Dance dance

144/365 - Toe pointing dancers.



After Carus's dance class this evening, we went location scouting at a local park.  Oh yeah, I didn't tell you a whole story.

So, recently Robert got laid off.  We've been expecting it for awhile (like since October) as the company had very little to no work for quite some time.  We were hoping it would hold out until he had something else lined up but it didn't. Things aren't bad so no worries.

Because every little bit helps, I decided to open up shop on a little photography venture. I'm a week in and already have three sessions booked and two more in the works.  Coordinating schedules for outdoor shoots in spring in Oregon is FUN.

So yeah.  I'm really happy with this location I picked out for this specific shoot.  I'm not planning on doing a backlit and sunflare photo like this - well maybe one, if it works out and looks good.

Anyhoo.  Picture.  That's a clover field.  They are resting crops for every few years on wheat/alfalfa fields around here and there are usually more red flowers mixed with the green but right now, with the colder weather (low 60s when we should be getting high 70s) they aren't.  I don't know if they will or if their window passed.  They're still pretty fields though.

(Don't mind the face she's making. The pose was the best in this one and the eyes were closed in all the other ones anyways. There were other better photos of her as well but I wanted to show the location most so I'm going to be okay with it. It's not the worst face.)

Anyhoo #2
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Don't mind me, I'm drinking while I write

So where were we.

Oh yeah, a couple of days ago now. I was heading outside to find something to take a picture of and saw my reflection in the mirror.  I was looking cute.  I do have my moments.  And now you gotta look at me.



The next day, I again didn't have an idea of what to take a picture of and then all the sudden it was nearly bedtime.  And that's how we got a picture of up-side-down pug.



And then yesterday I saw a video with tips on photographing pets and mine tend to cooperate better than anyone else most of the time so I had a go.  I was taking pictures of Leia and Robert got involved and I got this one.



I would love for Robert to be in focus too, but he volunteered to get in a picture so I'll take it as is.

And now I'm going back to my drinking.  I've had a LONG day (chaperoning a 5th grade field trip) and that drink is rather relaxing.

Green bean support

Green beans need support.

Or they'll fall over.

But only pole beans.

The bush beans will be fine.

But I had pole beans planted.

So I made a simple support frame.

And Robert helped me put it in.

The sides are 6 feet long with a point on the end to help push it into the soil.  The other two sides are 4 feet long.  I then drilled a hole through each end 3/4-inch from the top and sides and put a bolt through the hole and tightened it with a butterfly nut. I stapled string about every 8 inches from top to bottom, and about 11-1/4 inch top to bottom.  I might need more string later in the season, I might not.  However, I'm over stapling it. It isn't keeping the string as taut as I want it Robert wants it. (I'm more loosey goosey about it.)  If/when I have to add or replace strings, I'm wrapping around the wood, pulling tight and tying off.

Later today I hope to plant the other (3 or 4?) pole beans I have AND the bush beans.

And plant the tomatoes and cucumbers. Then I have about a week to figure out how I want to support the tomatoes.  We don't like those metal tomato cages from the store. They are weak and fall over and only last one season (if you're lucky) and feels like a big fat waste of money.  Last year I used some large metal T-bar fence poles and string and it worked, but it was really chaotic and messy so I want to improve on that.

I also bought some sunflower seeds last night so I'm going to start those and some more green beans. (I wasn't kidding about wanting to put up enough green beans to not have to buy store green beans until next summer.)

By the way, if you're wondering.  That black hose is my new soaker hose.  I'm going to try watering the garden with that thing this year.  I have to figure out a way to get it snaked around the garden best yet, but initial tests suggest that this might be a really easy and efficient way to water.

Weekends are for working

137/365
While working Friday I finally caught this guy with the camera.  He's a regular visitor, but he's fast and the second I grab my camera, he takes off.


138/365
Saturday was my day off this week since I worked this Sunday to have next Friday off to be a chaperone for a field trip.  I didn't have to work, but I had laundry and dishes and wanted to garden, but my body had other plans.  Apparently I caught a bug.  I had a HORRIBLE headache, was dizzy every time I stood up and tried to do anything, and was a bit nauseous every 5 seconds too. I didn't want to spend the day in bed, so I ended up spending it on the couch, with Yoda as company.

If there's fruit in the cake, is it healthy?

Sunday I worked (boo), but it was a slow day (yay).  Sometimes those are nice.  I'm able to do other work stuff that needs to be done but doesn't get done first and the change of pace can be very nice.  And it was the early shift, and I was feeling better, so with dinner I made cake.

Okay, that wasn't the whole reason for making cake.  I also had some VERY ripe bananas on the counter and wasn't really wanting to make banana bread again (made it last week). I got talked into buying a large bunch of bananas (but I will eat them mom) that didn't get eaten before they got too ripe for my picky eaters (they will not eat them if there is any brown on them)(I'm allergic to raw bananas and will only risk the incredible itching mouth and throat once in a great while).

I made Chocolate Banana Cake with Chocolate Ganache frosting.  Good, but VERY rich.

The recipe:
http://www.joyofbaking.com/ChocolateBananaCake.html

(139/365)


I'm not great with food photography, and was feeling lazy, so settled for the blah phone pic edited with instagram.  It doesn't do it justice...

Garden update!

Time for a garden update.
136/365


Seedlings, starting to get ready to move to the garden.  The bigger ones in the front are pole green beans. The other side is bush green beans. The middle egg carton are tomatoes, and the back carton is cucumbers.  I really like how the egg carton is working out.  I planted some of the pole green beans Saturday and the roots had grown through the bottom and the cups came apart fairly easily.  They were still holding together, but not much so they will compost down nicely.  I'll finish planting the rest this week, and start another round. I want to do successive planting this year so I can get lots of green beans to can and put in the freezer, tomatoes to can, and give a go at pickling cucumbers.



Potato tower.  Still thinking about putting more soil on top... might just leave it be.



More potatoes.  The small plant on the left is red potatoes.  The right is yukon potatoes, same as the tower.



Store bought marigolds. I'm going to try to plant some from seed myself, but needed to be sure to have some flowers.  I'm using them to help with pest control.  I don't have a lot of pests, but I like the idea of using marigolds to keep some away.



Speaking of pests, this shiny windmill (from the dollar store) helps keeps the birds away.  Unfortunately, it doesn't keep the slugs away.  These are my radishes.  I get to harvest 2-3 at a time every few days, and they last about 5 minutes after washing.  Robert likes them, a lot.  And he says they are SPICY, especially the little ones.



FINALLY the carrots are starting to come up.  They sure did take their sweet time. And not many are up...yet.



Garlic is looking good.  There are a few that will be ready to harvest really soon.

Tiptoe through the tulips

135/365

On Mother's Day I received a bouquet of tulips from the in-laws' in-laws, and they are starting to open up.

The look prettier in person...