Apr. 19th, 2015 07:16 pm
Out and about
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muckefuckToday I was given a second second chance. The weather was predicted to be chilly and rainy (which I belatedly realised is what I had been wishing it would be Friday or Saturday in order to better suit my homebound lethargy), but the morning was gorgeous. I announced my intention to visit Andersonville and the Old Man proposed accompanying me to La Colombe. I had a gâteau basque and a mocha, which was enough to convince me that I like their pastries but don't care for their coffee, and took up a strategic location where I good views out both sets of windows. So much stroller meat! It reminded me of the punchline of that hoary Jewish joke, "What do you need so many goyim for?"
Afterwards, we hit Middle Eastern and I left him holding the bag as I trotted up Clark Street. First stop was the bookstore, where I found a remaindered copy of a reprint of a quirky American Indian book; second was the bank, where I loaded up on cash; and third was Gethsemane, where I bought a pot herb and some seeds. Between each station, I ran into some I knew--first someone who'd shadowed me at work back when he was studying for a library degree, then a couple from work. Then I returned home through Edgewater Glen, where I saw the first bridal wreath of the season as well as an immense cherry in full bloom.
The herb was lemon thyme, and rather than plant it outside while there's still danger of frost (however minor) I repotted it for the windowsill. I still prepared our plot and seeded it with salad greens while we decide what we want to try to grow this year. Little seems to have survived. The chives are going strong, but the sorrel, woodruff, and lemon balm are just emerging. I ripped out the garlic chives we never use and transferred some catnip from the adjoining plot (soon to be taken over by the nice couple upstairs) to a pot which I may or may not bury later.
Early spring is over and the grounds are waking up. The black-eyed susans did survive the winter after all, as did the shrubs in the front lawn (including the GWO's hated bayberry). Not only is the kerria coming back to life, it has some fat buds on it. The tulips are also in bud, and I'm chuffed to see that every one of the bulbs I buried survived. No sign of the bluestar, unless that's the mysterious plant coming up in the hellstrip.
By now it was early afternoon and quite cloudy, so I broke for lunch, called my brother, and read some. I've taken the plunge on Tanpınar, whose discursive style isn't exactly engrossing but is pretty enough without getting too florid. In addition,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
monshu, impatient for the publication of The book of strange new things in softcover, acquired a couple of Michel Faber novels and I read the first chapter of Under the skin. Looks like good shuttle reading.
Afterwards, we hit Middle Eastern and I left him holding the bag as I trotted up Clark Street. First stop was the bookstore, where I found a remaindered copy of a reprint of a quirky American Indian book; second was the bank, where I loaded up on cash; and third was Gethsemane, where I bought a pot herb and some seeds. Between each station, I ran into some I knew--first someone who'd shadowed me at work back when he was studying for a library degree, then a couple from work. Then I returned home through Edgewater Glen, where I saw the first bridal wreath of the season as well as an immense cherry in full bloom.
The herb was lemon thyme, and rather than plant it outside while there's still danger of frost (however minor) I repotted it for the windowsill. I still prepared our plot and seeded it with salad greens while we decide what we want to try to grow this year. Little seems to have survived. The chives are going strong, but the sorrel, woodruff, and lemon balm are just emerging. I ripped out the garlic chives we never use and transferred some catnip from the adjoining plot (soon to be taken over by the nice couple upstairs) to a pot which I may or may not bury later.
Early spring is over and the grounds are waking up. The black-eyed susans did survive the winter after all, as did the shrubs in the front lawn (including the GWO's hated bayberry). Not only is the kerria coming back to life, it has some fat buds on it. The tulips are also in bud, and I'm chuffed to see that every one of the bulbs I buried survived. No sign of the bluestar, unless that's the mysterious plant coming up in the hellstrip.
By now it was early afternoon and quite cloudy, so I broke for lunch, called my brother, and read some. I've taken the plunge on Tanpınar, whose discursive style isn't exactly engrossing but is pretty enough without getting too florid. In addition,
monshu, impatient for the publication of The book of strange new things in softcover, acquired a couple of Michel Faber novels and I read the first chapter of Under the skin. Looks like good shuttle reading.