Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day: February 2017

While my Zone 6 garden hasn’t quite awakened from its mild winter slumber quite yet, I have plenty of blooms indoors to keep me company.

I got this African violet as a birthday present from a co-worker some ten years ago — actually, probably more like twelve, now that I think about it. It’s still going strong, which pleases me.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day: Feb 2017

I potted up this Ragtime amaryllis in hopes of a Christmas bloom, which it just barely missed. (Luckily, the second bloom stalk of the Christmas Star amaryllis filled in quite nicely.) This is the second bloom of Ragtime, much later than I would have expected. But I’ll take it!

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day: Feb 2017

This is my first year forcing hyacinths. I decided to do them in rounds, partially because I bought half a dozen bulbs and only have three forcing vases, but also so I could do some trial-and-error to see how they bloom best in my house. I managed to rot the first two bulbs, but this third one is the charm.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day: Feb 2017

Finally — and this one might be the one I’m most excited about — this is the first bloom of this particular kalanchoe that I got as a cutting nearly three years ago. My friend and co-worker gave me four cuttings of three colors (I think), and so far I’ve seen shades of orange and pink. This is the first yellow bloom.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day: Feb 2017

Looking forward to seeing a few outdoor blooms by this time next month — crocuses, if nothing else.

As always, thanks to Carol of May Dreams Gardens for hosting this meme every month!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

We’ve been married for almost 14 years now — together for almost 21 years in total — so our V-Day plan is pretty established by now. Either I’ll get up on some morning near Valentine’s Day and find a bouquet on the kitchen table, or I’ll get a call from the front desk at my work to pick up the flowers that Aaron had delivered.

I look forward to this every year. We don’t go out for a romantic dinner — our schedules don’t really allow for it, plus we already do a monthly date night, and everything is CRAZY on Valentine’s Day — but I always can count on getting flowers from my Honey-Muffin.

XOXO, Honey. Happy Valentine’s Day.

Keepin’ It Goin’

When I resolved to post something to the blog every day, I didn’t realize how narcissistic and self-serving it would seem some days. Post a thing for everyone to see, every day, whether it’s interesting or not. Whether I’m feeling it or not.

I have a blog post all queued up and ready to go… but I don’t feel like it’s what I want to post today. I’m tired and I just succumbed to an after-dinner uber-snack that made me uncomfortably full, so I’m not into posting an entry called, “Why DO I want to lose weight?”

I’m guessing this is how it is for real writers, too — sometimes you get the bear, and sometimes the bear gets you. You just keep on keepin’ on, and eventually something good happens.

If you’re still reading… thanks. And here’s a pic of my kid writing out valentines after dinner to pep up a dull blog entry:

Happy Chinese New Year!

Connor with an oversized chocolate coin

Connor’s favorite server at the dim sum restaurant gave him two chocolate coins for the Lunar New Year today. Connor remembered that he’d gotten an envelope with a dollar in it last year, and hoped he’d get another surprise this year, too.

I think he liked this surprise better. 🙂