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It's that time of year when I wake up to frost on the lawn and the trees, but the brightly colored seed catalogs begin arriving in the mailbox, tempting me with the brightness of their glossy pictures and the beauty of the flowers and vegetables that the various merchants have been able to coax to perfection for the cameras. Somehow, and this is the unfair part, my yard never quite achieves the glory that they are able to manage for the photo shoots -- but each year, I give it a try just the same.
We were talking about my little gardening hobby the other day in the comments -- some of the folks who have been reading here a while knew about my garden catalog obsession from last year about this time -- and I realized that it had been a while since we talked hobbies and interests and such. So I thought we could do a "getting to know you" sort of discussion this morning, and I would love it if some of the folks who read but don't often (or ever) comment would chime in this morning.
I get fascinating e-mails from readers all the time, and often they are readers who haven never chimed into the comments, but it is pretty much always a voice that would be a wonderful one to add to the mix for discussion. I've always felt that the more diverse our readership -- in work background, in life history, in hobbies, in whatever -- the richer the discussion all around.
Everyone brings to the table something unique -- something that they have experienced that might open a window of understanding for the rest of us that we might not otherwise get without that voice. So I'd love it if everyone reading this morning took a few moments to introduce themselves, because we'd all love to meet you.
Who knows, maybe someone reading this morning is a gardening expert who knows the very thing that will pull my garden out of the same old, same old and into the realm of amazing this summer. Whatever it is that makes your day, you can bet that there is someone else out there somewhere who also loves it with the same level of passion and commitment...and wouldn't it be fun to know that person is someone with whom you've been commenting and reading here all along?
So, what do you do for a living? How long have you been reading and participating here at FDL? What do you like to do for fun? What would you like us to know about you that we wouldn't guess in a million years? What's on your mind this morning?
While I'm pouring myself another cuppa coffee, help yourself to a scone and pull up a chair...
PS: We are going to be on vacation in Hilton Head, South Carolina, soon, and I was wondering if we have some readers in the area who would like to grab a cuppa coffee or some lunch while we are down there? If so, send me an e-mail and/or leave me a note in the comments, and we'll figure out a place and time. I was thinking that 1/7/07 (a Sunday) might be the best day for this, so folks who are working wouldn't have to miss out, but if that isn't good for folks, we can move it around. And if anyone has a suggestion for a place to meet -- I was thinking the Barnes and Noble would be nice, since I'm a book feind -- but I'm certainly open to suggestions. If nothing else, there's always a walk through the Audubon Bird Sanctuary...
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fitz
egregious!
Fitzaroonie!
FITZ!
Bwahahahaha!
Fitz!
not too bad for dial-up. Good morning, everyone.
Damn you, egregious.
Howard Dean!
:)
Mornin’ all.
Hi Christy.
4 way tie. Cool.
Jump in ya’ll, the water’s warm.
GOOD NEWS:
My niece got engaged yesterday. Her young man waited for her to return to Nebraska, and when she walked in he was there on one knee with candles and roses in the room.
[Snoopy dance]
Christy — Missed your “More TGIF” posting last night because Mr. Marks & I — gasp — WENT OUT for the evening.
I was thrilled to see it this morning, tho, cause “Love Is a Battlefield” is an enduring fave. Thanks for digging it out.
I know someone suggested that we do an “introduce yourselves” Pull Up A Chair the other day, but I cannot for the life of me remember who it was. Whoever you are, it is a great idea, and I’d love to hat tip you — but I couldn’t find the comment. So fess up, so I can say thanks!
egregious at 12 — Oh, congrats to your niece! What a lovely way to be greeted… :)
egregious @ 12
We finally get to met the kid’s beau today. It’s still a long way to the candle, rose, knee thing, but we can still hope — as our prime grandparenting years melt away.
Hey Christy,
Didja get that e-mail about the gold angel Christmas card?
Congrats egregious, on the pending nuptial. I love weddings. I love the receptions more.
In the spring after we evacuated New Orleans, I lived about ten miles from my sister. I was also still in mourning for my yard (a large one in a city setting) in New Orleans, which was totally flooded and trashed. My sister and I have both always been plant fanatics, and we lost our minds together last spring. When I went back to New Orleans, I took around a hundred pots of plants back with me, so that in the midst of all that mess I could at least look at some beauty. I’m near my sister again for the holidays, and we are already looking at the seed books.
OT ~ CBS/YouTube: If YOU had 15 seconds of network airtime… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX5gRaxcviE Superbowl Sunday.
