This has been my earworm for the last week. I don’t know what exactly it is that drives the incessant overplaying in my head, but I suspect it’s that repetitive call and response guitar/bass motif (ba da da da dum? ba da da da dum.). (Rudi would probably tell you it’s just that I love anything with jangly guitars in it.)
Anyway, I offer up to you this morning, as a glimpse of what’s been going on in my head this week, The New Pornographers performing “Sing Me Spanish Techno”:
We headed down to the garden this afternoon to plant see how our plants were doing.
We planted four plants I bought this morning at the farmers market (three tomatoes and a sweet pepper), as well as some seeds (lettuces, spinach, beans, and two types of squash). We also set some seeds aside for fall gardening, some to try growing from seed in my window at work (cucumber seeds and microgreens), and some to plant in the next few weeks (quinoa, more beans, and some herbs).
Lots of things were blooming:
Our chives from last year have turned into full-fledged spring onions this year and are growing these gigantic alien-like flower heads.
I like to cheat by buying tomato plants that have tiny buds on them. This one was planted two weeks ago and is flourishing. It’s a low-light tomato, so it’s toward the back of the garden.
The sage is covered with purple flowers, even after Rudi hacked half of it off a few weeks back.
The potatoes I planted two weeks ago were up above the ground. I added three types of beans to the bed — edamame, purple, and yellow.
The chard had gone a little crazy in our two-week absence from the garden and had reached knee level, so Rudi cut off a bag’s worth of chard as this week’s harvest (along with a spring onion). This is what’s left from the front bed.
We will have an excellent strawberry crop, which is comforting given how much of our plot we’ve given over to them. I expect the first ones to turn red in about a week.
This is our plot. Looks pretty and green, doesn’t it? Want to see what or where we’re growing? Click on the picture and that’ll take you to Flickr, where I’ve annotated the heck out of it. (Move your mouse over the picture and boxes will pop up.)
I just finished the most recent round of Sock Madness. I believe I have advanced to the next round, but won’t know for sure until the organizers wake up in the morning.
While I bask in the glow of a freshly completed pair of socks on Rudi’s feet, let me also reflect back on three beautiful things from the past week:
1. Along with much of the East Coast, D.C. has been experiencing a drought that has brought with it the danger of wildfires. This past week, we’ve had rain. Blessed wet rain.
2. I pass through Franklin Square on the same afternoon as its lawns have been mowed. You’d be surprised how infrequently you smell cut grass in the city.
3. The new washing machine and dryer for our building were delivered Monday, and our landlord surprised us with rolls of quarters. We have washed loads and loads (literally) of clothing and linens. It’s nice to see piles of clean wash, rather than an overflowing laundry basket. And it’s also equally nice not to have count pairs of underwear to see if handwashing is necessary.
How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world this week?
It’s Thursday, so it must be time to report on three beautiful things. I covered a bunch in yesterday’s post, but there are always more to consider. Here are three new ones:
1. We pass a young boy whose bloodied arm is wrapped in gauze. He capers up the sidewalk at a good pace, his superhero cape flapping in the breeze behind him.
2. The bottom half of a bathing suit, when you have forgotten to handwash a pair of underwear in time for work. (The building’s new washing machine is due to arrive on Monday after nearly a month of being broken. It can’t come soon enough!)
3. Our friend Michael has written a play called The Cortical Titanic, which he hopes to put on this fall. In honor of the 100th anniversary of the ship’s sinking, on Saturday, he hosted the first fundraiser, which featured a lecture, readings of two scenes from the play, educational materials, and noshes. It was a lovely way to pass a Saturday evening.
And a bonus one, from Michael’s fundraiser:
4. I broke out the red shoes I bought for the ball we went to after the Presidential Inauguration three years ago. They’re cherry red patent leather with three-inch heels and a Mary Jane strap, and I love them. So, apparently, did everyone else, because I got compliments from friends and strangers alike.
I meant to post yesterday, but our internet was giving us fits, so walking away from the computer seemed a far saner idea.
A quick update on things:
I finished a book on Friday. It’s the first book I’ve finished since February. Pathetic? Yes.
I planted potatoes at the garden this weekend. Fifteen starts each got chopped into at least two pieces, often more. I’m hoping that makes for a generous crop.
We went to our first baseball game of the season. Rick Ankiel, the center fielder, had the most impressive throw home I may have ever witnessed in person. It was like he and home plate were having a game of catch. A throw to be remembered. Plus, the Nats won.
Sock Madness round 3 has begun. That means I knit everywhere. As opposed to when it’s not Sock Madness time and I merely knit nearly everywhere.
I watched the space shuttle fly past D.C. yesterday. A post about that is forthcoming. Truly and surprisingly moving.
I wrote a blog post for work that I was really proud of. (I love having written something well, which, sadly, is why you get a lot of lists like this right now, because I don’t want to spend the time and energy required to write good posts. This is a reflection on me, and not on you.)
My volleyball team won all four games last night. We found a groove and communicated well, and it just felt right. It was nice.
This weekend marked the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. In honor of a sad centennial, I offer you the great Harry Chapin and his band performing “Dance Band on the Titanic.”
1. I come home from Northampton with, among other things, a recipe book for homemade popsicles, a cheery pillow for the couch, and an Oscar the Grouch mug.
2. Strawberries — red and ripe and local. And sooooo good.
3. We decide to get an early jump on things. Early, as in before the sun rises early. Early, as in we are already waking up from a much needed nap at a rest stop when the sun rises early. Early, as in eat lunch in New Haven early.
How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world this week?
