Friday, June 29, 2007

The case for organized crime

Because all of this disorganized crime leads to STUPID CRIMINIALS.

And speaking of stupidity, make sure you read the paragraph in that article about one of their victims, Virginia Thackwell. Virginia, darling, WHAT THE HELL KIND OF STUPID PERSON IS WALKING AROUND WITH $400 (cash) IN HER WALLET? Oh, wait, I guess it would be someone who has a $600 Prada wallet to carry it in. And her response to the theft?
"They are really slick," Thackwell said. "Now I'd like to have revenge. They are awful people. I want them to march down Market Street naked."
Wow, there's some modern, liberated thinking there. Why don't we also cut their hands off? I hear that's a popular punishment for theft in some of the more advanced societies.

(The House Bean has suggested that we should all march down Market Street naked, but I really don't advise that, especially in June or July in San Francisco, because you'll freeze your tookies off.)

So once again, the case for more organized crime. Guilds (alá Terry Pratchett). Mafia. International Corporations. I'm talking STANDARDS, here, people!



Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Daughter, with rasberries


What the females in our household do, first thing in the morning, is go out and eat the rasberries that have ripened in the past 24 hours. The early birds get the...BERRIES!

The purple ruffled basil looks particularly voluptuous in the early morning. Haven't eaten any of it, yet, since we keep getting loads of sweet basil from our farm share, but I just love the way it looks. The weediness behind it is destined for the tiller later on this summer.
And my "Heart o'Gold" has put up one, georgeous blossom. Probably the only one we'll get this year, since I just put it in this spring, and the scent is heavenly:
Today is the one-year anniversary of our having arrived in Eugene.

Sunday, June 17, 2007

My heart is full

Yesterday was NOD's birthday party.
It was a cloudy day, so we ended up coming back over to the house to have the cake and ice cream. She had two friends come over, and - relief! - the party was just the right size of manageable for me (the House Bean and Sons Numbers One and Two are camping this weekend). It was also just the right size of manageable for the daughter.

The m**m*** doll was a huge hit. She slept with it last night. And snuggled with her this morning. It's nice to see that much work be so worth it.

Saturday, June 09, 2007

Cookie TV

I finally got around to doing some end-of-the-year gift for a child's teacher. Been meaning to for the past five years. And, as a teacher, I really can't emphasize enough how much these little gestures are appreciated ("It isn't enough she slaves teaching your stupid kids how to read and write, you have to bawl her out!"). Anyway, NOD was fascinated by the whole cookie-making process.

"I want to pay for my drink!"

A New Cause

Save the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus!

Sunday, June 03, 2007

Food!


Yesterday Donna (bless her heart) came over and roto-tilled the section in the back where the vegetable garden was/is to be. I meant to take a picture beforehand, of the rotting wood and the weeds, but didn't get to it. Instead I have the "after" pictures, of the new layout (in progress) and this Swiss Chard with its very appropriate cutworm collar.


So far I've almost tripled the veggie garden space I had before we moved. In the foreground of the picture above you can see the Compost Squash that I rescued from the Old Beds before they were tilled. We'll find out soon what it is.

I've also started a little garden spot in the back for NOD. She has a tomato, marigolds and a lavender right now, and soon will have some Cosmos and Nasturtiums.