available, and also cleaned the air of pollutants. It takes about 30 plants to clean the air in my 3500sqft home, so here ya go. I used to have lots of plants before I was married, then more before we had kids. When Steve was peeing in the potted plants they kind of died off. But now they're my bit of the world jungle inside. I haven't even repotted them all...tags and ugly plastic pots abound. Chaos reigns too because this all was happening in the midst of our remodel...more about that later.

Beginning of the Plant Saga: Bonsai

I began reading about Bonsai (pronounced "bone-sigh") back in February 2009---I ordered a bunch of books online...golly about 10 at least. These pix don't even show the seven or so I have at work and the couple I almost killed and are recovering, the few I really did kill, and assorted more that weren't in a good spot to photograph right now. Plants have become my new buds, no pun intended.

March 2009 San Diego Zoo with the Enkes

Lee was here with us, but somehow escaped the pictures. I'm not sure any are too flattering, except for Nancy...she is sooo photogenic. Of course, Elena is her usual sweet self feeding the animals in the petting zoo. The orangutan was doing a great show with his rag blankie. I should have taken more pix of the fabulous plants. Such a fabulous jungle!

March 2009 San Diego Vacation with the Enkes

The four grandparents took off with Elena together, and Erich and Serena caught up with us later. We went on a long walk hitting a playground along the way. If that isn't a southern CA sight...a winter hat with bare feet!! Then there's foodie heaven...or "why I'll never give up sweets." Then...uhh...well...we really did order an ice cream for Elena figuring we'd help her with it, and we did, but...yeah...that's why Elena gets very limited amounts of ice cream...she might've finished it herself actually. Steve and Nancy were loving it all.

Elena's Third Birthday

We made homemade playdo. I guess we're really into that, huh? Elena loves sculpting though. It keeps her occupied a long time. That and drawing or copying letters. We made a very homey cake...yummy but not particularly pretty...all natural stuff. Brianna, Erin, and Liam Griffin were our guests. Erich's mom, Nancy and his dad Steve came out from Iowa to enjoy with us. They stayed a whole week and we vacationed together, and had a blast.

Lake Tahoe Jan 2009

Beautiful walk since Lee couldn't ski because of his upcoming shoulder surgery. We were with my cousins Pat and Frank. Very fun and peaceful time. I did get in my one ski day of the year...an all time low, but oh well...

New Year's Day 2009

Yikes I'm six months behind! But there's not that much to put in actually. Here it goes! Other people watch football. Lee watches Mythbusters, Serena, Elena, and Steve and I create with Elena's new Christmas playdo tools. Steve made a mythical mushroom tree. Serena made a fantastical flower. I just made some tube worms, flat cities (no pix, my fans, no room) and took pictures, and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Not sure what Erich was doing then.