Yay! Three Day Weekend ~ This work week dragged but I've been looking forward to this weekend.  Tonite we're having a few friends over for a bbq come rain or shine.  Tonite's menu is grilled steaks with a home made rub, and grilled asparagus and roasted shallots in a cranberry vinegarette (a recipe I found on the internet).  We opted for boxed mashed potatoes (less time-consuming and messy) and will spruce it up to par. Let's not forget the mandatory pairing with some good wine!

 A long time friend of Hal is in town so they'll hook up Saturday evening which will give me some needed quiet time.  Maybe I'll play xbox and catch up on some games I've relinquished to gardening.  Gardening update:  My lobelia seeds have finally started to germinate!  I almost gave up starting annuals with seeds but this has given me more confidence to start from scratch!  The two roses, Midas Touch and Crimson Bouquet are loving the rain we've been getting and are growing quickly since I transplanted them into large containers.

My sister called me this weekend and invited Hal and I up to Napa on Sunday and we'll tote Rex along and stay the night - looking forward!! I haven't seen my sis and bro-n-law since a visit early last year here in the city. 

Here's a pic of the eucalyptus trees on McAllister already in full bloom.

This cymbidium is still in bloom but we have another that's about to flower; the 5 spikes are huge and all white!  The camellia in the back left is also ready to open in full bloom.

These little dwarf day lilies are doing their thing.  Gladiola bulbs are mixed in and starting to poke through. 

This little phalenopsis is pretty happy at home. 

blog update : ooh ooh ooh!

Star Wars III to open Cannes...

Have a great weekend, everyone!

 

Mmmmm - Heaven in a jar, also known as scrubbie goodness.

Happy Rainy Valentine's Day - This was indeed a relaxing weekend.  Although the weather was becoming more inclimate, I managed to do a little more gardening this weekend.  I planted two roses, a lavender, and transplanted the indoor orchids (which are not in bloom) with fresh bark.  As I mentioned in my previous entry, I managed to get to the flower mart where it was suprisingly mellow being Valentine's weekend and all.   I got a little spontaneous and bought a staghorn fern hanging on a shingle of redwood for outdoors and a chimenea for the deck.  I'm a little frustrated with the seedlings I've germinated - they are not growing and need too much attention so I'm just going to wait to get some already established color.   Floorcraft doesn't really have much right now, so I'm going to have to sit tight for a couple weeks.  Here's a pic of a fabulous campanula I got at Hortica on Castro Street.

Here's a pic of the oncidium hybrid like the one I have outdoors.  This guy has lasted for quite some time now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This cute lil' bromeliad is about 1" wide and 2" tall.  Next to it is the mini african violet.  I need to put some fun pics in the frame behind we got for xmas.  

 

 

 

 

Ok - I'm being a slacker today

A Fish Story - Meet my blue and red bettas, affectionally known as Hans und Glans.  These hardy freshwater fish are known as Siamese Fighting fish and have adapted from the oxygen deprived waters of rice patties in Asia.  This article sums it up as why these guys are special and easy to take care of.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've raised this kind of fish a few times in the past and am glad they (1) have better breeding and (2) better food nowadays.  I used to have to keep an open jar of tubifex worms in the fridge which were just laden with waterfleas and bacteria issues.  Never again!  I just love going to Petco and getting the neccesary items in giving these guys happy homes.  Glans seems to be the more aggressive of the two.  I think the blue ones are overbred, so Hans is pretty passive and once we saw him cower to the showier of the two.  I think that they like each other though, just forever separate. 

 

 

 

 

Too bad this didn't come out in focus, but I think he's doing his best killer whale look.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the reasons I like these guys is that they stare back at you, as if they are planning a preemptive strike.  I'm associated with food by now, not foe.  I had to lower the water in these bowls otherwise Glans would have jumped out when I fed him.  Hans is a more mellow diner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

These were the original bowls but since I think they'll be around for a while, Hal and I stopped by Fantastico this past weekend (which is right next to the Flower Mart) to pick them up a couple new homes...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yay! New homes !! and the move wasn't too tramatic for them!  I think they can watch each other clearly now.  Later!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coolness - oooh!  I know it may be too early to plan my outfit for the upcoming gay parade (which I'm also going to celebrate my 20th anniversary moving to San Francisco back on June 25, 1985) so I guess it doesn't hurt to start planning now!  I came across this website that sell cool vibrant caps.  Can't decide to order this one or the military lookin' one.

Looking foward to the weekend - this work week has kind of dragged.  I'm going to a Chinese New Year party at my friend Lawrence's place at the end of Van Ness at Fontana West  tomorrow night - great views, and for the past few years, I've been a little skittish in high rises, but a couple cocktails will quench any anxieties

Feels like Spring! - Been some time since I've been updating so here's a photo compilation of what's been going on lately! GARDENING!  Other than the occasional visits to the Metro, Hal and I've been enjoying weekends getting around town and starting to organize the deck into the ultimate urban garden (hence, deckscaping!). Images of future bbqs and parties are swirling in my head!  Go go go! Hope you enjoy.