Good morning, Christy and pups! For years, New Year’s was when the Gurney catalog arrived in the mail. Alas, the company was bought up by Burpee, much like the Oregon company more recently. Like the borg, they suck up an established, beloved regional company never to be seen again.
Gardeners’ loss. But our pluses are companies like White Flower Farm and Wayside and others. There’s one in NM I’m thinking of trying for plants for my sandy hillside at the lake.
Gardening, cooking, writing…these are what enrich the spirit and make the news endurable.
Oh, and cocker spaniels!
Christy Hardin Smith @ 14
The prospective father-in-law is a minister, at least there’s no problem reserving the church for a June wedding.
This wee lassie has gone thru a lot so I am happy to see her be loved and cherished. When I met her intended, this seemed the inevitable outcome.
T- at 17 — I didn’t get the e-mail. But I did get the card. ;-) Thanks!
retirin’ in five–
Fingers crossed for you and your future grandchildren.
mrsmarks at 13 — I’m glad you enjoyed it. And happy that you got to go out. (Oh, what a foreign concept…hehehehe)
That’s wonderful news, egregious!
retirin’ at 16 — Hope the meeting goes well for you guys. I remember the first time my parents met Mr. ReddHedd — first boy that I ever brought home that my dad actually liked a lot. *g*
Oh yeah, I’m an avid FDL reader and sometimes commenter living in ATL w/ a beautiful wife 2 kids and 1 on the way. Love birding, fishing, and playing acoustic guitar.
I work for a blue chip company originating corporate finance transactions. Graduated from UGA undergrad and Georgia State grad school.
I’d love to meet up for coffee or something stronger for any of you located nearby.
Cheers!
egregious @ 23
Thanks and congrats to you. Forgot to mention they met on a political blog.
OT, more royalty work for Waxman. He needs to
subpoena Gail Norton who just took a legal
job over at Shell? She is a shill for shell?
The timing of Norton’s career move is certain to raise eyebrows from government watchdogs and environmental groups that long have asserted that Norton, her former deputy at Interior J. Steven Griles, Vice President Dick Cheney through his national energy strategy task force, and Congress gave energy companies preferential treatment by opening up coastal areas as well as western and Alaskan lands to increased oil, gas, and coal development.
Shell has focused a significant part of its resources in the past on drilling offshore in the Gulf of Mexico and in other coastline areas of the world.
Early in 2007, Democrats who now control the House and Senate, plan to hold hearings that closely scrutinize Interior’s dealings not only with oil and gas companies, which have received billions of dollars in subsidies during times of record profits, but also the department’s relationship to convicted felon and lobbyist Jack Abramoff and Indian tribes for which Interior has a trust obligation and a role in permitting gaming casinos.
During Norton’s tenure at Interior, rules pertaining to the permitting of oil and gas were eased, allowing the Bureau of Land Management to speed up the leasing process for natural gas extraction in controversial areas like the Jonah Field and Pinedale Anticline in the Upper Green River Basin of Wyoming, across the state in the Powder River Basin and in New Mexico, Colorado and Utah.
Another matter that may indirectly involve Norton is the fact that the Minerals Management Service which operates under Interior’s umbrella waived royalty payments assessed against private oil companies, for two years running, owed the U.S. government on federally permitted leases in the Gulf of Mexico.
“Shell, historically one of the biggest industry players in the Gulf of Mexico, was one of five oil companies that reached an agreement with the MMS on Dec. 14 to pay royalties on the 1998 and 1999 leases,” Market Watch reports. “An MMS spokesman said lost royalties from the leases amounted to $900 million, but other reports have quoted much higher figures. A Government Accountability Office report said the MMS omission cost taxpayers $10 billion.”
Still another lingering issue, timely in the wake of the Abramoff scandal and central to calls for ethics rules reform involving political appointees and retired civil servants, is the so-called “cooling off period” following government service and before an individual goes to work for a company that he or she previously regulated.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 26
And in keeping with the gardening theme, he’s an MS in Botany.
I’ll answer:
So, what do you do for a living?
I’m a computer programmer - COBOL and Java. I program both back-end and front-end logic for credit card customer service websites (where you can pay online, or update your account info). I’m often on call, work about 50-60 hours/week and am a single mother of a 4-year-old.
How long have you been reading and participating here at FDL? about 1 year, mostly lurking, as I just don’t have the depth of knowledge to comment intelligently.
What do you like to do for fun? Read, post to the Patrick Fitzgerald Fan Club, scrapbook.
