I seem to be a little slow in posting lately. Sorry! But I have things to do first thing in the morning, not the least of which is waking up, and now that Don’s away, we tend to FaceTime in the morning. Anyway, better late then never!
Don and some of the cast are going on a tour of NASA today. I’m jealous.
Hard to believe, but there are times now where I take our Stella for granted. I don’t even think how wondrous it is that she is here. I guess that’s because she looks as if she belongs in this kitchen.
But she’s awfully pretty, isn’t she?
I rescued another plant – this time from our local grocery store.
This is a rubber plant, specifically the Black Prince, because the leaves are almost black. Rubber plants are members of the Ficus family. Anyway, it’s not in terrible shape, but it is overcrowded in that pot and needs to be repotted, STAT.
I only have so much space in this house for plants, so I had better cool it, especially since a couple are coming in from the porch for the winter.
I’ve been watching the World Series, off and on, but you can be sure I’ll be watching the entire game tonight. Nothing better or more exciting (to me) than a 7th game in the World Series. I have no favorite this time, so may the best team – at that moment in time – win.
It was supposed to go down to 31 degrees last night, so I covered up the porch plants, but look what I saw right outside the kitchen door this morning:
The temp must have stayed above freezing. We caught another break. The rest of the week should be a bit warmer, though I am fully aware that after I leave next week, all bets are off. In fact, I think we’re supposed to have some snow showers next week. It is November, after all. It’s also my birthday month – and it’s a big one – so I’ll be celebrating it in Chicago with Don.
Happy Wednesday.
Those morning glories have been real troopers this year! On to Chicago!
Not enough time before I have to leave again!
One of my (many) favorite things about our Wedgewood stove is that it has a standing pilot so the stove warms up the kitchen on these cold mornings. Of course ask me again in August how I’m liking this feature and my answer might be different!
Our neighbor behind us has morning glories that climb up our shared fence and spill over into our garden. Yours sure have put on a splendid show this year. Your delight in them is infectious.
We used to have morning glories that covered two long, long sections of our fence when we were renting in San Diego. I’ve loved them since then.
Your new houseplant looks healthy, but definitely is crowded in that pot. How many houseplants do you have? I love houseplants, but with three inquisitive and rambunctious cats, can only have them on the deep ledge in my shower stall, and it’s already filled to capacity, including the window sill for the smaller plants. When I had kitties who were afraid of the kitchen sink, I had them on the deep ledge behind my sink, but this batch of felines is fearless. They also jump and climb, unlike my previous two, so I’ve had to protect the plants that were on top of my bookcases. Oh well, easier to water now that they’re all in one place.
I have no idea how many I have – not all that many, but this is a small cottage and there’s only so much surface space and floor space for pots.
Glad that you’re home and can catch a breath.
You can imagine the wildness going on here in SoCalif with the Dodgers in the last game of the World Series. It was the quietest Halloween I can recall in awhile because I’m sure so many people were inside, watching last night’s game on TV. We had little ones right at 5pm on a dark/drizzly evening but that was about IT. My husband came home early from work and he’ll do the same tonight (he can sure get time off when he sets his mind to it!). He cannot and will not miss this game.
When I initially moved to Houston, before I was ever settled into my house and living temporarily elsewhere with the moving van still loaded, I toured NASA with my brother and it was one of the most fun things we ever did together. Back then, some 25 years ago, there was more access and we walked freely between all kinds of buildings that I understand are now protected from the public, I assume since the advent of so much domestic/international terrorism. We were both so surprised to see that Mission Control was actually a fairly-small room. It was a whole day of really interesting stuff out there, so I hope Don enjoys it, too.
I’m intentionally not talking about what happened in Manhattan yesterday. How much more heartbreak and fear can people take?
Same thing in Houston (re World Series). Don says they lost audience members last night because of the game. Understandable!
I wrote about NYC yesterday on Instagram. It’s heartbreaking.
I’ll check your i/g.
I momentarily forgot about the other side of the game, and that of course Don is in Houston (duh, since I was talking about Nasa; brain-dead I am…). From living there for a time, my husband was actually torn last night and still is, because he likes the Astros, too. I’m coming up on the time my dad ‘crashed’ with lungs/heart, 10 years ago (November isn’t a great month for me; it’s also when my beloved brother died), so I’ve been thinking of Dad a lot, like you were with your father, and Dad would be in earthly Heaven right now if he were still alive because he SO loved his home team of the L.A. Dodgers! I might just watch the Series tonight myself, in his honor. (I’m not personally a baseball fan although I played quite a lot of it [informally] in my youth. I went to a long, long, LONG Dodger game once, nearly 40 years ago, and it was one of the most boring nights of my life; thought the game would NEVER end and, then, trying to get out of Chavez Ravine and that stadium parking was a nightmare [we were car-trapped!].)
