Roxy and Elsewhere

Poor Roxie! Sarah and I went to meet Roxie at PAWS on Saturday afternoon. She looked so pretty and delicate, like a desert flower, but she was very mean. Sarah picked her up and got bitten! She was growling and hissing. We could pet her a little bit at first, but I accidentally touched a piece of matted fur and she swiped at me. Boo hoo. I reached down to pet her one more time and she unleashed on a cat that was sleeping in a cat bed nearby; crazy cat!

We asked the staff member if Roxie was just having a bad day, or if she was always so grumpy. Nope, no bad day, that's Roxie. I went back on Monday afternoon just to look around and Roxie was up on her hind legs batting at this poor cat that just came up to sniff her. She is real pretty, and has probably been through a whole lot, but she is just a looking cat, she really doesn't want anyone in (or near) her business.

She would not be a good fit at our house.

Roxie
PAWS (Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society)Philadelphia, PA2152389901 info@phillypaws.org

CSA week # 5 or 6--June 18, 2009

I apologize for missing a couple of weeks on the csa report; I was out of town. I will admit that I have been a little slow on the posting since my return, but I have been busy, both at work and around the house.

Here is what it looked like:


This is what you will find in your share today:

1 head Napa cabbage – transitional – Green Acres Organics
1 box new red Norland potatoes – certified organic – Green Valley Organics
1 bag snow peas – certified organic – White Swan Acres – 1 lb
1 bunch chiogga beets – certified organic – Millwood Springs Farm
1 bag young rainbow chard – certified organic – Elm Tree Organics – ½ lb
1 head escarole – certified organic – Windy Hollow Organics
1 bunch garlic scapes – certified organic – Life Enhancing Acres
1 bag baby head lettuce – transitional – Taste of Nature
1 head green leaf lettuce – certified organic – Back 40 Ranch

I used to know this federal potato inspector in Montana years ago named RB Browning. He was a really sweet guy, going through some really heavy stuff. Deiter wants to grow up to be a potato inspector.

Feel good ya'll.

Forget Me Nots

It was a big weekend in the Garden. I am pooped out. I usually overdo it on the tree day weekends, too much. Lucius oversaw the progress.



I harvested a whole lot of greens this weekend; thanks be! It was time to replenish our stash, but I was trying to make some room for some pepper plants and brussels sprout plants that were given to us this weekend.

Remember those tiny bean sprouts from a couple of weekends ago? Here they are pictured above. I also finally finished the big (30x96 inches) bed. It is pictured in the background. Sarah and I bought basil, strawberries, cauliflower, and another eggplant to put in. I filled the bed out with onion sets and beets.

The garden is starting to round out nicely. Above is a large portion of it.

Above is a picture of the side of the house, well, the plants that live there. There is ivy, anis, Kentucky Blue pole beans (about three plants) a big pot of carrots that have not started to rise yet, a potted eggplant, a cantaloupe plant, and some rosemary starts I am trying. That is just collected rain water, full of pollen, not a honey bucket.

Here is a better shot of the cantaloupe plant and the rosemary. I got some clippings from Dan at the circle garden and I am trying to make them sprout roots. One glass is full of compost juice, the other full of honey water (a poor man's "root hormone").

CSA in the House! 5/21/09

I picked up the CSA yesterday! The weather was great, as were the Snooks. Mariko, Owen and I went down to pick up our loot together-always fun. I will get a picture of them next week. Below is a picture of our bounty this week. The strawberries are delicious! The scallions and the yellow radishes pass as well. The highlighted de-light of the week though is the Flashy Trout romaine pictured below. Check it out.

This is the pre-packing list of produce ordered for your share: 1 head flashy trout back Romaine Lettuce – certified organic – Riverview Organics 2 bunches scallions – certified organic/transitional – Country Boy and Taste of Nature Farm 1 bunch radishes – certified organic – Goshen View or Hillside Organics 1/2 lb baby greens – certified organic – Elm Tree Organics 2 mixed baby head lettuces – transitional – Taste of Nature Farm 1 8oz package cremini mushrooms – certified organic – Mother Earth Organics 1 pint strawberries – certified organic – Green Valley Organics

Here is the Flashy Trout romaine. That's not rot you see; the lettuce is mottled with a beautiful red color. I ate about four big leaves of this stuff last night. I would describe the taste as savory, and the texture as buttery. It felt kind of silky in my mouth. Can't wait! Well, I didn't, I guess.

And lastly, before it goes into the ice box, we lay it before Lucius for his inspection. He agrees, delicious again Peter.

Grow well, pick well, eat well.

Same-sex Cats

Don't bring the kiddies unless you want them to grow up real quick, Rashini!

These are our beautiful cats, Lucius and Dieter. Lucius (the grey one) was a volunteer. He showed up on the stoop one Saturday night in November of 2007 and kept trying to get inside. Our friend Leah could not leave. He was still around the following Monday, so I rolled him to the vet, had his manhood compromised and gave him a home. It was a bit unsettling I am sure, but a small price to pay for the lavish lifestyle he now enjoys.

Dieter was rescued by a cat-lady who had his manhood compromised. The vet called to see if we had room in our house and hearts for another cat. This happened about a month after we lost a very special cat named Blanche-more on her later. Dieter was tortured before being rescued. He could not meow when he first moved in. He just opened his mouth really wide trying.

Dieter can now meow. Lucius still has a good bit of Kenzo in him.

Here is a typical day on Firth. Love is all around.

Going Mobile

Here is a video of our cats. Dieter is in the foreground lampin', while Lucius gets a little self-conscious in front of the camera. They're such lovely boys.