What would you like us to know about you that we wouldn’t guess in a million years?
I am a U.S. Army veteran. I was a helicopter mechanic for 8 years 1992-2000. Some of the best and most soft-hearted men I ever met were soldiers. A sentimental heart, a lack of cynicism, and a yearning to serve does lend itself to military service - please remember that about many of our soldiers and think good thoughts of them if you can.
What’s on your mind this morning?
The hanging of Saddam. Last night, my Mom’s Night Off, I attended a “Socrate’s Caf.” The question was “Should Saddam Hussein be Hanged?” It of course became a discussion of should there be such a thing as execution, which was too bad, as I think the more challenging and fresher territory would have been to move toward a “If execution DOES have its place, is the hanging of Saddam going to be a positive for Iraq, or will it deepen the problems?” Talking about execution is so much simpler than talking about Iraq, and the factions, and the dynamics. So, I’m still trying to think on this.
I love FDL, just because of the genuine goodness (and smartness) of Christy, Jane, TRex, Scarecrow, and all who make this place hummmmm.
My real name is Geri, but I use bookwoman because I am a middle school librarian. My day is complete if I have paired up a good read with a 13 year old.
I started really reading here when the main topic seemed to be Patrick Fitzgerald pretty much on a daily basis. I couldn’t get enough of the incites of what was really going on behind the garbage on the TEEVEE. And then I was hooked! Stop by every day now.
Most recently I worked on Ned Lamont’s campaign, and was fortunate enough to be at the same restaurant as Jane and Spazeboy during one of the last rallies before the primary. Disappointing as it was that Ned lost…I have nothing but admiration for all the effort that Jane and others here put into attempting to unseat the horrific Lieberman.
Can’t wait to meet some more of the good folks here at FDL. Here’s to a Happy, Healthy, Peaceful New Year.
PSA - residents of Louisiana - tornado watches and warnings throughout much of the southern part of the state. Tornado damage in Acadia (sp?) Parish. NOLA now under tornado watch. Keep your eye on the sky!
Good morning, Christy and Firepups!
I read and enjoy almost every post on FDL (have been for well over a year), but I rarely comment. I’m a freelance writer — used to be a professor, but now (and maybe you’d never guess this) I’m working on an agented book about trophy wives, which we’re shopping to publishers. Even though I love to write, I come here mostly to read and learn, and to hang out with people with whom I feel a connection.
I’m an avid gardener, too, which makes our Orange County, CA weather ideal — even if we’re not a bellweather community for progressive thinking.
My mind and heart are heavy this morning, in the aftermath of Saddam’s execution. My constant prayers (and actions) are for peace, but I have a bad feeling this will distance us even more from that possibility.
Thanks for the opportunity to introduce myself — and thanks for the scone!
Im a ceramic artist here in East Tn. I do fine craft shows in this area and even one in Atlanta.
Im an avid gardener growing much of our summer food. Im reading Jane Goodalls book on food and what we humans are doing to the food supply. I have raised bed gardens and lots of fruit trees.
I love FDL and read it more than any other blog.
JoyB @ 30
I didn’t realize there was an minimum intelligence level required to post here. I guess I’ll have to stop posting comments now. ;)
Hi Everyone
I’ve been lurking & posting here for little over a year. I’ve got an Art degree. Recently I’ve been into taking photographs. Here are some of them.
My Cats Crook & Norman
http://img.photobucket.com/alb.....Norman.jpg
A Fireworks collage
http://img.photobucket.com/alb.....lage4a.jpg
A Collage of some Woods
http://img.photobucket.com/alb.....ssmall.jpg
twolf1 @ 35
LOL! If you can find my posts, that would be the “low tide” mark. Hope that helps!
Thanks so much for this topic. Im sickened by the Saddam hanging. Shocked at our country and overwhelmed by politics right now.
I wish we were neighbors Christy,we could share garden triumphs and failures together,lol.
Have you ever read Sharon Lovejoy’s gardening books? They’re WONDERFUL. And very child centered,Peanut would love some of the ideas in those books. Roots,Shoots,Buckets and Boots is my fave(don’t you love that title?),but all her books are the best. Build the kid a sunflower house this spring,you won’t regret it.
My new”thing” is quilting. I’m trying to teach myself,so it’s slow going. If anything,it’ll teach me patience,lol. I finally broke down and got myself a new sewing machine made to accomodate quilter’s various needs,so I have no excuses anymore.
