This year, after a dreary gray and muddy winter, you can almost feel the urgency of the life pushing up through the soil, the quickening of the earth’s pulse as so much green bursts forth. And all of the animals — and children — in our neighborhood are rejoicing as well.
With all of the bad news on the food front and the economy — from food shortages to outright famines, vast price increases and riots in some parts of the globe — I’m feeling this urge to slip veggies into every corner of our tiny yard…just in case. And to get out my canning supplies and put a little food by for the winter as well. Not even so much for my own family as much as to have extra in case someone else we know needs it, too.
You just never know, and preparing for the worst case scenario when you can never hurts.
It’s probably my granny’s hard-earned survival instincts from the Great Depression and an early divorce that left her, my aunt, and my mom nearly destitute as my granny worked three jobs to buy back her own home (it had been sold out from under her by my grandfather to fund his excursion with his hussy…long story, but it broke my granny’s heart, and left her with a need to teach me to be able to stand on my own two feet no matter what.)
Back in 2005, just after Hurricane Katrina, Alpha Geek did a series of posts at DKos on how to be prepared for a disaster. There was a lot of information contained in them that you may never use, but it never hurts to at least know what you could do…just in case. Every time some crazy event comes up — the tsunami in the Pacific islands, an earthquake or a massive fire, another hurricane or flooding season, rumors of bird flu, or even the latest news on food shortages — every single time I read about something like this, I think back to that series. So I’m posting the link for all of you to keep handy as well.
We’ll be popping a few extra veggies into the yard this year as the season progresses — my usual fresh herb pots, some tomatoes and peppers, a couple of cucumber mounds and at least one of zucchini as well, and I’ve added in a little broccoli this spring. Later in the year, I’m hoping to get some pole beans started — their blooms are lovely, and I’m thinking of using some bamboo pole teepees and think they’d look nice woven in and around my perennial beds. What I can’t grow, I’ll buy at the local farmer’s market and either can or freeze a bit of everything. At least so long as my shelf and freezer space allows for it, anyway.
A friend of ours has a saying that applies on a whole lot of levels: when you can, not when you have to. (Think of the last long car trip you took, and how little time it takes for that second cup of coffee to bombard your bladder, and you’ll see what I mean.) I don’t know why, but I am feeling an enormous urge to put food by this year. Call it a gut feeling, or maybe I’m just having some weird nesting urge, but there you are.
In any case, all sorts of veggies can be grown in small pots on a tiny porch or along your driveway, or even on the windowsill if need be, including cherry tomatoes and cucumbers, which both come in varieties that are perfect for pots (look for determinate tomatoes — and ask your local garden center person if you’ve found a good one for a pot on your patio). Anyone could grow a little herb garden and have fresh basil, chives, sage, parsley or mint (Rosemary is a little tricker, because it likes keeping its feet dry, but if I can keep it alive, anyone can! Just keep it in a separate pot.) — just imagine the wonderful flavor of fresh snipped herbs in your morning omelette with some slightly melted goat cheese, and you begin to see the benefits.
I don’t know about you, but helping something to live — and feeding myself with something I’ve grown — are two of my biggest joys. In a world where sorrow and desperation are far too often present, seizing a little joy in a little dirt and some freshly picked tomatoes and cucumbers is well worth the weeding time. Plus, whatever extras you have can make their way around the neighborhood, feeding others with your handiwork. Or to the local homeless shelter.
There’s always something you can do, be it veggies or fruit (I long for dwarf blueberry bushes as a hedge in the yard, but we haven’t gotten that far in the landscaping yet.), or flowers, or even buying produce from a local farmer who desperately needs the money to keep things going this year. Every little bit helps. And this year, I have a feeling that it will take all of us giving a little bit of help to those around us for everyone to make it through. Pull up a chair…
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Good morning Christy. Thanks for the post.
New house and new ground to till this year. Since Mr. Rev. retired at the end of March he’s been digging away. Lots of rocks . . . . but it will be worth it. Plants going in now. Seeds soon.
It’s been such a beautiful spring week, but the tree pollen is a killer. Waiting for rain! Strange to say that but true.
Of all the years for community gardens and CSA’s I think this one will be a biggie.
Yes it has been dry around here. I feel for Mr. Rev. When my aunt and uncle bought their home in Aston, we helped them landscape. I couldn’t believe how many rocks we dug up. It just seemed like a never ending source.
Morning Christy,
Thanks for the disaster links, it’s hard not to feel we aren’t all ready sliding down that slope into the Big One.
