Eeep... Gardening Redux
July 25th, 2003 01:34 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shiredancerContinuing a theme here: I always forget that if you plant a vegetable garden, you must reap what you sow. In fact, if I'm actually *successful* in my planting, and things actually *grow*, I'm so astounded that I tend to get all enthralled with the whole idea and I just keep watching them getting bigger... and bigger... and bigger, all tickled that I could *do* this, until I realize that dammit, I forgot to harvest, and everything is shriveling on the vine or bolting or turning bitter or whatever. So typical of me. Process oriented, you know, as opposed to product-oriented.
So this time I thought I'd get smart, and make an effort, and actually get things picked. As a result I've renewed an intimate acquaintance with my good old Laurel's Kitchen and have produced two batches of stuffed chard leaves and a sizable quantity of homemade bleu cheese dressing to go on the mounds of lettuce picked. And today I walked out to discover that the Killer Mutant Squash plant (that is now halfway across the patio and going strong) had actually produced a pretty big zuchini, so guess what I'm eating tomorrow. Er, later today, that is -- huh, after 1 a.m. now. Ah, the memories! Here I am, back to my early-a.m. postings. Bodes well, I think -- I do my best writing in the wee hours and under stress and anxiety.
Now that the garden is going well and producing food for the sustenance of my family (oh, I feel like such a *provider*!!), we're about to leave for a week's vacation. Embarrassing, really -- we're, uhmmmmmm, going on this cruise to Mexico... eeeeeep. I've never been on a cruise before. It embarrasses my little hippie soul no end. Doesn't it seem like such an *establishment* thing to do?? I will *not* play shuffleboard. I guess I'll eat a lot -- I hear it's nonstop food on a cruise, which is a bit worrisome. What I really want to do is A) see some towns in Mexico and wander around and gather up the *feel* of the place; and B)go dancing every night at the nightclubs on board the ship. I bought a really short, flippy little mini-skirt and off-the-shoulder top that I'm just *dying* to wear. Gods, when am I ever going to act my age? Coming up on 50 here, and still buying mini-skirts??? *Snort*
I have other worries about the upcoming trip. My sister and niece mentioned that they were also thinking of a cruise to Mexico, so in a spurt of family togetherness and generosity I told them our dates and ship and suggested they join us. Well enough; we can have some fun with them and my daughter *adores* her big cousin. But then... they told my parents, who promptly decided to make reservations. And *they* told my brother and his partner (who they don't know is his partner, although of course at some level they do but won't admit it) and they decided to join in too. So suddenly the little nuclear family vacation has become the extended family vacation and my little 10-year-old child who is secretly going on 30 is in a snit because she of the strong will and endless self-confidence and strong perfectionist tendencies had already planned a perfect vacation in her mind with just Mommy and Daddy and can't cope with the adjustment now. And I just know I'll be caught in the middle between the child, who I understand so completely and can't help but support, and the hurt-feelings grandparents who haven't a clue what this child is about, and it's going to get all tense and painful and aaaaaarrrrrggghhhh, there goes my restful vacation.
*Sigh*. Par for the course in my life, eh.
In other news: I have been the happy recipient of gifties from darlin'![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
daisy_gamgee and a postcard from London (my favorite city in my favorite country) from linaelyn with a *squee* Pre-Raphaelite picture of Ophelia happily drowning!!! One of my favorites!!! Not that I'm happy about Ophelia's situation, of course, but just that those Pre-Raphaelites are sooooo wonderful. I've lived with the Lady of Shalott over my fireplace for years. With any luck I shall be meeting linaelyn in just a few short weeks, on my way up North to charming Sebastopol.
All for now -- tomorrow will be my last day on-line for a week (and here's hoping I can cope with *that* major trauma, after a steady year-and-a-half of computer bliss...). Maybe I'll get on chat tomorrow evening. Love!
So this time I thought I'd get smart, and make an effort, and actually get things picked. As a result I've renewed an intimate acquaintance with my good old Laurel's Kitchen and have produced two batches of stuffed chard leaves and a sizable quantity of homemade bleu cheese dressing to go on the mounds of lettuce picked. And today I walked out to discover that the Killer Mutant Squash plant (that is now halfway across the patio and going strong) had actually produced a pretty big zuchini, so guess what I'm eating tomorrow. Er, later today, that is -- huh, after 1 a.m. now. Ah, the memories! Here I am, back to my early-a.m. postings. Bodes well, I think -- I do my best writing in the wee hours and under stress and anxiety.