I guess I’ve been reading here for a year or so now,since before you all switched over from Blogger.
bookwoman at 31 — You were my hero at that age, so hats’ off to you. LOVE the library, still. Who wouldn’t love a building chock full of books?
1)So, what do you do for a living?
Part-time insurance auditor, part-time baseball writer (Baseball’s Good Guys/Pack Your Bags), part-time tax preparer.
Retired as a financial analyst with Heath & Human Service. (Adm for Children and Family)
2)How long have you been reading and participating here at FDL?
1.5 years. Love you guys…
3)What do you like to do for fun?
Run, read, play poker, watch the Sox and
drink Corona
4)What would you like us to know about you that we wouldn’t guess in a million years?
Can I take a pass on this?
5) What’s on your mind this morning? As always the Libby Trial and impeaching Bush
Jack
twolf1 @ 35
…tossing chips and cards into the pile…
I’ll have to fold
Guess I’m out if that’s the minimum bid
:-D
South Orange County Dem — Boy, do you live in the right place for trophy wife research, or what? *g*
Hi, Cristy
Thanks for the opportunity to introduce me-self. I live in upstate (very, very red) SC. I sure wish I was on the coast so I could meet you in person in Hilton Head. I hope you have a lovely time down there. I love the coast and I miss it as I lived briefly in Charleston.
I had checked out firedoglake in the past, just browsing. Then I saw you on CSPAN at the Eisenhower Institute forum (I’ve already bragged in other posts about your performance there!) and that inspired me to check out the site more thoroughly. I was looking for something with more substance and intelligent discussion rather than so much of the insult-slinging I had been seeing on other sites.
I noted with interest your prior experience as a criminal defense attorney turned prosecutor. I’ve worked as a legal assistant for some large defense firms here in the upstate and am currently looking for permanent employment as I lost my job over a year ago. It’s been a depressing time for me and sometimes I wonder if “somebody is trying to tell me something” as I am having no success finding permanent employment with law firms.
Of course, I’d love to do something more fulfilling that would pay a living wage, but I haven’t come up with anything thus far.
Anyway, that’s a bit of background. I am a divorced (former husband was a big-shot employment law attorney! I was wife no. 3) 44-year old woman with 3 cats so I really have enjoyed the pet photos on here. You doxie is so darn cute.
I just want to thank you for representing the progressive blogging community so well at the forum. I think you expressed very well how this type of political blogging is so helpful as an outlet for people like me who thirst to have intelligent political discussions with people of a liberal viewpoint, but who have no outlet for such engagement in their conservative communities.
I have been against the Iraq war from the very beginning and campaigned for Howard Dean in 2004, having house parties and raising money and such. I knew the war was a huge mistake, but I honestly never dreamed things would get as bad as they have. I was so passionate about all this during all the war fervor, I think most people, even my few Dem friends, thought I was overreacting and thinking to themselves: “would ya’ please just shut up about this and let’s talk about something more fun!” After many “pops on the nose” I learned to be silent like a good girl. Hence, the blogging.
Thanks for the opportunity to say a few things about me-self as I am new to the site.
I really enjoyed the video-sharing last night, by the way. Like you said, we need some levity now and then!
Have a wonderful trip to lovely Hilton Head. Hey, maybe you’ll run into Stephen Colbert. I think he has a place down there!
Melanie
twolf1 @ 32
Thanks. I need to call home.
Good morning, Christy. ‘Morning everybody. I live in a great old house in an historic district in Long Beach, CA. The front yard has 6 trees and is crammed with all varieties of lilies (nile, day, canna, calla, etc.) and huge old camellia bushes.
In addition to the seven mature camellias (which are currently in glorious bloom - pink, white, red, read & white striped), we have a number of baby camellias. People don’t believe me when I tell them our camellias are naturalizing. ;)
snowbird42 at 34 — What sorts of ceramics do you do? I took a ceramics class with my mom when I was a kid and loved it — the pre-made greenware sort that you paint by hand, glaze and fire. SO much fun to do as a kid. (Come to think of it, that would be awfully fun to start doing again…thanks for the reminder!) My big dream is for us to buy a piece of land one day and build a house with enough room to plant fruit trees. An uncle of mine had an orchard when I was growing up, and it was heaven to be able to climb up and pick my own cherries and apples in the summer. :)
My name is David, and for the past 20 or so years I’ve been a full time caregiver to my disabled wife, a victim of severe domestic abuse in her previous marriage. Folks know that caregiving can be very stressful, so several times a week I take my guitar into the NYC Subway and scream at the world for a couple of hours.
