Spent a most heavenly 4th of July weekend enjoying a mini staycation. Couldn't have asked for better weather--even though they kept threatening heat wave it didn't quite materialize and I was happy in a tank top and shorts. With three long days and my dear Coke, we set off to do some of our favorite things.
Saturday Coke dropped me off at Annie's Annuals, which some have described as a mecca for the plant world. Annie's is absolute heaven for anyone who loves plants: acres and acres of rare and unusual plants all set out and just patiently waiting for you to pick one up and take it home. I actually didn't want to go to Annie's. I'd only mentioned to Coke that they were having a massive 20% off everything sale and that my garden was already overflowing with plants and I would only get in trouble if I went there. "Nonsense!" Coke replied, and she threw me into her car, me kicking and screaming the whole way. Right before we got there, she pulled up at Starbucks, got out of the car, and handed me the keys telling me take as long as I wanted. Geeking out with the plants isn't exactly her cup of, uh, coffee, but golly gee!! What could be better than giving someone the time and space to be absolutely indulgent in their nerdihood??? Thanks Coke!
One of the great things about Annie's is that she has little signs that show what the plant will look like when it grows up, as well as other useful information. While I want to take every plant I see home, I can't. These salvia 'Hot Lips' are beautiful and while I didn't buy them, I did remember seeing them on one of my little lunchtime walks throughout the Mills Campus. I hope to grab a cutting of them soon and grow my own. Don't even get me started on my love for plants in the mint family!!
This is another plant I didn't buy--the elusive Romneya coulterii. Actually it's not elusive, but they are really difficult to start and establish, but once you get them started, they really put on a show. Apparently they produce the biggest flowers of any native plant in California. I've got one started on my porch and I hope I can make it grow.
While there were so many plants I salivated over and did not buy, I actually went home with a whole flat. This was more than I had set out to get, but less than I have gotten in the past. It actually took great restraint to walk out of there with just one flat. But I got some good ones!Spent the next day in the yard getting my hands dirty, pulling out some of the old, tired plants, making room for new ones, and getting the soil ready. Look how happy the plants are:
Coke helped too, and I totally appreciate her OCD coming out in the weeding process. She must have added a whole foot to the depth of my garden--more room for plants!
On the 4th of July, we went to the beach. Coke was sure that we had plenty of ono snacks. Have you ever tried wasabi mayonaise from TJ's? OMG!! Mix it in with some tuna and eat it off triscuits!! And frozen grapes? Is that a brilliant idea or little drops from heaven, or both? Yum! I swear that Coke is a snacking genius.
Here are my feet in the warm water of Alameda:
And as the fireworks were blasting off into the night, Coke finished off the weekend with a grand finale of her own: Ramen!!
So good! And yes, that's kim chee. Not just any kim chee--Kohala brand. Biting into that brought back a flood of memories from my youth. I was never a big kim chee eater when I was a kid, but we always had it around at dinner time, and I think as I am getting older, my taste buds are evolving. That's some good stuff!This post has been as lazy as my weekend was. But it was the best kind of lazy. The days lasted forever, nights were long and restful, the food was bountiful and delicious. Not a care in the world. No stresses peeking out from anywhere, no lurking performances or exams or studying to do. Just pure, blissful relaxicating!
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