By the way, I decided to buy that book you mentioned about houseplants. I got a used one at a pretty-good price. You’ve convinced me; I follow your lead! I need some plants to bring good oxygen into the house. They’re a good air filter. After years of them inside, I have nothing now but one old, struggling little plant which isn’t gonna make it. A new hardware store opened near me (with a garden center) and I got some terrific, colorful little ceramic pots; real mood brighteners!
Glad you got the book! I think it was sort of fitting that Houston won, given the horrors of the hurricane they just went through. A celebration must be extremely welcome at the moment.
Yes, mixed emotions though, here in SoCalif, as you can imagine. Defeats aren’t easy. It was so quiet in the neighborhood last night when it would otherwise have had a sound of cheering from yards and homes. But, it’s just a game; it’s just Sports (grins). And I hadn’t even thought about how much Houston could get a good shot in the arm from a glorious win.
Speaking of a shot in the arm…man, I got both a pneumonia shot and a seasonal flu shot 3 days ago and I guess I have a slight reaction at the site of the pneumonia one which assumedly will go away soon, I hope; ouch (tender lump). Good thing I don’t have to have another for ten years!
So glad Don had fun at NASA. Clearly, they make it so appealing for guests because they want us Americans to, of course, support the space program…but for boomers who grew up with John Glenn and that first orbit, or to have gazed at the moon and always wondered (til Neil Armstrong set foot on it), there’s still a childlike awe and excitement in us about space exploration and what lies beyond the beyond.
They got to see the original mission control – the one where they heard “The eagle has landed.” Pretty cool!
C’mon lean toward Dodgers – my three in CA are going insane hehe
I was leaning toward the Dodgers (to be honest, I still am!)
Well…there’s always room for another rescued plant….most of the time. Hope Don enjoys the NASA tour! ;)
I can’t wait to hear about it from him!
oh and I have owned How to Grow Houseplants a Sunset Book since the late 70’s. My go to every time. My collection is also growing- I need to stop because they are all so happy and growing very large.
Those Sunset books are so great – so much information!
Very fun rescue!! I’m thinking how happy it will be in a new pot.
Stella looks charming heating up that kettle. You are right… looks like she has always/ or should have always been/ right there!!
Hope Don enjoyed the NASA tour. And hope you have a great Wednesday!
She was made for this kitchen, that’s for sure! Have a great day, Chris.
Many years ago when I was 15 (I’m 63 now) we were on a convention in Houston with my Dad when the astronauts who walked on the moon came out of quarantine. We were able to go to the hotel lobby down the street and see them walk through, with just velvet ropes between them and us, on their way to their first press conference. One of the ladies took her children up the elevator and was able to speak to them directly. Vicki reminded me of this with her comments about security at NASA years ago. We also went to NASA and saw some moon rocks that had just been brought back and all the other stuff as Vicki described. Even though this is a great memory, I bet Don will get so much more out of it than I did as did Vicki, I bet. I think adults can usually appreciate an experience more than children.
Wow, how interesting. Yes, times have changed; in general, an astronaut today would surely have much greater separation from the public and/or in a crowd. Space Center Houston is always changing as time goes on. (We know someone who works there!) I’d go again in a heartbeat; in fact, in retirement (future), my husband and I will definitely return to Houston and Galveston for a visit; we’ve got our fave things to do (and people to see) after having lived elsewhere now for the past many years. NASA does make their location (the Visitor’s Center) SO friendly for all ages. Fun to think that astronauts actually train at this very location. It’s a huge complex; I think 1,600 acres (I know, back in the day, we about ‘walked the shoes off our feet’ when visiting; I guess they have a tram now). I’m sure security is very tight for them to offer this (speaking of limited access to an astronaut unlike in past times when you could almost ‘reach out and touch’ them), but I’d love to do the “Lunch With An Astronaut” at the Space Center even though for the pair of us, my husband and me, it would cost about $150. But what price EXPERIENCE and MEMORY?!! Fun! (And educational…)
He had a great time and they got to see some parts of NASA that the public doesn’t generally get to see.
I’m routing for Houston – since I”m a Red Sox fan I’m hoping the AL wins. I had not heard the “snow” word….please tell me it’s not so…
Yay for Houston. Houston needed something to celebrate this year!
I like your pretty tea kettle Claudia…it fits right in with your yellow kitchen and Stella…That black rubber plant is gorgeous!…please show us when you re-pot it…Sounds like Don had a fun day in Houston!…Bless those morning glories..what they are not giving up easily this year..lol…Have a nice evening Claudia…
They’re still blooming today, Nancy!