In July of 2003 I joined the campaign of Howard Dean and became very active in the BFA Blog. By mid August of”A Ch that year I started parodies like “The Deaniac’s Theme Song” and “The Vermontster Mash”
Earlier this year due to the fact that the BFA is infected by one of the best trolls in cyberspace, I stopped by here to see whazzup and found it to be kinda like the old BFA, so I decided to hang out.
My main interest is the impending evolution of our species to what Jesus referred to as “Son of Man.” A time when humans will become very much like the character “Q” in Star Trek, as we awaken to our natural, pan-dimensional nature.
This year, my election effort “Goper’s Lament” and “50 Ways To Dump The Dubya” were downloaded over 40,000 times combined, (including nearly 16,000 downloads of the “Goper’s Lament” video.
I also wrote “A Christmas Card To The World,” in 1994, which has been downloaded 3,400 times in 17 countries since it was web published on Nov 18.
I would most support a Gore/Dean ticket in ‘08
Christy Hardin Smith @ 41
Sure do, but I’ve interviewed trophy wives from Newport Beach to Newport, Rhode Island — and lots of places in between.
I’ve seen and done some amazing things, all in the name of “research.” :)
Lindy @ 43
The watch/ warnings currently extend from west of Lafayette LA past Mobile Alabama. from the coast north to McComb/ Hattiesburg
Angry Old Broad at 38 — Oooh, I haven’t read any of her books. But I’m sure I will be taking a peek now. *g*
I’m the 52 year old mother of a ten year old boy, so I live in the State of Exhaustion.
Actually, I’m an Orange County trophy wife and have been waiting for SOCD to call me.
On second thought, at 52, with menopausal psychosis, I’m not much of a trophy any more.
I clicked over to FDL from somewhere else and have enjoyed the commentary here ever since.
Re gardening: artificial plants die in my care.
It’s great to learn more about the people behind the comments here. It’s nice to meet everyone. I’ll jump in this afternoon when my time/wordiness ratio is more forgiving. I’ve already made myself lat by reading what I missed last night.
The comment for this thread suggestion is in the same thread (I think) that I opened the windows on my life a little bit so if anyone recalls that, the other comment should be there too.
Good compost from the kitchen is the answer and a power tiller. I used to do it by hand but I’ve acheived better results with the power tiller. Besides, I’m 46! ;)
Snowbird42 @ 34 -
Well, Christy already asked about what kind of ceramics……….Ever do the Piedmont Park craft show in Atlanta or the Biltmore Village Craft Fair in Asheville?
Christy I make garden sculpture and sinks as well as a series of story tellers.All are stoneware.
You should do some clay. The peanut would like it too. My granddaughter (3) loves to play in clay.
Ill be back at work next week.
WitchyWoman@ 44
Total jealousy as I sit here in 35 degree CT!
And Christy @39
Glad you loved your library…me too! My treasured memento is a piece of paper signed by Amy Goodman (of Democracy Now)…she wrote “Librarians are the freedom fighters of our time”. Sigh…
I do “Barefoot in the Park” in Duluth, GA in April and the Biltmore show is way too expensive so I do one in Hendersonville NC the same weekend.
I live an hour from Asheville NC, my favorite place.
snowbird42 @ 37
Anybody hear some of the call-ins on CSPAN this morning about this? Had no idea how many people drank Kool-aid for breakfast.
snowbird42 @
54
Snowbird, I always wanted to try my hand at garden sculpture, but I have no idea how I would fire the stuff, so it’s just a wish. Do you have a website?
snowbird42 @ 56
Hi, I love to visit Asheville. I live in ultra-conservative Greenville, SC and a trip to Asheville is like zooming to the other end of the spectrum! It’s so strange to be able to drive just 1 hour and walk into a completely different atmosphere from the one you left behind.
My mom and sister are the gardeners in the family, though I’ve had two plants that thrive on benign neglect. When the one droops, both get watered. My cat Samson comes running to nose around as the water pours. He can’t stand to be shut out of the bathroom either. Lucky for him, I live alone (except for him and my girl cat) so the door is always open.
I have a fine arts degree, majored in ceramics, but later learned computer aided design which I used for 12 years of employment in the auto business in MI. I’m now back to school to learn speech pathology. I’ll be applying to grad school any day now so wish me luck.
My favorite thing to do is to take pictures of my cats (now that my nephews have decided smiling’s not cool).
