Wednesday drive-by

[ksmith]

Took the day off today to get stuff done. Among other things, had to renew my drivers license in person–no 4-more-years-for-good-behavior stickers for this kid. I had to take a vision test, and get a new photo. Showed up midmorning in the hopes that the crowd would be smaller, but no luck. Are the crowds ever small at the DMV?

Anyway, checked in, got my number. As I waited, envisioned all sorts of scenarios in which I managed to fail said vision test (I need new glasses, and I can tell). Imagined having to call friends at work to come and get me. Panicked emergency eye exams and overnight delivery of eyeglasses for $$$$.

Of course, I passed. Had new photo taken. Funny thing is, it turned out to be one of my best photos in years. But OMG, do I look like my mother. I mean, wow.

Home now. It’s cool and cloudy, but I’m still sitting outside. Grilled some salmon. Served it with couscous, spinach, and what I think is a nice pinot noir. Baked brownies last night, another variation on the Recchiuti recipe. This recipe came with a calorie count, Oh Joy. Oh well, they’re brownies, not health food. But I did cut them a little smaller this time, and got 20 to a pan instead of 16.

Pups are playing out on the lawn. King had a slow morning, but he did eat breakfast and lunch with a little urging, and does seem to be improving overall. Getting his Bark on with greater frequency.

Tomatoes continue to bud. I did have to break out the insecticidal soap, however, because the Black Cherry and the deck pot St Pierre were taking a beating from caterpillars. Tiny, skinny things less than an inch long, but damn, can they chew up the leaves. The other plants have remained pretty much unscathed, knock wood, and the basil are doing nicely. The Rose of Sharon and hardy hibiscus are starting to form buds, which means I will need to keep an eye out for Japanese beetles.

Bought a couple of bedraggled begonias and planted them in the Mickey pot. That’s a planter with a figure of a black Lab beside it–this general style but nothing like it. The dog on my planter is older, and except for not having a white splotch on his chest, looks exactly like the late lamented Mickster. I had retired it a couple of years ago because it was sun-faded and needed a refurbishing. I painted the spots where the old paint had chipped, and washed it. Now it contains some coral “dragon wing” begonias that needed a little love and attention. Yet another couple of strays.

Mirrored from Kristine Smith.

Comments

[cepetit.myopenid.com (from livejournal.com)]

The last time I had to wait at the DMV -- for my elder remora to get his ID card -- I took along a Jani book. I had just finished a description of Tsecha's driving when the remora's name was called for his photo...

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Necessitating an explanation of diplomatic immunity and the lack thereof?

My work here is done.

[planetalyx.livejournal.com]

I harvested and ate one whole strawberry today, the reward for a major scrubbing of the deck and planting of marigolds.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Somehow, the remains of one strawberry plant survived two years of heat and neglect in a pot I'd been using as a potting soil reserve. It popped up over the last few weeks. I moved it to a smaller pot, and it promptly developed transplant shock. Existing leaves withered and died, but the main stalk survived. It now has new leaves, and several small blossoms. I may be able to harvest a scant handful of very late strawberries, assuming the birds, squirrels, or bugs don't get them first.

[planetalyx.livejournal.com]

Yes, my crop's in a fair amount of danger of getting waterlogged. And there's an ant colony that always tries to plant aphids on all the stems, though this year the ladybugs are winning that battle.