My spouse hails from PA. When her folks were still around we used to go down to PA and get plants to plant up here in NH. We were way ahead of anyone. Now, however we have SNOW forecast for wed, thur and Fri this week so any gardening will have to be put off. The upside is that the last few years we have had growing weather until Nov. Still eating last year’s veggies though. Tonight butternut squash, brussel sprouts and fresh organic lamb.
and The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act is the topic on CSPAN now
bummer
Yum, how are you preparing the lamb?
Tonight loin chops done in the simplest way imaginable. About two or three minutes each side on the grill with a little pepper. We have a loverly mint sauce that my wife made. Those organic chops just melt in the mouth.
G’morning. Why do I have this sudden desire to have lamb chops for breakfast?
We have a dusting of snow (!) this morning. The daffodils, tulips and bloodroot are a tad confused, to say nothing of the robins. Well, the robins and me.
Thanks for the link, Christy.
I’m sure they do, and with the way you’re preparing them, you’ll really enjoy the flavor of the lamb. For me, grilling them are the best to prepare them.
Still haven’t come up to Pittsburgh, eh?
:-p
.
“Treat others as you would want to be treated!” “Always be aware of the plight of others, less by circumstance, their plight becomes yours?”
Paraphrasing the quotes of two men who have had a tremendous effect on the world. I think allegedly “religious compassionate hypocritical corporate aristocrats” have forgotten the messages?
We have a rabbit that lives in a hedgerow and he/she is weeding the orchard at the moment. The bunrab is pretty used to us by now so just keeps eating away even if we get pretty close. We enclose our veggie garden but we always plant some seeds outside the fenced in part so the bunrab and the multitudes of offspring can help themselves.
Good Morning.
OT: Bill Moyers interviewed Rev. Jeremiah Wright last night. The man is highly intelligent, extemely well informed, compassionate, and gentle. I can certainly understand why bright, concerned people who consider themselves to be Christians would remain members of his church. Here is a link when/if you have about 45-50 minutes.
Good morning, Christy. good post. Yes, it does feel good helping something to live. All life is precious, and all things deserve their time of life, whether it be plants, insects, animals, and humans (well, I can think of a few exceptions in the case of humans). Last year my wife and I planted a variety of herbs in pots, they did very well and we used them throughout the summer. We also had some raspberries out in a corner of the yard, I didn’t realize the raspberries need a lot of water.
Most of our plants and flowers in our yard are water-wise for our dry climate. I’m a rookie at this gardening stuff, but this year I am adding tomatoes, strawberries, and some brussel sprouts.
On NPR: A New Orleans family whose home where 3 generations have lived, but it’s not yet repaired, reflecting on the home, New Orleans, memories, meals. Truly: Do you Know What is Means to Miss New Orleans? There is nothing like it. It may come back, but it will never be the same.
make time to watch it!
I just this minute thought of something I/we can do. I love plain white rice. Must be my Swedish genes that have such a strong affinity for bland, colorless food. But I don’t need white rice (or any other rice, for that matter) to survive. So for the foreseeable future, I will stop buying it. Baby step, baby step, baby step.
At the end of Springsteen’t great show last night he made a plea for folks to contribute to the Atlanta Food Bank. . .
He’s always been a huge advocate for food banks. So how great was the show?
Fuck NPR.
Sorry to be so blunt but, after all, they employ Wan Williams.
.
It was totally great; the Rev. has been so misrepresented. Why was he not defended much earlier?
SO? I think they do alot quite well; I love Dan Schorr. He truly has seen it all.
Because the media needed a scapegoat to hide behind for trying to take Obama down.
Will be planting some zuccini, tomatoes, beans and swiss chard. Small garden but the last time I planted had 50 lbs. of tomatoes. Enough for pasta sauce for the year. And yes, NPR does suck. It’s another media fraud.
Schorr’s book about Kruschev is outstanding.
.
2 yrs ago I mistakenly planted cherry tomatoes instead of a full sized variety. Well, I’m going back to them. It didn’t give me the luscious tomato I wanted for tomato salad (a fave in this house) but it did provide enough for every green salad. It was lovely to be able to pick a few to use every night. And they’re ready much earlier. I missed it last year.
The Center for Food Safety has provided online “The Shopper’s Guide to Avoiding GE Foods”, cereals, baby formula, etc. I was surprised & pleased to find out few food products on the GE list I have been buying.
I have some Nalgene bottles I want to replace but I am wondering what better, safer alternatives to choose, metal?
