pics

For photos of K's trip so far.
http://picasaweb.google.com/keir.soderberg/SaMoz

My favourite is the melted gold being poured in the dark so that the flames are flying up from it.

husbandless

Most of you will by now know that K is in South Africa. He left last week and will be touring SA and Mozambique for four weeks and then Namibia for another four. Then he comes back stateside and instead of coming home he goes straight to Tennessee for a conference. This makes it NINE WEEKS that I will be husbandless. I am through one week and so far it has been ok.

I go to bed at 9 most nights. I have found that there are a number of things that husbands do that are useful. They can put things away high up. They can clean on top of the fridge. They can make excellent pizza that I can never hope to copy. They are warm in the bed when it is chilly. They can carry out the trash to the curb. This last is particularly important. It took me some time, entertaining the neighbours across from us I am sure, grunting as I first tried to carry and then rolled it along my lawn. The real trick is not letting it touch your clothes and leave nasty, sticky residue behind. The thing that husbands are most useful for are hugs, and that is something that it is hard to not have in your life. Big arms, warm and strong and a chest to hide in.

no more yet

A week has passed and my plants are still alive. Something is nibbling on the marigolds though. They are all taking on a decidedly moth-eaten look. Whatever it is has been sufficiently distracted by the marigolds and left the herbs alone. I have one pot with only Marigolds and the local squirrel has taken to burying things in it. I am curious to see if anything interesting sprouts. Thus far all is well but I am not optimistic and will not be purchasing thyme for some time. (hehe, thyme for time, hehe)

Look how cute our house is

The blackened Thumb: A tale of woe

Pretty much every year since I went to university many eons ago I have planted herbs. A few times I have even gone as far as to plant veggies. Every year I have fought mould, insects, rust, squirrels and even some unidentifiable things and lost to them. The best I have done is one year when we went away and the basil sprung from a seedling to a bush in the month I was gone. As soon as I got back it died. The second best I have done was after a few hundred dollars spent we got two cherry tomatoes and a handful of beans. They were the best tasting beans and tomatoes I have ever had. This year I am starting small. Just four pots, basil, sage and rosemary, each with its companion marigolds. I'll keep you updated on the progress or lack thereof. Maybe if they are still alive in a few weeks I'll add mint and thyme.

Two Dogs

Tippy is the little white chihuahuah type. He is vicious. Anyone who leans over the half door and goes "hoo's a cutsy muppet then?" is bound to lose a portion of their nose and at least one finger. We are working with him though and he responds well to the squirt bottle. At least when it comes to humans. He still has a desire to eat any dog that comes along. Except Fred, who is the other dog in the offices these days. He was returned to us and has been hanging out with us till he goes to a foster home where he will learn puppy appropriate behaviour. Poor boy is a little bipolar. Either terrified and hiding under the desk or manic and running and jumping and twirling around the office! He is too cute though and immediately sits with his little feet together and his big eyes looking at you when you have lunch. He is a truly effortless beggar, and very successful. I do wish we could have dogs, I'd take him home in a flat second as he just wants to play with the cats in the office. Henry would adore him. Is it unethical to want to adopt a dog for your cat?

violet thawing

In spite of two dogs lying under my desk, Violet came and hung out in my office for a day.

Kitty craziness

We have had this melon hanging around for a while and I finally decided we should eat it. It was too late though as it had fermented. Henry just loved it though and I couldn't resist this photo.

Cosy

I moved the furniture around again in our lounge! I just can't help it. It looks so cosy and clean now.

How do you know Sunday was cold and wet?

The rare event of Oleo and Henry snuggling near each other occurs.

the good, the bad and the downright ugly

We have had plenty of gold finches at the feeders. They are such a joy to watch. We have also had many squirrels who have been interested but cannot get past the vaselined pole so have had to content themselves with the seed the birds drop. The Ugly comes in with the European Starlings. They are going through a square of suet every two days. I am convinced they are chasing away the woodpeckers. I spent Sunday Morning driving K and my in-laws nuts by hurtling out the front door to scare away the starlings every two minutes. Of course as soon as I left this morning it was a starling suet free for all, and not a woody in sight. Sigh.

Safari in our yard

They let me off work early today as I have worked events all weekend. K fetched me and soon after we had got home and unpacked the groceries a deer came gallumphing through our yard! She was clearly terrified and couldn't decide what to do. She circled our house and then headed back wherever she came from. It was so cool.