Gone To The Beach: 2022/01

Sunday, January 30, 2022

My Winter Garden ~ Forcing Bulbs Indoors

Good evening! I am a bit behind but the other day I planted my winter paper white narcissus bulbs! Finally!

This year for no real reason I had my heart set on using this art deco/ 1930s-ish Weller mixing bowl, in the glorious green-blue/ teal as my planter. Weller Pottery HERE

I must just have wanted that pop of color. See the same color in the boho/ kantha throw pillow behind. [kantha is Indian big stitch quilting].

The bowl fit nicely into this very large heavy cloche or bell jar that I found on the beach one winter. [maybe it's a vase, or a candle holder?] Great find though, I love it.

Dug out the scary pointy disk from Costco tulips. It keeps the bulbs upright and neat.

I bought my narcissus bulbs when we went to the nursery for Fall or Christmas.

I was thrilled to find not just Ziva, traditional whites, but the pale yellow soleil d'or bulbs too.

They were stored in a brown bag in a chilly closet but obviously are ready to grow. Now!

Add water. They will straighten and unfurl over the next few days.

Every fall I remind readers to buy their indoor bulbs, so I was thrilled that Kelley listened and planted hers last week. On the correct date even, MLK weekend. Aren't they beautiful, just two weeks to grow. I am so pleased for Kel's success.

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I'm also happy that my beautiful red amaryllis is budded and growing fast. I only remembered to add fertilizer once so this is pretty awesome.

I have a few other containers still waiting.

I hope to find prechilled or pre-grown hyacinths for the blue delft pot from the dumpster. Or tiny daffs? Like these from a few years ago.

And I made more of the bleached dried brown hydrangea heads.

Soaking in bleach water, here, headed out to the deck for two days.

Drying now. Also bleached an usgly branch of crepe myrtle seeds. Maybe has potential in a fall dried>

I must point out that the bleached heads oddly seem to redarken. This is the flower head I made at Christmas. But still pretty.

Isn't this exciting news! The indoor farmers market will return soon. And next visit if we can figure out how to do the virtual phone ordering, maybe we'll even have a drink. I'm looking forward to fresh sauerkraut from the pickle guy.

I 'll be back when I can! And I 'll answer comments as time amd vision permit. Thanks dear friends!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....

Storm update, in case you missed yesterday's edit.

Somewhat snowed in but power is on. No cell service but I do have wifi, amazing. We had about 18" of snow, winds about 50 mph with whiteout conditions. Temps around 11* with subzero wind chills. My deck and car are still buried but my friend who will drive me to surgery tomorrow has his Jeeps dug out.

Mo is having a brief sleepover, let's hope he behaves this time.

All is well.

Friday, January 28, 2022

Looking for a Snow Day ~ Blizzard Warnings

edit: Blizzard: We are doing okay here at the beach. The snow has stopped, but temps in the teens and gale winds will last through tomorrow, so the threat of power loss continues. Thanks everyone for good wishes!

" WINTER, WHEN THE DARKNESS SHALL BE THE LIGHT,

AND THE STILLNESS THE DANCING."

~ T.S. ELIOTT

Or as we say here at the beach, it is not the snow depth but the wind force and power outages that instill fear and loathing. Oh boy the Farmers Almanac was so wrong, what happened to our dry mild winter prediction. I'm just checking in, surgery is Monday, assuming we can dig out our cars by then.

Medical protocols and hospitals are so degrading and dehumanizing, aren't they. I don't cope well, as all my little fidgety psychological crutches are ripped away: no food [ok], no water! [I get very dehydrated], no pain pills, no migraine meds, no Xanax preop. No eye glasses, no cell phone, no special necklace I have worn every day since my son gave it to me age four. No money, no credit card. AND they call at random to give time to show up. I sat by the phone today starting 7 AM, by three pm, I was shaking and frantic [was my covid test positive after all?]. I called the doctor's office, : Not our problem; called the hospital, transfer, transfer, hold, hold, and finally a woman said, "Oh yeah, we didn't get around to doing the calls today*, you're scheduled for much earlier." I would know this , how?---ESP? *Remember this is a Friday, for Monday morning, with 24" snow blizzard in between.]

Just venting. I do know what is huge and terrifying to me is blah and routine to the staff. But still.

Mo has been unsettled. He wants me to sit out on the deck with him, think freezing rain and windy. He just loves our afternoon sit n sew times.

He gets into puppy-like mischief!

Today was very dark and he very much wanted to go out. The Pug glare got me outside at 330, so Mo scored a very early dinner. He eats right after walkies.

He knows something is up. I hope he behaves better this time for his sleepover.

Mr Mockingbird has been dancing and frolicking madly all day, in the ugly locust tree. If he's doing his mating dance I give him kudos for optimism. I don't know what he eats; I put out seeds and dried berries for him over many winters but he ignores all the foods I offer. He flew away just as I snapped his pic just now, replaced by fat cooing mourning doves, two pairs.

This week I found some of my weird metal found objects, first I have picked up in months. The earth seems to heave them above ground during snow and freezes.

On a lighter note: This shows the surprises one gets when ordering blizzard groceries online and checking Yes to substitutions. Hahaha. Instead of a single serving piece of carrot cake, they sent me the cutest [albeit squashed] little entire birthday cake. How sweet is that.

And instead of a bag of mini baguette rolls for premade power outage sandwich prep, they send me one enormous loaf of french bread, must be three feet long.

From FB ads, this doormat made me laugh, especially the remarks on the right hand side. I have a friend or two who need to see this.