If you can find some pear shaped ones they could add some variety. I know they have yellow ones which add a nice splash of color to salads, along with the great flavor.
I had only seen him once before, a solo tour a while back. I told someone it’s like when you see the Grand Canyon for the first time, it seems silly to say, well, it’s grand. While I don’t know every word to every song like the other 20,000 people do, it was and incredible show. The entire band worked their asses off for three hours and they gave it everything they had. Amazing, especially in light of the fact that they are doing this every three days or so. To people who don’t like him mixing his politics with his art. . .it is his art.
I watched Rev. Wright. He was wonderful wasn’t he?
Schor has indeed seen it all. He was stellar during Watergate. The problem with NPR is in their political coverage. Cokie Roberts, Juan Williams, Mara Liasson are all in love with their own celebrity. There insights are merely a reflection of those who benefit from the status quo.
I, as a Caucasian remember very well the deplorable treatment of Americans of color. I detest it to this day!!!
Un-american unconstitutional and dead wrong! Problem is “whittie” cannot handle the truth! Like the dysfunctional drunks in denial, media makes illogical associations akin to the non logic of “witch hunts” by the “Puritans,” and is allowed to get away with it, while ignorants buy it!
No silent German here!!!!!
For those who have been waiting with bated breath for an update on my patio cherry tomatoes, well….I bought one last night and will be shoving that baby in a pot today! LOL
She’s beautiful too. I love her.
Good Morning to all. Must be our shared hillbilly heritage Christy but I am also feeling an overpowering urge to plant everything I can and start putting stuff away. I got all the tomatoes and peppers put in yesterday but I only have a small plot right now. I have a big garden plot but I have been traveling so much I can’t plant it and take care of it as it needs. A big garden needs daily attention and you can’t stay ahead of it just with weekends. I am still fighting the urge to get out my Troy-Bilt tiller and go to it. Beans and cukes and melons and just let them run wild. Not as big a harvest but some. Maybe the drought here in Georgia will ease up enough this year to let a garden survive without extra watering. Thanks for the post and links…all good and necessary information. I think I hear Granny’s pressure cooker calling.
Pups! this weekend a certain Jane Hamsher is a panelist on To The Contrary; one topic will the be the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
It’s usually broadcast on Sundays but in some places it’s shown on Saturdays, so click here to find the listings in your area.
Plus NPR does “tinkly-tinkly” music.
That’s a negative.
.
I pretty much stopped listening when Scott Simon became a cheerleader for the war oh so many years ago now. It makes for much quieter mornings :-)
The best was when Morning Sedition was on Air America. In one of what seems to be a never ending string of bad decisions, AAR cancelled it a couple of years ago.
I have been accused by my children, at times, of not standing up for them. This especially happened when they would get in trouble at school and thought they were in the right. I can’t help it, it’s in my genes. I have never been a ‘cheerleader’. I look at things objectively and I’m not afraid to say when a loved-one is wrong. Well, this applies to my country as well. And that’s what Rev. Wright does. The ‘love it or leave it’ crowd just doesn’t get it. It’s in their genes as well. They regard criticism as disloyalty. I enjoyed Rev. Wright because he’s willing to speak the truth even if it’s critical.
I saw white sweet corn in the store, yesterday with a tinge of red. First time I ever saw it.
Good for you, Solai, in raising your kids to understand we are not perfect and there are times when we have to take responsibility for our own actions.
I have to confess that my secret fear was that Obama might have remained a member of a church for political reasons and sat through a lot of hocus-pocus which he was really too smart to believe. I was completely reassured that the most intelligent of people could, over a sustained period, listen to Rev. Wright and find plenty of stimulating thought and purpose.
Good Morning Christy and Firedogs -
a surrogate zed – that was mr cbl up there – tornado warning complete with a seek shelter episode in our little restaurant last night, softball size hail and numerous sky to roadway lightning strikes
in my perfect world Senator Obama wins the General and has Reverend Wright deliver the invocation at his inaugural
(why am I getting the “Your comment is awaiting moderator approval” message above the comment box ???)
Soldier Sues Army, Saying His Atheism Led to Threats
By NEELA BANERJEE NYT
FORT RILEY, Kan. — When Specialist Jeremy Hall held a meeting last July for atheists and freethinkers at Camp Speicher in Iraq, he was excited, he said, to see an officer attending.
But minutes into the talk, the officer, Maj. Freddy J. Welborn, began to berate Specialist Hall and another soldier about atheism, Specialist Hall wrote in a sworn statement. “People like you are not holding up the Constitution and are going against what the founding fathers, who were Christians, wanted for America!” Major Welborn said, according to the statement.
