So far planted in my garden are lettuce (2 kinds), thyme, basil, parsley, arugula, spinach, radishes, cabbages, snow peas, swiss chard and two tomato plants.  I think by next week there will be strawberries ready to eat and the lettuce is getting close to being ready.  I was going to hold off on the tomatoes, but today was so beautiful I bought two at the market and stuck them in the ground.  If I stagger the planting of tomatoes, I hope that they ripen at different times.   Just a thought.  Only thing eaten so far is rhubarb, which will still come up next week.  The tulips are done blooming, but the wisteria and azaleas look beautiful.  Irises are almost ready.  I’ve bitched about the rain, but everything is so green.  What a difference it makes to have leaves on the trees.  My mood increases just by looking outside and seeing color.

Tim now has less than a week to go!  Yay.  Now off to finish Week 17….

I am getting ready to go to Savannah tomorrow to celebrate Regina’s BIG birthday.  I am really looking forward to a weekend getaway, seeing friends, and visiting a new city, and in the process hoping that Tim gets lots of quiet time to finish up his semester.  But maybe he could also squeeze in some time to plant these snow peas too!  I haven’t had a lot of experience growing from seeds, but these guys are finally up and ready to go.

In Year of Making Stuff…I may just have to make TWO things next week and call it even.  I was going to pack my knitting, but forgot it at work.

Also?  Friends make you healthier.  Not just in mind, but also body.  Who knew?

I ran across scherenschnitte on Angry Chicken’s blog (you can see some in her banner) and thought to give it a try, especially since I love cutting paper snowflakes.  Scherenschnitte isn’t only fun to say, but it is also the art of paper cutting, and there are both Northern/Eastern European traditions and also some from the Chinese.  I have been trying a few different methods, including some folded designs (shamrocks and pineapples) and flat paper cutting, like the carp above, using both scissors and a craft knife.  I think with practice, I could get better and there  are some more designs in the library books I checked out I’d like to try.   The library book says that the Chinese carp is a symbol for good luck and determination, so this little fish has found a home in Tim’s office as he gets through the rest of the semester.

I had a lovely weekend, with getting to briefly hang out with Stephanie, seeing Meagan’s art show and then visiting with Suzy, Donal and Lily all weekend.  Mark, Emily and Marinn also drove down for a quick trip.  We had a grand time, despite the crappy weather.  Maybe Lily remembers the Chinese word for red?

Tim is deep into finals for this semester, so while he isn’t a first year anymore, he could still use some happy thoughts.  Heidegger is hard.

I am on a three day weekend, but lots is planned.  Trying to finish up holiday shopping, wrapping, sending, visiting, movie watching, reading, cooking (veg chili) and maybe some relaxing too.

Maybe its because my mom loves Gustav Baumann, or that I had just seen M.C. Escher’s early wood block prints at the museum in the Hague and loved them.  But I went to the 4th Street Arts Fair here in town and was drawn to the two booths selling wood block prints.  One of the artists was doing goofy prints, but the other one had fun but also beautiful ones.  I told Tim I actually bought something and he didn’t believe me until I got home and had proof.  I NEVER just up and buy something.  And?  I don’t even have buyer’s remorse.  I love it.

Worked 1 out of the past 4 days, which has been nice.  Still hot here though, but thinking of those affected by crazy storms.  Even though it didn’t turn out too bad, I’m glad Mitch evacuated.  Hoping everyone else is safe.  Working on a quilt for baby girl Meouw.  Here’s to hoping that she likes, no wait…that she loves purple!

Tim starts back at school tomorrow with a stats class.  At least it isn’t with a certain SLIS professor, but still wish him luck anyway!

A whole weekend spent in town!  I was able to go to the Farmer’s Market (sweet potatoes) and Goodwill with Jenn, take two solo bike rides, spend some time getting our garden area ready for planing and having an early semester celebration with Tim at Casablanca, a yummy Moroccan restaurant on 4th.  Tim has a few more papers left to turn in this week and then has a WHOLE WEEKEND before Summer Session I starts.  He doesn’t need them(cuz he’s smart enough already), but send him brainy thoughts if you think of it.

Things I think about: food, coffee, being passionate about my work, quilts, fabric, Loki, Tim, classes, going back to school, work, work, work, am I eating enough fruit, going to the farmer’s market, Web 2.0, interns, photography, SPEA, The Commission for Sustainability, recycling, living green, whether I can see the New Pornographers in concert, being a good person, travel, friends, organic food, allergies, natural leave-in conditioner, exercise, switching to gmail, having a baby someday, paint colors, books, The Clash, religion, gardening, health care, family, whether I should get new highlights, crosswords, publicity, and politics.

In no particular order, and not meant to be inclusive or exclusive.

While I don’t know exactly where he is right now, Tim should officially be done with his first semester as a PhD student. If you get a chance, send him an email of congrats. It was mighty tight down the line, but I believe he pulled it off. Even though he had moments of doubt in himself, I knew he could do it. I am so proud.

Also? I love my neighborhood.

Tim is getting some studying in before Brad and Sarah drive down from Indy for a Saturday afternoon lunch (probably at Roots). Loki loves to hang out while Tim is reading, often laying on the backpack.

I bought Tim a fancy-pants new messenger bag when he was accepted to grad school, but it turns out it isn’t big enough and is sort of hard to handle on the bike. So he has been using my old army backpack I used in high school! Gina and Jen are sure to remember. I’ll get a good photo of it sometime.

My parents are off to Greece today…wishing them happy and safe travels!