I started my seeds-to-garden a little bit late this year. Between a surprisingly long-lived, ice-bound spring and living in a new homestead, it seems I have waited a bit long to plant my want-to-become-a-garden seeds. After finally germinating (all 3 seeds in each of 2 pots), they did pretty well inside the house, soaking in the sun through the window, and a few weeks ago I finally transplanted them to larger buckets outside on the porch. Things went pretty smoothly with the transplanting (the seedlings were grown in peat pots that are meant to go into the final living arrangements to nourish the young plants), and life on the porch was looking like a win. Then the great heat-wave came crashing down upon us, and it seems 3 of the tomato seedlings just could not take the heat. All 3 had fallen over just at the point where they enter the ground. I wanted to blame the dog, or clumsy self, but now believe it may have been extreme heat prostration. Seems this breed does not care for the heat, and it looks like the 3 plantlets will probably die. Will keep you posted. Also, once the thriving tomato plants actually flower and fruit, I can report back on which breed of tomato I had success with. Next year I will definitely start more seeds, much earlier in the season. A larger plant would have made it through this first heat-wave, I am certain.
Declare by Tim Powers: cold war spies and djinn
March 18, 2011
I recently finished up Declare, and I have to say I am sorry to have that world closed off to me. It was a very engaging book, and even ended reasonably, but I am still sad that Andrew Hale is no longer a part of my reading life. Like all the other Powers’ books I have read, this one caught me up in its spell and made me want to know more about great entities and deities, and how humans can align with these powers, or interact with them. The super-stars of this book were the Djinn entities, the protective angel of Russia, and the collective djinn city to be found on Mount Ararat. Add a little Arabian Nights spice with time among the Bedu and the great Saudi Arabian desert and you have a taste of the ground this narrative covers. If I ever wanted to meet a genie before, the interactions described in this tale suggest the best case would be knowing someone who had the experience and was willing to talk to you about it. Meeting the djinn, or being the focal point, seems to be pretty detrimental to humans – would you make your sanity roll?
Tim Powers: Declare
Fevre Dream by George R. R. Martin: pretty gripping by the end
February 28, 2011
If you’re seeking a little light reading from the acclaimed author of the A Song of Ice and Fire series – this steamboat vampire novel set in the 1850′s was pretty interesting. I bought the title on a whim, and because I do love some of Mr. Martin’s other works – including Dying of the Light, which I recall with great pleasure (that one I’ve read a couple of times, and the book has made it through at least 6 big moves in my life). The life and times on the river with Abner Marsh proved fairly interesting, and by the end of the book I was pretty caught up in it all. It had it’s moments, and some fun characters, but this book will be passed along as rather luke-warm. Although, I do have a read-a-holic brother who might enjoy some of the poetic brutality and staunch characters – into the mail to wing your way north, book.
Fevre Dream – Worth a look, especially if you can borrow it from a friend. : )
Under Construction – Rebuild
February 19, 2011
I am in the process of redesigning the look of my blog, plus finally choosing an actual theme/direction for it. At least that is the plan. ha ha
It is my hope that the delightful spring sunshine will help inspire me to get this rolling.
Best,
Alex