Now that the garden is going well and producing food for the sustenance of my family (oh, I feel like such a *provider*!!), we're about to leave for a week's vacation. Embarrassing, really -- we're, uhmmmmmm, going on this cruise to Mexico... eeeeeep. I've never been on a cruise before. It embarrasses my little hippie soul no end. Doesn't it seem like such an *establishment* thing to do?? I will *not* play shuffleboard. I guess I'll eat a lot -- I hear it's nonstop food on a cruise, which is a bit worrisome. What I really want to do is A) see some towns in Mexico and wander around and gather up the *feel* of the place; and B)go dancing every night at the nightclubs on board the ship. I bought a really short, flippy little mini-skirt and off-the-shoulder top that I'm just *dying* to wear. Gods, when am I ever going to act my age? Coming up on 50 here, and still buying mini-skirts??? *Snort*
I have other worries about the upcoming trip. My sister and niece mentioned that they were also thinking of a cruise to Mexico, so in a spurt of family togetherness and generosity I told them our dates and ship and suggested they join us. Well enough; we can have some fun with them and my daughter *adores* her big cousin. But then... they told my parents, who promptly decided to make reservations. And *they* told my brother and his partner (who they don't know is his partner, although of course at some level they do but won't admit it) and they decided to join in too. So suddenly the little nuclear family vacation has become the extended family vacation and my little 10-year-old child who is secretly going on 30 is in a snit because she of the strong will and endless self-confidence and strong perfectionist tendencies had already planned a perfect vacation in her mind with just Mommy and Daddy and can't cope with the adjustment now. And I just know I'll be caught in the middle between the child, who I understand so completely and can't help but support, and the hurt-feelings grandparents who haven't a clue what this child is about, and it's going to get all tense and painful and aaaaaarrrrrggghhhh, there goes my restful vacation.
*Sigh*. Par for the course in my life, eh.
In other news: I have been the happy recipient of gifties from darlin'
daisy_gamgee and a postcard from London (my favorite city in my favorite country) from linaelyn with a *squee* Pre-Raphaelite picture of Ophelia happily drowning!!! One of my favorites!!! Not that I'm happy about Ophelia's situation, of course, but just that those Pre-Raphaelites are sooooo wonderful. I've lived with the Lady of Shalott over my fireplace for years. With any luck I shall be meeting linaelyn in just a few short weeks, on my way up North to charming Sebastopol.All for now -- tomorrow will be my last day on-line for a week (and here's hoping I can cope with *that* major trauma, after a steady year-and-a-half of computer bliss...). Maybe I'll get on chat tomorrow evening. Love!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: July 25th, 2003 05:52 pm (UTC)Got your note in the mail, dear. It's really going to happen? Really really? It's marked on my calendar. We'd love to have you stay with us, and hobbity-dinner and all. :-)
Glad you enjoyed the postcard. I kept buying the more typical cards, views of Big Ben and the Tower of London, and having them confiscated by Estel and the kidlings for their own card-writing. So all *my* friends ended up with less traditional postcard offerings. I saw the original of the Lady of Shalott in the Tate, just a few blocks from our flat. Just...amazing.
Best of luck with the family cruise. I'm with your daughter--too many relatives spoil the broth! The London adventure was originally supposed to include a much larger contingent of my own family, and I'm so glad it was pared down to just us four plus my Dad. As it was, it was still a challenge to balance everyone's needs. Dance up a storm in that mini-skirt, and la la la hobbits. :-)
no subject
Date: July 25th, 2003 10:47 pm (UTC)Yes indeed, we are counting on the 16th of August. I'll be in touch by email soon to get directions -- after the Cruise is done. And yes, I'm with my daughter too, but trying to be gracious about it all. Oi. I imagine I'll have quite a post when all's said and done!
Can't wait to meet you; will talk when I get back. Glad your trip was wonderful!
*Smooch*