A Word About Soil Cultivation

This blog has been totally neglected these past few months because I've been outdoors attempting to revitalize my garden. The soil is hard clay - a shovel can't pierce it. I've had to use a pick, and sometimes only the pointy end will penetrate.



It's exhausting hard work. I can only do a few hours at a time. Even hired help only scratched the surface (so to speak). I am so dirty afterward that I close the garage door and remove my soil-caked jeans in the garage before I go inside!

It is a kind of treasure hunt though. Besides the pile of roots (below) I've also found buried junk - mostly bottles and a crushed tin can (maybe from the construction site?) and even bits of newsprint with the script still legible.

Except for being so exhausting, it's actually fun in a primal kind of way. Crumbling crusted earth into manageable bits is just a terrific sensation!



And here is the result - a level, (mostly) root free, compost-enriched bed ready for planting. This represents some 25 hours of hard labor.

Landscaping 101

It seemed for months that all I was doing was removing plants (climbing hydrangea, wisteria, camellia - in addition to the dozen or so trees I had removed).

I finally "cultivated" (dug up remaining white pine roots and added LOTS of compost) the ground under the kitchen window and planted a Choisya "Sundance" in the hard shade and this lovely Acer Palmatum (Japanese Maple) "Tiger Rose".



I am just thrilled with it and can't wait to watch it grow. It has turned a luminous salmon pink color this fall.

Summer's Bounty

I wish I could say these were from my garden. But, alas, that has yet to be planted (or even constructed).

At the Vancouver Farmers' Market one of my favorite vendors is Ron Gold who sell hydroponic, organic tomatos (and basil). These looked so pretty, I just had to snap a shot.

A Funny Thing This Summer

August 09 ~ We had some really warm days this summer (something totally new to a former San Franciscan!). I was puzzled one afternoon when I noticed smoke arising from the window sill in my office.

It took a moment for it to register that one of the glass paperweights on the sill had created a prism that was baking the sill. You can see the burned arc just below the glass sphere!

My New Pantry

August 29 ~ My kitchen has a small footprint. With little wall space I'm using the cupboards for pots and pans that used to hang on the wall.

To gain more "pantry" space I just installed wire shelving in my front coat closet. After yet another trip to Home Depot ... Le voila! ... plenty of room for bird food, dry goods, canned food and aprons, recycling bins, picnic coolers, etc., etc.

My First Trip to S.F. Bay Area as a VISITOR!

August 20 ~ 25: I had promised myself before I moved that I wouldn't miss Rita's birthday. So off I flew.
My home away from home -- Rita's solarium.

• Day 1 = land and visit my old neighborhood and work. It was bittersweet, but I had a great visit with my neighbors ... and my apartments was still empty and UNTOUCHED!
• Day 2 = a walk and lunch with my good friend Trish and dinner with Bob and Jan
  
• Day 3 = lunch with my friend Anne, the "virtual assistant" and a special "Friday Night Sail" with Rita's friends
• Day 4 = (Saturday) Rita and I go to our favorite restaurant, Avatar's and see "Vicky, Christina, Barcelona"
• Day 5 = Sallie hosts birthday brunch for Rita's birthday
• Day 6 = lunch with my friend Marian and fly home

Rita and I in the "princess seats" sailing on the Bay.


Remnants of poolside Scrabble ...


I indulge in splash therapy while Rita snoozes ...


Sallie, Rita and Trish on Pt. Richmond walk.

Inside Work

August 14 ~ My brother Tom started it, so I had to finish the job. For a nominal fee I hired someone to finish hanging the drywall.



Next is paint and ceiling insulation and then I can finally ORGANIZE my garage!