Seed starting, citrus in bloom

We were out and about part of the morning and most of the afternoon with various shopping chores and a lovely lunch at the the Tin Lizard in Spruce Pine. Since we had a fairly big lunch we opted to just pick up some Won Ton soup and a couple of egg rolls for dinner.

If I didn't have seeds to buy, I would have stayed home and worked; but I wanted to get more onion and basil seeds and some perennials, and do some more grocery shopping. Walmart has all their seeds in stock as well as packaged bulbs and perennials. With the warmer weather coming in the next few days, I intend to plant the lily of the valley and cinnamon ferns, and do some more pruning.

When we got home I planted two small pots of Genovese and Thai basil, the new onion seeds and another variety of leek.

The basement smells divine, from one of the over wintered, citrus trees which is blooming. I can't put it outside, so I'm hoping I may be able to hand pollinate the flowers with a Q tip.

I did manage a few minutes of studio time to put the finishing touches on a teapot.The rest will have to wait till tomorrow. There's dinner, and a Netflix movie to watch and some sketching to do for the rest of today.

Shopping day

I baked bread yesterday and this time I used bread flour. It made a very light loaf, which Jim loved. Next time I'll try half bread flour and half all purpose. I did let it proof a couple of hours longer than usual but I think it was the flour that made it so light. Personally, I prefer it with a bit more body.

Since it was such a lovely day I drove us to Spruce Pine to do some shopping and have lunch at the China Buffet.. Jim fared pretty well, on this, his first time in the car since his fall. He had one or two uncomfortable moments and by the time we got home his back was pretty tight. I massaged some arnica into those muscles and he's now resting. This healing is going to take a while!

I did most of the grocery shopping, loading and unloading myself and now I'm enjoying just sitting, doing some computer work, and watching the Australian Open tennis.It was a tiring day for both of us.

Neither of us is wanting a big dinner, after a big lunch, so I think I'll just heat up the pea soup for me and make Jim a grilled cheese and tomato sandwich which sounded good to him. 

Shopping and gardening day

Here's a picture of white and purple perennial geraniums I started from seed a couple of years ago. I love their delicacy and if I dead head them, they bloom again.
While the kiln continues to cool, I'm recovering from the firing and taking care of all the things ones neglects the week or so leading up to a firing. Each year it seems to take longer to recover from a firing.
I find the aging process very interesting. You can still do what you always did but not as long and with longer recovery time. I used to lift 100 lb bags, then after 50, it was 50 lbs bags and now with a titanium hip, I'm not allowed to lift over 25 lbs. I think this slowing down process is nature's way of providing us more reflective, meditative time in our twilight years.
Yesterday was pretty much a total vegging out day. I did manage to broil some chicken and make a salad for dinner,drove up to Banner Elk to the kitchen supply store to buy some things for the house and studio,and a couple of plant buying stops.
After breakfast I'll transplant some veggies and flowers and this afternoon is going to be spent doing the weeks food shopping, lunch out and a couple of stops for studio items - builders sand and a replacement wand for one of my sprayers, then back home to watch some of the French Open tennis.
I'm making orichette pasta with an olive oil, garlic, anchovy sauce with hot pepper flakes sauce,with steamed broccoli and pignoli nuts (Jim's request). I love the dish because it's a nice, ten minute, savory dinners. If any one loves anchovies let me know and I'll post the recipe.

Till later,
June