Deadheading

Having been away for part of the week, I spent last evening lopping off the blooms that had “gone by”, the point of which is to make the rest of the plant strong and healthy.
I wish we could do the same with Congress.

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Unconscious Mutterings

Almost missed it this week:

  1. Playoffs:: Stanley cup
  2. Morris:: Dancing
  3. Break up:: Hard to do
  4. Eggs:: Benedict
  5. Parker:: Pen
  6. Hardy Boys:: Dana Girls
  7. Deluxe:: with cheese
  8. Protection:: condom
  9. Girl Scout:: cookies
  10. Salsa:: verde

Last week’s:

  1. Vagina:: Monologues
  2. Racism:: George Wallace
  3. Mother’s Day:: Father’s arse
  4. Fire alarm:: Leather coat
  5. Elvis:: Presley
  6. Pregnant:: Pause
  7. Vacation:: in the Bahamas
  8. Waffles:: John Kerry
  9. Perpendicular:: Lamp post
  10. Hospital:: Johnny

Who Are They Kidding?

So, the Senate and the Bush Administration, trying to distance themselves from the inevitable consequences of an ill-thought-out war in an oil-rich country, have declared that the excesses at Abu Ghraib are not reflective of the character of the American people.

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Grandparents Day

Emmeline’s elementary school is having a Grandparents Day this morning, not in synch with the “official” date, September 12 this year, but presumably a community outreach effort to give the youngsters something to think about besides how nice it would be to play outside rather than to be stuck in a classroom.

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Gardener’s Diary

Pruning, osmocoting, Hollytoning and mulching are done, now comes the fun part, weed and fast feed. I paid way too much for Miracle Grow at a local garden center, but, what the heck, they have to eat, too.
The daffodils were a big disappointment, although made up for by beautiful yellow and red tulips, wish I could remember where I got them.
Phil and Beth may have been right about the fairy rose, I clipped off a hundred or more seedpods last Fall, and if foliage is an indicator, it should be very pretty this summer.
The beach rose is also doing very well, but no sign of foxglove and only one lupine seems to have survived.
The garden has been pretty this spring, but will need summer color. Toward that end, I let myself get swept away in a wave of optimism and planted a Clematis by the front fence.
I’m especially happy with the small, low-maintenance perennial rock garden I’ve been working on for the last two years at Peter’s house. Everything, even Emmeline’s beloved Basket of Gold, looks healthy. The front spigot, necessary for watering, exploded over the winter, but neighbor John fixed it this week.
No blooms again on the peony this year, alas.

Onward, Christian Soldiers

As days pass following the 60 Minutes expose of conditions at Abu Ghraib, the sickening details of the assault by Bush’s minions on the descendants of the creators of Mathematics, the inventors of the concept of zero, the builders of the Alhambra, serve to further disgust and appall.

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