Garden Update

Here's my lovely garden in the steamy July weather! I had to give you a wide shot first because I just love the way its laid out. All the time I spent planning and sketching over the winter was really worth it. This fall I'll going to build a couple smaller beds for greens to go under the arches, and I'm planning to plant mums in the corners. That marigolds are doing their job (keeping bunnies at bay!) and a splash of color out there while the leaves are changing will be just lovely.

My tomato plants are massive! Last year they weren't all that successful, so I purchased the smaller tomato stands - ha! Next year those will be used for the pepper patch - those plants were struggling but are finally going. Next year they'll be in a more shady patch and I think I'll have better luck. I love the smell of tomato plants - reminds me of summer in my childhood. Dad had a huge garden in our backyard and the second row was pure tomatoes. There is nothing like the taste of a warm tomato you dust off and eat while examining the bounty. I seriously feel sorry for non-tomato eaters. The Mortgage Lifters and Brandywines are turning and they are HUGE! Can't wait to make fresh salsas and sauces using all garden grown ingredients (basil, garlic, oregano, lovely!)

The cucumbers are really taking off, and I just love the way they vine around the arches. Its almost a game for me to examine the plants in the morning, over lunch, and in the evenings. The tendrils grow that quickly, seeking new places to latch onto the trellis and are all over the place! I spotted the first cuke yesterday and got so excited I think I scared Miss Sumatra a bit. I have tons of blossoms and I'm really hopeful that I'll get lots of dill pickles made this fall - I'm on my last jar from last season!

And finally - here's the zucchini plants. They are loving this weather and are starting to spread outside their box. Just such an event is exactly why I planned pathways in my garden. They are spreading backwards to the rather sad pepper patch, so its not too worrisome as yet. This is another vegetable for which I have found memories. Mom made so much zucchini bread and muffins its amazing I still love it - but I do. It's also great pan seared with a bit of olive oil and lemon juice. Serve over rice for a hearty, healthy meal or snack.

Riverworld

I can't write about Riverworld and not comment about the blue people. What in the world is the deal with all the blue aliens lately? Avatar, now Riverworld, and there's a Smurfs movies coming out next year. It's like all the writers got together and said, "Ok, I'm tired of all the jokes about little green men. Its time for blue men. Preferably tall and thin, but if you want to stay tiny you go for it." Sheesh!

Riverworld - a classic sci-fi book series by Philip Jose Farmer - was recently made into a mini-series by the SyFy Channel. Since I've downgraded my cable I pretty much figured I was out of luck in watching it - but then I remembered my lovely Netflix account. Thank goodness for instant watch!

I must confess to having never read the books, so I broke my cardinal rule by watching the movie first. I was pleasant surprised that it wasn't typical SyFy movie fare. The cast of A-list actors (Alan Cumming anyone?) was stellar and I found it highly engaging. I was more than happy to see Tahmoh Penikett from the new Battlestar Galactica - I seriously love that show - and he makes a great lead.

The gist of the story is this: when people die they can be brought back to Riverworld, a place where they never seem to age and there are a variety of rules that restrict what they can and cannot do. Saying too much would ruin the story, but this is definitely worth your time. The scenes were gorgeous, the transitions were well done, and I found myself wanting the story to continue when it ended. Perhaps another mini-series will occur in the future - if I'm lucky!

Whew!

It's been one of those weeks where I felt more than a little overwhelmed. Hit the ground running Sunday morning with the opening of our new children's wing, cafe, and bookstore at church. The work week started early and ended late each day - trying to wrap my head around a new project is a fun challenge but tends to make me think until the wee hours of the morning!

Yesterday I woke feeling quite refreshed and ready to face a new day - only to have a 1 hour DB upgrade at 3 - talk about a crimp in the day. So here it is Friday and the promised show updates have yet to be posted. And it won't happen today, thanks to a lengthy task list that seems to multiply like Sea Monkeys.

The garden is looking lovely - tomato plants are huge and loaded with fruit. I'm anxiously awaiting their color change so I can enjoy tomato salads with some fresh oregano. This weekend I'm planning to roast a chicken stuffed with the lemon basil - my mouth is watering just thinking about it! The most important item on my weekend list, however, is some serious sun worship. My solar battery is in need of a serious recharge, and with my boss headed out on vacation next week I'll need all the energy I can store up now!

None to worry, faithful reader, I'm planning to catch up on my show blogs tomorrow and might even post some photos of the explosive tomatoes (the smell of tomato vines is one of my favorite scents). Until then . . .

Stay Tuned

The last few weeks have been a haze of busy-ness, what with KCBT's new addition opening this morning. Despite a power outage to the building (during the peak arrival of guests no less), the morning was quite the success. Don't worry, dear readers, I've faithfully viewing the new seasons of Warehouse 13, Eureka, Royal Pains, and Burn Notice. There are a couple new shows that have peaked my interest and I'm giving them a go - Memphis Beat (loving what I've seen so far) and Haven (which I'll watch this evening). I picked up Jericho on DVD thanks to my library and am seriously loving it thus far. I'm also checking out Dead Like Me and Dr. Who Season 1 via Netflix. 

So no worries, my friends, I'll give you the lowdown on what you might find entertaining on the Tube after a lovely summer day in the sun. Until later!