Hollyhock Explosion

Two years ago I planted some hollyhock seeds in flats, not realizing that they are biennial. At the end of the season we emptied the flats that had soil in them into the veggie beds, totally forgetting the hollyhock seeds. This year what my inexperienced eye viewed as melon plants growing outside my kitchen window exploded into seven foot tall flowering hollyhocks!

I cut a stem from one of the plants and placed it in a vase on the windowsill, it promptly started to wither; but oh how morbidly delightful and sorrowfully peaceful. I left it there and before too long the top buds started to blossom even though the bottom ones were curling in on themselves like ancient hands. Life lives in unexpected places...

Father's Day Weekend for the World's Greatest Dad

DAY 1:

Dad and I kicked off the weekend on Saturday by biking to the trails and jogging 3.5 miles. Yes, I am proud of myself for that; though, my dad coulda easily kept going another 2 miles. Endurance - I hope that's one thing that get's better with age. After we cleaned up, we re-grouped at the Farmer's Market for crepes and fruit tarts under the shadey trees in the park, yummmm. Next on the itinerary, MOVIE NIGHT:

MOVIE: Action packed movie that dad's enjoy more than wives and during which daughters must view particular scenes through squinted eyes, we chose The Watchmen, good choice!

MEAL: Tailor made for the father of honor's ideal party food desires
1. Home-made pizza in a deep dish corn crust w/herbs from the garden
2. World's-best-daughter-made potato chips (well, an attempt at least)
3. World's-best-daughter-made walnut, chocolate chip cookies w/ mint chip hemp milk ice cream


DAY 2:

We had a delicious organic, vegetarian, non-gmo brunch at a local restaurant followed by a relaxing afternoon discussing alternative healing techniques and eating the leftover cookies from the night before.

For movie night number two, we went out and saw Toy Story 3 in 3D. Great flick, especially if you were a fan of the other two, which my family is wholeheartedly!!

Happy Father's Day!

Pep-Talk for Kitty

When I come home after dark my kitty cat waits for me on the side walk to make sure I'm ok. We walk inside and he meoooows and meoooooows until I pet him and brush him and scratch him and cuddle him, then I give him a mid-night snack (half a scoop of dry food) and he starts to get playful and energetic so, I let him outside to prowl the night away......