Hi Christy,
I’ll be in Savannah visiting family January 9 - 15. If this coincides with your time on HH, I would love to have coffee — Hilton Head or Savannah, if you haven’t been there. It’s about a 50 minute drive.
mandrake @ 59
ike a.
Hi, I love to visit Asheville. I live in ultra-conservative Greenville, SC and a trip to Asheville is like zooming to the other end of the spectrum! It’s so strange to be able to drive just 1 hour and walk into a completely different atmosphere from the one you left behind.
I lived in Greenville SC in the Historic District about 5 years ago. I reccommend Asheville to anyone. Lots of great food and galleries everywhere.
My site is neglected and a bit out of date plus it gives my phone.
Good Morning! Pull up a Chair is one of my favorite weekly posts, Christy. I particularly enjoy the recipes that come up, but all of the topics seem to reinforce community and our humanity.
I live in NM. We have a load of snow here today, maybe more in Albuquerque than I have seen ever. The city is pretty much shut down, I-40 going east to TX has been shut down for about 2 days, so there are a lot of people who wanted to be somewhere who are not there. I think of the ones who can’t afford the extra expense of motel rooms and such.
I am an artist, a sculptor. My work is basically conceptual. I use any materials, lots of recycled stuff. I have cats.
I have been against the death penalty and have testified about it and attended hearings at the legislature in Santa Fe lots of times. Today is a depressing one. The high profile deaths always bring out the worst in us, as humanity.
Thanks for being here. I too came to FDL for Fitz, have stayed for much more.
Snowbird42 & Mandrake………….we’re a bit far from Hilton Head but surely the three of us constitute a drinking liberally subset……I’m also an hour west of Aville. Would love to met up w/you progressives for lunch sometime if you can fit it in.
I, too, am getting my catalogs and I’m gearing up for a wonderful summer!!!
Didn’t do to much last year, since my mother was ill and passed away.
One of the best things I did was to take the pictures of my garden from the year before, blow them up and put them on her walls.
She was in ICU most of the time and could not have real flowers.
Not only did it make her space bright, it brought lots of people in to talk about gardening. I ended up writing the name of the flower and a little write up about each one on the back of the picture. A little education never hurts!
If you really like gardening I urge you to check out your state’s Cooperative Extension for their Master Gardening program.
I became a Master Gardener through Cornell University 3 years ago and it is one of the best things I have done.
I learn so much and have a fun time volunteering teaching people about gardening.
The Cooperative Extension’s usually have great web sites where you can get lots of info.
Have a Happy New Year
Diane
Riesz Fischer @
8
well well, g’mornin’ folks. i see someone woke up on the wrong side of the rock.
woohoo! Congrats egregious. Sun’s out here, and gorgeous. ‘ere. have a cuppa.
Christy. So glad to hear you guy’s are getting away to do a little vacating. So typically generous of you to want to share some of even your vacation time with local pups. May you enjoy a smooth, safe trip, and abundant balmy sunshine. ;->
Hi Everyone. Thanks Christy for the post. I’m female, and a prof, married several decades, and a parent to a great kid. I check into FDL most days first thing then in the day when I can, or when I’m stuck writing. I also read raw, huff, C&L, Kos but only comment here, and rarely, appreciating the sense of community, shared interests & concern of other pups. I’m a political junkie (though its not my subject). I wish I had time to volunteer more on political things (my relatively high profile job also makes it difficult). I love my urban garden - mostly shade - which each year recently I have expanded by poaching a bit more ungardened land outside, transplanting bushes and plants, and adding winding walkways with field stones. It looks nice, and also keeps the band of local drug users at bay (while gardening here I’ve found heroin needles).
Richmond–
Great idea! Keep on poaching…er, ah, posting.
Waccamaw @ 64
Now Im curious. Where west of Asheville? and lets meet for coffee in Ashville but I have no idea how to share e-mails
In my spare time I make loopy droney noises with guitars, bells and electronics.
A New Years Resolution is to produce and publish moreagain
At present, this 100% gameboy non-representitive piece is all i have floating out there
http://www.geocities.com/Squon.....tomper.mp3
Hi Christy,
Until I started this job and started traveling so much I was an avid organic gardener and lived for the seed catalogs every winter. I would plot and plan where each new variety of vege would go and then wind up violating all my plans in the excitement of getting stuff in the ground and growing.
I have been an FDL’r since early on when it was just Jane, the dogs and a few regulars. This place has exploded and rightly so.
Good luck with the seed catalogs and don’t forget to check with some of the old time gardeners there in the West by God. Some of them will have some old heritage seeds that they will share.
