this and that days

Well, it seems The Big U has spoken. The window boxes remain empty and I've still no interest in gardening. Feeling grounded indoors. With a nod to nature, I did manage to artfully place fresh eucalyptus around the house. The dining table, currently and often a book table, hosts a large center vase and a petite vessel full sits above my friend Annie's favorite bistro picture.

The art is positioned on the floor for a direct view if sitting on the loveseat, which I do often. The frame's detail resembles piano keys, a feature not many people pick up on. It is a favorite of mine too, a sweet reminder of the Jamie Cullum concert at Dallas' Balcony Club. 



So I'm not productive with planting but instead with household chores, reading, and cooking. Always much cooking. Sunday W brought in eight gorgeous red bell peppers which I will roast and save for a creamy pasta dish or a side sauce when I fry up some summer green tomatoes. Spotted them at Jimmy's last trip. 

And there's a cake I've been anxious to bake - Michal Korkosz's Cocoa-Chile Cake.  (Wonderful book!) The cake offers a chocolate frosting recipe but I'm thinking instead, that I'll make a rum glaze.

I've made peace with my low energy summer and it feels so good. 




(Jimmy's Food Store, Dallas, Texas)
(Fresh from Poland/Michal Korkosz)

when sweet potato vines come a callin'

Sitting here missing being surrounded by plants & flowers, as was never true of past, late springtimes. If I blink, it will be mid June, blink twice and the worst of summer will be over.  

Short of the few new herbs and the sage & asparagus which has regenerated itself spectacularly since the winter, both window boxes and very many pots & planters remain empty. Even the yard cats seem bored. All that is adding beauty to my outside world are two Plumeria, which in several years have yet to bloom. And I've yet to muster the energy to do anything about any of it.

Shopping and planting is the fun part, and given a good night's sleep and a double decaf cappuccino, I could knock that out this weekend. But it's the every other day watering, now through August, that is just so damn hard in Dallas' summer heat. 

Is it still a priority? Obviously not. If I skip this season will I miss the greenness of ferns and the pinkness of petunias when W and I begin to light up Junebug to keep us mosquito-free on rare tolerable days when we take leisure at the big table? Yes, definitely.

So, I guess I will continue to sit and stare, and soon ponder over sips of wine, and at close of night I'll toss it up to The Universe to decide for me. The weekend is sneaking up... Dare I shut my eyes?