Major Welborn told the soldiers he might bar them from re-enlistment and bring charges against them, according to the statement.
Last month, Specialist Hall and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, an advocacy group, filed suit in federal court in Kansas, alleging that Specialist Hall’s right to be free from state endorsement of religion under the First Amendment had been violated and that he had faced retaliation for his views. In November, he was sent home early from Iraq because of threats from fellow soldiers.
There is a radio talk show host about computers and digital cameras, named Kim Komando who just told a story about a pretty woman offering candy bars to men on the street, who would share their computer passwords. I thought it was very funny.
What — no white tomatoes for aforementioned Swedes? *g*
My adult brother, who has mental retardation, lives in a group home. His wonderful staff person rented a plot in a community garden this year for “the dudes” (their name for themselves). They’re so excited about growing their own stuff. They’re getting smarter about self-sufficiency. And they’re excited about tending the garden. How great is that?
Christy, thanks for your Saturday morning posts by the way. They’re always uplifting and insightful. I agree…putting our hands in the earth is definitely good for the psyche. Your thoughts on how you’re feeling the need to grow food (and maybe to can it for the winter months) is probably not too far removed from reality. I saw a report yesterday on the news saying the same thing.
Only under a republican president do the people of our country have to revert back to the 1800’s to survive.
It was just research about how stupid men can be, not a thief or anything.
One thing that struck me watching Reverend Wright was the stark contrast between the good works and effort planted into his community, and more importantly, the future of the community by Rev. Wright and his congregation; compared to the blood sucked from their own congregation by the not so reverend Hagee and his ilk.
That is a terrible story. I hope the lawsuit is continuing. My 2cents: maybe it is quite a gift to be out of Iraq, even if the reason therefore is wrong.
Total aside, but I love FDL’s new “show text” feature. Booyah!
I’m not sure I should be congratulated. That same ‘gene’ sometimes manifests itself in statementd like “you’re not really going to wear that, are you?”
I’m a big hit with my kids.
Hey Christy,
Our local food bank and our Franklin Park Conservatory, support a “plant 10% for others. They suggest a mix of lookable (even lookable, edible flowers) that are beneficial to edibles. As far as the edibles, they encourage that you set aside 10% for others, a share the bounty concept.
Additionally, a great resource for community gardeners is the American Community Garden Association here:
http://www.communitygarden.org/
They are headquartered in Columbus, Ohio and will have a wonderful community garden teaching campus here in a year through a partnership with the Franklin Park Conservatory. Their online resources are super. Check them out.
Took my son and daughter to the Springsteen show here in Indy. It was amazing, and more special because it was Dan Federici’s last show with the band. He died from Melanoma last week. Most of the crowd hadn’t a clue what was going on, but those who did, (like me) were really touched. and he did a shout-out to the gleaners food bank.
So here’s something I have been thinking about for a while…People like Bruce are often accused of being fake populists by the wingnuts, while at the same time they show how they are men of the people (Rush, O’reilly, Hannity) when they maybe grew up middle class, but have long since abandoned those roots.
Is it just typical hypocrisy on their part, or is there something more to it? Trying to get my head around a strong defense of Bruce, Mellencamp, Al Gore, Edwards, etc…those who may be wealthy but are still genuinely concerned with those less fortunate. And good morning!
Christy, thinking of Peanut, do you have the book “Sunflower Houses, Garden Discoveries for Children of All Ages” by Sharon Lovejoy? I love the sunflower/morning glory playhouse idea. Plant the seeds in a 6X9 rectangle leaving a doorway. When the flower plants are tall enough, Lovejoy says to take a ladder & tie & lace with string the tops to make a roof. What kid wouldn’t love to have their own living, sunflower playhouse to sit in with their friends?
OT-It looks like McCrazy may be hooking up with Huckabee. That’s bad news, methinks.
Thank you for this.
I googled it, and here’s a link to the Pocket Shoppers’ Guide to Avoiding GE Foods – 2008 – PDF here, and you can also digg it at the same time.
These are GREAT! Kids LOVE THEM!
There are some great kids gardening books at the American Community Garden Association.
We surrounded our house with a pizza and salsa garden. It was too much fun!
Agreed! It’s most excellent.
Twisted
perhaps it’s simply the fact that some people are me-first and selfish, while others are we-are-all-in-this-together and not selfish.
