It was a tough week. It rained hard for several days, an unusual occurrence for San Diego. I had a nasty cold, one of those insidious viruses that creep on you and try to establish some roots. Probably the worst cold I have had in ten years. It kept me home for a couple of days. My classroom has looked and sounded more like a hospital ward. Empty chairs where many students should be sitting, and the ones who did attend coughed and drooped, and blew, and snorted. I joked with my classroom aide and told her she would soon have to dress up in a nurse's outfit. Boy, was I glad to see the end of this week.
And today, after more drizzle and rain, I wake up to this glorious morning. The plants are exploding in the wetness and sunshine.
I had to go outside and take a few pictures. The chirps and songs of delighted birds filled my ears.
And though the air was crisp and cold due to the newly fallen snow in the mountains, the sun was exquisitely delicious in its warmth.
The terrier and chihuahua followed me outdoors. Anytime I pull my jeans on, they get very excited, hopeful that we will go again to the beach. But that was yesterday's adventure. We went even though the weather was dreary, drizzling, and cold. They ran, chased other dogs running after balls, jumped into the rolling ocean surf, sprinted after birds, and dug massive holes in the beach sand. Now that they have had their baths, the next beach adventure will wait until we go again next weekend. Poor dogs only have a lush yard, a big back outdoor area, and a big house in which to romp. Someone should write a poem about their terrible confinement!
This dead bougainvillea plant is one of my upcoming projects. I have been accused of murdering it, but all I did was cut what was already dead away. We have waited more than 6 months for our beauty to come back to life, but I'm afraid, she's gone, gone, gone. I need to cut all those branches away from the ironwork. Tougher still, I need to dig her up out of the earth, so her replacement can go in.
Beautiful view of Coronado. The morning was a little misty in the background.
Unlike the unlucky bougainvillea, all the other plants are happy and thriving, probably because I don't pay much attention to them. This is our acadunia tree.
We planted Swiss chard, spinach, and a few other green edibles I can't identify.
The goal is to eventually have our own little edible Victory garden. Neither one of us is very good at it.
But we aim to try.
After losing all its leaves in the winter, this plumeria is on its way back.
The terrier is chewing on some grass.
I suppose it is her way of telling me the turkey soup didn't quite agree with her. We've had a lot of soup the past few days. She sometimes get leftovers.
The chihuahua can lie motionless for twenty hours at a time, but if she suspects a trip to the beach might be in the works, she jumps into action. She makes it her job to claim every inch of the beach.
Honeysuckle. This plant is a hummingbird favorite. They flock to it like drunks to a bar.
These saltillo tiles will have to be sealed again before the end of next summer. They are crumbling in so many places. I am pretty good at sealing but terrible at applying the grout. But to hire a worker to do it out here in San Diego is akin to paying someone to poke my eyes out. The work is usually expensive and so shoddy, that it makes my amateur attempts seem like the work of an accomplished craftsperson.
Gorgeous dandelion.
Does it remind you at all of the album cover to the Eagles' "Hotel California"?
This plant has a long story. She was bold and strong for a long time, then was trapped in a dark room for a couple weeks. She never fully recovered. But a few months ago, I repotted her, gave her organic soil, and put her in a mostly shady spot. She seems to finally be making a comeback!