JML at 64 — Love Savannah. We could move the date to after the 9th if it works for everyone else. The scheduling on this is pretty fluid. :)
Good morning from Somerset, KY! Enjoying a few days at the in-laws, cooking and eating and drinking and just generally chilling out.
I am a digital color printing specialist by day, been in the digital printing business for about 12 years now. I’m also an aspiring art publisher, which is what twistedmartini.com is. I live in Fishers, IN which is a suburb of Indy, represented by the odious Dan Burton.
I have been reading FDL for about 2 years, but jumped into the comments after meeting Jane for coffee last June, along with *ilson, Fini, and poputonian. I am married with 2 kids ages 10 and 7 and am a huge college football fan, seeing as I am a Michigan alum. Go Blue!
I am thankful every day for this amazing community that Jane and Christy have put together, and look forward to seeing you all at yearly Kos!
diane @ 65
Three good friends in various parts of the state have become Master Gardeners; I know it’s demanding so far as qualifying & afterward, volunteer committments, but they all LUV it!
Christy. I’ve got a question.
I always thot FDL had been around for a long time & I just must have been missing it as I cruised around. But I think I found the Lake about a year ago, and I just read your comment this week that FDL “started” about a year ago?! Get.OUT!!! When & how? exactly? Just curious.
Also, did you wonderful guys have any idea FDL would grow as it has??? Anyway CONGRATS and, ahem, THANKS! You might just save the world. eh pups? too much? naaaah…
*note to self: do not gush so much next year - maybe….*
stuck in the tubes, please release me, let me go…
I hail from the very red state of Oklahoma. In 2004, all counties voted for Bush at about 64%, which is odd considering we have more registered Democrats than Republican. Dean has his work cut out here.
I currently drive an oilfield truck and haunt the natural gas fields of America. An added benefit is several dinners with our hostess and Mr. Smith, as gas seeps from the coal beds of West Virginia (think Sago).
Christy always enjoys seeing me, because that means dinner out!
I have about 20 years in virtually all aspects of the oilfield, but have dabbled in other professions as well. From real estate, to marketing, to political campaigns, to being a reporter.
My hobby is writing. I have written three plays that were performed and published short stories and poetry.
I wrote a fiction manuscript about 15 years ago. I have no idea what happened to it, but no matter, it was really bad.
The story was good, but the characters were flat and lifeless, with vrtually no sub-plots. I intend to take that project up again in the future.
Seems like I know some people in the business now, so publishing something that is not a piece of shit should not be too difficult.
Good Morning Firedogs !
aaccckk!!! there’s a neo con snuff film on the teevee, make it effing stop !!!
thanks honey, phew. beautiful clear morning. had 2 tornadoes within 4 miles of us last night - hope all firepups are safe
Christy - loved that PJ ! - doxies are like orchids, never had one in the house b/c I knew I’d never stop at one :)
thanks for the gardening thread - it inspired me to finally look up seeds for baby vegetables -love ‘em, love ‘em, love ‘em - can eat ‘baby version’of any veggie
oh, and I’m, 24, 5′ 10″, 125 lbs and a pediatric neurologist (okay, okay, 5′ 4″ texas hash slinger - feel better now ?!?!)
Adie @ 66
I was just ribbing her for being first.
egregious knows that I really like her.
Adie at 77 — Well, FDL started just with Jane in 2004 — December-ish, just after the elections. For about a year it was just Jane, with the occasional post from her BIL when she had to go out of town or something. Jane and I met on DKos, talking about the Plame case (no surprise there!) and I started blogging here at the end of September/beginning of October of 2005. And here we are. :) We’ve added some great voices along the way, I think, but this blog has been up and actively going for about 2 years plus about a month (give or take).
Twisted — you are freed, along with a few other comments that had gotten stuck as well. If everyone could refresh their whole page, you’ll get everything at once. :)
On Gardening and Catalogues. Last year Park sent a bunch of dead or near dead plants - and way too late. I’ve had it with them. But I found a couple of great things on the web. Most importantly there is a site called Garden Watchdog which evaluates various catalogue and other long distance plant stores in terms of quality & customer satisfaction. They also show plant availability so that if, for example, you are hungering for an amethyst wisteria as I was (blooms in relative shade, and is less invasive) they will point you to the companies that have it. Through this site I also found Bluestone Perennials. They sent a range of great plants. (Sorry I don’t have web addresses at hand, but you can easily google them). By the way, this gets to be a VERY expensive hobby, even with serious transplanting. However satisfaction is high too, and last year our place was included in the local “secret gardens” tour. By the way, I loved that book as a kid, and always wanted a garden of that sort.