I’m what you would call a fanatic for Bruce and the E Street Band. Philly is the town that gave him the support he needed through his first two lps. I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve seen him. Him and the band put their all into every show.
He’s always been very poltical, and I respect him for that.
I’ve never seen white pear shaped, all thought last year I did grown german white variety. It was more a pale yellow, and was quite tasty.
What mean “we”, Kemo-sabi?
Village Elder Leslie Gelb blames us all for letting Ahmad Chabi pull us into invading Iraq.
You should be congratulated, because I’ve owned a housecleaning business for a bazillion years and know all too well how the “privileged” feel about their children. Let’s put it this way…some are raising their children to believe their shit don’t stink and they can’t understand why the relationship with their kids is strained, because Johnny & Sally are constantly having a temper tantrum about the littlest things. Sad.
I currently have a “favorite customer” whose kids are as normal as my son is. These kids, even though their Dad is the president of a Fortune 500 company and their mother owns an interior design store, are going through life understanding they’re human and are not above anyone else. Yesterday when I was there the two littlest ones (age 13 & 9) were making fruit punch & lemonade to make some extra money (their parents don’t shower them…they have to earn every penny). The 9 year old said to me, “Kay, last time we did this the neighborhood kids came down to help us and then demanded we pay them after everything was sold. We only made $2″. I said to him, “You tell your friends that if they show up today that your housecleaner will beat them up for ya” (joking of course). He smiled at me, because for one, he knows he’s far beyond the selfish kids in years, and two, he knows I love the heck out of him, his brother and sister.
Nice family. The planet needs more kids like them. Some kids wouldn’t even think of talking to their housecleaner nor would they spend an hour making juice for their neighborhood. *sigh*
Where were you seeing/hearing that? Rush was close to that yesterday in his rant against Mc not being a real conservative. AS old as Mc is, his VP would have a realistic shot. That’s pretty scary.
klynn@60: Now that I remembered about the sunflower houses, I think I want to plant one even though my kids are grown & they haven’t produced any grandkids yet. Maybe plant it near the end of the drive to inspire others to do the same.
the one time I saw him it was before he got big, was at a small college nearby. Packed full. Vibe was he was going somewhere.
To be honest he was never my big fave; but an old buddy, who has now passed on, absolutely adored him. So I never hear his early songs that I don’t think of her and our misadventures, because she always had him turned on and turned up.
MCCain and Huck
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24314795/
Good morning Christy, pups!
An acquaintance told me that white America has let go of the prophetic tradition and is aghast when they hear it. To his mind, Jeremiah Wright is well in the tradition of the prophet Jeremiah and that those truly familiar and unafraid of the Bible will recognize that.
Morning Christy, all. You’re on my topic now so I’m delurking to post. Here’s what’s going on in my garden this year:
First, I’ve been talking up the current economic, food crisis to my family for so long they’re immune to it now. But true believers because of my prescience (which is no more than having paid attention for the past eight years). Anyway, garden plans are as follows.
Have in the ground broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, the long variety of sugar snap (delish), potatoes, peppers, lettuce. Today I’m planting the heirloom tomatoes I started two months ago. If we have any exceptionally cool nights I’ll use covers I purchased last year from Johnny’s. The heirlooms are a golden, red, several varieties of plum and some oddities. Planted heirlooms several years ago, before I got the groundhog problem under control, and they constantly ate the tomatoes just as I was ready to pick. I love groundhogs a lot more now that they cannot get to my tomatoes.
The potatoes are several varieties of fingerlings, yukons and one that is purple throughout. Hope to have a lot to store. Am planning to can every tomato this year, rather than hit the 40 qt. limit and eating the rest. I’m also very worried about what will happen to food prices and quantities. I have to purchase more canning jars and that’s on the list to do early as I worry about there not being enough available when the time comes (which is August, for me).
Also have sweet potato plants on order; haven’t planted those in many years, but they store well, so giving them a try again.
On my back patio, I have a large metal tub filled with arugula, which I love. Beans, melons and squash will go in the gardenlater. We’re going to plant squash and vines in tubs in the garden as we’re hoping the vine borers won’t be a problem if we use sterilized soil and keep the roots separate.
I plan to freeze, can or store as much as I can. The garden has become much easier to keep since we started using straw to mulch (NOT hay). It keeps the weeds down and adds to the soil when tilled.
Lastly, we have six blueberry bushes, a strawberry patch, asparagus and four varieties of raspberries that we started many years ago. All are up to maximum production now. The blueberries are most prolific. I’ll freeze all the extras this year, rather than forcing them on unsuspecting individuals (UPS deliveryman, postman, etc.).
