All I Want
Laurie has been bugging me for a list of what I want for Christmas. Apparently I am hard to shop for…
well, lets see…
I drool over all the tools in the Lee Valley catalog until the pages are yellow. I linger in the woodwork section at Barnes and Noble until I am forced to leave by tugging toddlers or a frustrated wife. I could spend days inside the science stores at the mall. I live for Nova, I cannot wait until I don’t have classes on Tuesday nights. I listen to country music and NPR religiously. Speaking of that, has anyone heard the new album by Robert Plant and Allison Krauss? I’d love to know if it is any good. The only thing that helps me relax after a day at the office is time outside in the garden. I really want to have a garden worth envying in the front yard. It is too drab. I love to cook when I have time and energy. I could sit and read a cookbook just for the ideas. I really enjoy making bread. I enjoy eating it more! I don’t sit much, unless I have homework to do. I wear out my pants quite quickly. I go through at least 3 pairs a year. I love hiking and camping. I really love taking pictures when I go camping or hiking. I don’t like doing laundry, but I hate not having clean clothes. I enjoy brain puzzles. Like the ring between two horseshoes. I would love to make wooden puzzles. Like the cube with 10 interlocking pieces. That is a world most people are not aware of. Ask me about it sometime.
I think the perfect gift is something small and thoughtful. Something that will mean the world to the person receiving it. This will require careful listening and paying attention to that person. Giving good gifts is a talent. Sometimes giving the perfect gift may require a sacrifice from the giver. It is worth it.
So …
Laurie, there are some ideas. Keep in mind that all anyone really wants is someone to pay attention to them, love them, pamper them. The perfect gift is a way to show someone not only that you care about them, but that they are worth the time and effort to pay attention to.
Problems in the Garden
Here is my biggest problem in the garden:
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I think the cause is caterpillars. They have eaten most of the stem tops and the corn was not well pollinated, at least that is my theory. Any Thoughts?
Fresh Veggies are Better
I am amazed at how fast the garden grows. Less than 6 weeks ago everything was planted. Today the spinach is about ready to start harvesting, the squash has fruits the diameter of a quarter, which will be ready to eat in a few weeks, and the beet greens are ready to be eaten. Of course the onions, carrots, and broccoli are a bit slower growing, and the weather hasn’t been cold enough for the peas to really take off, but to have vegetables ready for consumption in 6 weeks is amazing, especially with no commercial fertilizer. I believe in organic gardening. No commercial fertilizer unless it is manure. No commercial insecticide either except insecticidal soap, or a biological means of getting rid of pests. I see wasps, dragon flies, lady bugs, and other insect predators around and I have a difficult time putting any chemicals on the plants that will kill the pests, as they will kill the predators as well. I enjoy knowing that my family eats healthy, chemical free, vegetables.