Oilfieldguy 79
I have visions of you barreling along in yer big truck with dust billowing in your wake, scribbling madly on a notepad in your lap. You wonderful big artsy galoot you! Stay safe out there fella. *g*
Richmond at 84 — Me, too! That has always been one of my all-time favorite books. :) I wonder if a lot of folks who like gardening got their start that way? (btw, have you ever read Mandy — it’s a book that Julie Andrews wrote [yes, THAT Julie Andrews!] about an orphan girl who finds a little cottage and begins her own garden. Love it as well.)
Riesz Fischer @ 81
I visited Savannah recently and really loved it. I have a friend who just joined the SCAD faculty. I have to read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil now.
(waves to witchywoman) I work in Long Beach at an elementary school, running the computer lab… mostly I work and take care of OldMother and play with my dogs… today we (the dogs and I) are running up to the local mountains to play in the snow. I’ve been hanging out here at fdl for more than a year and a half…
coffee anyone?
OldCoastie at 89 — Would love some…
Thanks Christy, I’ll look for Mandy. Julie Andrews is another great fantasy figure. I always wanted to have a Nanny growing up, because I assumed it would be HER, singing “Doe a deer” and “Chitty Chitty” all day long.
Good morning all! I got to sleep in for the first time in….well, ages!
Gardening - so not my forte. I plant things and pray. Sometimes they live. I actually got my best results with a bunch of $1 mixed-seed boxes from Walmart. I just dumped them in the front flowerbeds and, amazingly, they not only survived, but flourished.
I work from home - selling on Ebay. Not quite a ‘good’ living yet, but since I’ve had a whole five interviews for jobs in the last year (out of some 500 applications) it’s better than nothing.
But the real job is being mom of three - 19 and 17yo sons and a 14yo daughter - and mom/aunt to two - 10yo niece and 4yo nephew - who are staying with me till mom gets her act together. (Which after 8 months, doesn’t seem to be happening.)
Snowbird @69 -
“Valley of the lilies” = Cullowhee = home of WCU. I’m basically ignorant also about how people like us share e-mail or phone#s w/o setting the info loose in the toobz. Maybe someone else in the thread knows a safe way………firepups?
Or, given degrees of separation, there’s GOTTA someone we know in common ;-) Need to make a grocery run……back in about 15…..in the next thread if we get EPU’d.
My name is Josef; I am separated and live in Santa Monica, CA. When I was with my family, we had a tradition of going to the Rose Parade on New Years day. It was so much fun watching my small children looking up to the “giant” floats in awe. Going alone is not nearly that much fun, so I have missed the Parade for the last few years.
This year, my friends invited me to attend the Rose Bowl game with them and I can’t wait until Monday - Go USC!!
I have been coming to FDL for about a year and am addicted. During the last campaign I organized two big rallies for our candidate here in NW Illinois, and did lots of phoning and whatever else. Politically it’s very depressing being in a deeply Republican part of the state.
I have a degree in fine art which I’m mainly using in garden design right now. Watercolor doesn’t inspire me like it used to. Botanicals are my subject matter and now I work in a much broader palette with the added dimension of time. I’ve been doing mosaic for a few years now, it is a fabulous hobby. I use tiles,old, chipped plates and other bits and pieces of shiny baubles that I come across. I’ve done two walls in my house and will try some outdoor columns this year.
My husband and I have 2 acres of organic gardens. Worked to revive our farmers market for a few years, but now we grow more perennials and shrubs, herbs, grasses, etc. for my garden jobs. We still grow a great portion of our vegies, but have great competition from the wildlife.
Much of my money is still earned by training (presentation skills, facilitation, ethics, etc.) for a large corporation. They downsized horribly in 2001 which led me to extra training in garden design.
I still love cooking, gardening, reading, politics (arghhhh), singing in the choir, community arts organizing and libraries.
My secret: 30 years studying astrology. Saddam had the same planetary line-up when he invaded Kuwait as Bush did when he invaded Iraq. I’m not for the death penalty, but I am for payback.
FDL has kept me sane and connected this year. Thanks. I’ll probably be EPU’d, I usually am.
PA Lady, Successful gardening as with life, I find, is alot about accepting losses, and cherishing the things that work. I am in awe of people like you who raise not only your own kids, but also others.
Carmen–wow, the stars. Interesting.