First off, here's a pic of Rexster I took a couple nights ago.  Hal has coined him "Glassie" as in Glassie Come Home.  I can tell Rex is happy albeit his eyesight and hearing are shot.  Funny how he barks at me in my general  direction now, yet still loves chasing that laser pointer. 

 

 

Here's the first cymbidium to bloom; the others have plenty of spikes but are taking their sweet time.  This year they are going to have to be split and transplanted.  Years ago I used to spend the whole day at Rod McLellans "Acres of Orchids" in South City and they had classes on these incredibly hardy beauties.

 

This oncidium hybrid sent a spike out at the same time as the cymbidiums. Very fragrant during the day.  I found a smaller one at the flower mart so the fab scent could be brought indoors.

 

 

 

 

Here's some river rocks I picked up in our last visit to Redding.  It was cool to find the one at the top of this pic - it's actually petrified wood.  I was planning to put them in some of my potted plants but decided to bring them indoors to enjoy.

 

 

The main reason I took this is to show off the transplanted stock seedlings that were crowded like the small pot on the left.  Too bad so many seedlings left but not enough pot space. The pot in the middle is a climbing lily which reminds me of fiery meteors entering the atmosphere.  Baby blue lobelia seedlings r in the rosemary pot.

 

Here's Hal's Brugmansia. It kind of needs a little tlc but continuously blooms fragrant trumpets.  I think this weekend it's going to be transplanted and a little Miracid will make this lush again.  The pink jasmine is to the right.

 

 

 

Here are our two owls keeping the pesky pidgeons at bay.  Fulton Street must be a thoroughfare for pidgeons, or maybe the Albertsons below - yuk!  Next weapon for my pigeon-free arsenal will have to be a SUPER SOAKER! BTW, the CUTE neighbor just got a bbq too!  Hal and I oodle over this straight dude (who looks like Clark from WB Superman) when he steps out always shirtless!

Here's our lush Gardenia starting to bloom.  Can't take credit for this since it just came from the Flower Mart a couple weeks ago but it seems pretty happy.  Also a transplant contender - it's very top heavy but I'm not sure if I should wait; I don't want any bud drop   Baby amaryllis are doin their own thing nearby.

 

I was quick one weekend morning to catch this butterfly on Hal's sol mexicano. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sad to say Sushi-head and Copper Penny didn't last long outside during our cold snap.  Big bummer and minus on the karma points.  I did however, resolve my penance by getting  red and blue bettas (of course separated) for indoor enjoyment.  I'll take pics soon of those rascals.

Well, back to work now.  I'll update with pics of the indoor orchids soon! Bye for now!

Smashy Smashy - too cool as well as this. 1/14 update!

How I'm Spending My Winter Vacation - Really I haven't taken any time off, but I am enjoying being mostly a homebody whilst the wintery weather does it's thing.  Catching up in games both with the xbox (I haven't tackled Halo 2 yet) and pc (I'm revisiting Tomb Raider and immersing myself in the Sims 2 - too cute!) Next is Star Wars Galaxies.  I've been watching good movies on DVD (I just love Netflix).  Next Saturday night, Hal and I will host a foodie night that will be "French Inspired" (meant to remove boundaries and encourage interpretation) and guests are asked to bring a particular dish paired with a French wine.   I was planning to make a brie cheese and baby bella mushroom soup but after trying it out, I decided to stick with cheddar - much better.  (Plug - I was invted to lunch last week at Bistro Clovis with DoveJoe - incredibly delicious french food I recommend to any francophile.) 

I'm looking forward to do some serious urban gardening this year as my new home has a fabulous deck with southern exposure.  I've started germinating stock and lobelia and they're off!  My ixia, king alfreds and yellow narcissus are peeking out of the containers. Hal's cymbidiums are slowly blooming which will bring much color for the next several months. I purchased some passion flower seeds on the internet but probably will just travel to Floorcraft this spring and get a couple mature plants (hurry spring!)   I'll post some pics when I have a chance.

Well, Hal, Rexster and I are heading up for a relaxing couple days up in Redding with Jay and Marc.  I believe a little hiking will be involved (sans Rex.) Monday, my long time gal pal Susan is visiting from Paradise which I'm so looking forward to. 

Happy Birthday Rex !!  My constant companion turns 14 today!!  In the past 14 years, it has normally rained on the 28th so we'll have an indoor celebration this eve.  Hal is still visiting his family in Wisconsin, 7 degrees Fahrenheit when he arrived last week; today is a balmy 35 degrees. Hal returns tomorrow night and we'll gift exchange on Thursday.  I'm still in the midst of holiday revelry so there is much to update xanga with, once it's all over.  I posted the pics of our holiday soiree here.

I wish all my dear friends and family a healthy prosperous new year.

 

TGIF - This has been a really good week and fast!!  Passed my DMV written test for my DL renewal on Wednesday with just one question wrong!! Pretty good for scanning the booklet in the morning of my appointment.  I have lots to do this weekend in preps of Hal and my upcoming holiday soiree.

I have to plug this company that sells plain and flavored grapeseed oil I found online located in Napa.  Inexpensive, healthy and GREAT!!!

   

www.grapeseedoil.com