outside in the garden

astrogene image borrowed from Garden web

Saturday, November 24, 2001

A few days ago i brought in a bunch of flower pots that were out on the picnic table.
During the summer they made up my so-called table garden, which was in an area next to the driveway, by the lilac bush, where it was quite sunny most of the day. Mostly my place is shady. Next to this picnic table were a couple of big wooden tubs filled with my vegetable crops for the year: Tomatoes and basil. I also planted lettuce, beans and squash, but aside from a few tiny green beans (not enough for a meal --I added them to the evening salad-- ) it was tomatoes and basil.
Now I have a "corner garden" in the living room. It's really not eneough space, but what are you going to do? This room is also where we watch tv, read, and eat dinner. Sandy's computer is there too. So there can't be much room for a garden.
Most of the pots are stacked on the floor next to the kitchen sink. I guess you could call it my indoor potting shed .There is a bunch of houseplants there as well, though not as many as in the living room.
See how that goes. I'm going out for a cup of coffee.

Pam Shorey 3:51 PM

Tuesday, November 20, 2001

More leaves have fallen. My neighbors have all raked and vacuumed their lawns to perfection. My lawn is scattered with golden leaves from the big ash tree.
It has been uncommonly warm. We get a crisp night with a skim of morning frost on our windshields, followed by 2-3 warm days with no frost and the cats wanting to go out very early, around 4:10 a.m.
First Mowie gives a couple of her soft chirps. Then Morris walks in and does the loud in-your-ear purr. I think, < nooo..... I'm sleeping... >
They ignore my thoughts. Just as I am about to fall back asleep, Morris walks to the foot of my bed and starts a tussle with Mowie. < Hey! you guys! I'm sleeping here! >
I disrupt the war with the interjection of my blanketed foot. They stop; but as soon as I turn my face back to the pillow, they start again, and Mowie leaps from the bed to chase Morris. It's 4:31. < ok, ok, all right! I'm getting up.. > When I walk into the hallway, both cats are sitting smiling with a patient attitude at the top of the steps ready to go down to the door.
I wish they would put some of that energy to work raking leaves. Mowie overhears my wish and thinks back to me: They aren't supposed to be raked. Why do you think they call them leaves? You leave them!
I chuckle and tell her she's a good cat. She purrs and says I know!

Pam Shorey 5:46 AM