Future plans include figuring out how to grow barley and planting more varieties of hops for the beers I make. There is already a hop shortage. I cannot imagine wanting to live in a world without beer, so this is a priority. I also want to learn how to make whiskey. Individuals are allowed to produce a certain amount for personal consumption. It’s in the gallons and that is a gracious plenty. Not really as hard as it seems.
Okay, enough. I will go back to lurking. Happy gardening everyone!!
Morning all — Mr. ReddHedd got up with The Peanut this morning at 6 am-ish and I got to sleep in a bit. Oh, frabtacular sleep in day!
Man I’m jealous. I’d give my left nut to see Springsteen, but none of his concerts are anywhere near where I live. I’ve been a fan of his music for 30 years, he’s truly a poet of the people, like Dylan (my all-time favorite). And, Bruce is a man of principal, I really respect that.
Come back Again
Ooooh, am going to have to look for that one. She would love that. We are planting sunflowers and nasturtiums as her flowers this year — they are easy ones to grow, and bright, and I thought she’d get a kick out of growing her “own” garden this year.
Can you feed the Peanut more turkey, so she sleeps in to 7am?
Should I just give up getting you to Pittsburgh?
.
Thank you. The link there to the Cindy McCain interview is interesting as well. I think I have only heard her speak on one occasion.
Hey nice to see you Again!
Nope — we are hoping to get a long weekend up there in the near future, if we can get Mr. ReddHedd’s schedule to align with mine. We want to take The Peanut to the zoo and maybe to Idlewild. Just don’t know when that’s going to be yet…but when we figure that out, we’ll do a “grab some coffee.”
For the kiddies or grandkiddies, when you put in the pole beans, make a tee pee out of the poles. In a few, when the plants have grown up the poles, you have a neat, green, special hiding, play house.
Good morning all.
My take FWIW- Rush & Co “made it” & have ensconced themselves in the status quo, & Springsteen hasn’t. Bruce has the power & $$$ to be able to ignore the poor, place them on a lower level than himself, but doesn’t. He & those like him haven’t signed onto the gravy train ride along w/Rush & the boys. This is perceived as a threat to the way they personally have chosen to live their lives.
It was ever so- In a different era, the same types despised Woody Guthrie. Didn’t exactly love the Weavers either, & the list goes on through Baez, Phil Ochs, etc, etc.
I’m here everyday. Still a big fan of the Lake!! Just not much of a “poster”.
This has been a great spring for the garden. Weather has been perfect in Maryland for early starts. Enough rain (some say too much) but the plants are thriving. It’s kinda turned me into a fanatic or something, because every time the topic comes up (and I am often the one to bring it up!!), I go off on rants like the one above. I’m sure people will start turning away soon before I can even get started.
Anyhoo, it’s a very lovely day and there is much to do! Rains tonight so must get things done before then.
We gave Jane the royal treatment…we can do the same for you.
Idlewild? Kennywood!
.
Oh! You’re here Again…
Recently my local community radio station, WMNF Tampa 88.5, aired most of both the sermons the sound bites were taken from. At the time I was thinking, “Why didn’t Obama call a press conference and show the videos or play the tapes of these sermons?” There was so much truth in what Rev Wright had to say, regardless of the makeup of the congregation. Watching Moyers last night validated and reinforced that thought. I think Obama could have made a lot of hay had he come out and shown just what fools the media types had been in this. And how dishonest they were. These Dem “advisers” need to grow a pair. If this is an example of how they’re going to advise Obama to deal with Rethug smears then he’s in for a world of hurt. They could have been on the air within hours with a complete shutdown of the noise machine’s nonsense. But, nooooooo, they had to work it into another sound bite in a speech. The Rethugs appear to have really beaten down the Dem consultants and advisers. The way the networks and cable news folks act there’s no reason for the candidates to not just plain take it to them.
We enjoyed the Moyers/Wright interview last night as well.
It really shows how much “perspective” and “in context” is so tantamount to affective communication.
I think that partly answers the question, why did it take so long to defend the Reverend. Sometimes it takes more than a sound bite to explain where someone is coming from. Yep.
May I suggest your right nut? Lots of those that are totally expendable!
I met Springstein !
years ago contracting with Big 8 Accounting firm/SF – putting together their tax library
the very patrician head of the office called me in and asked if I’d ever heard of a singer named Springstone (I kid you not) – ‘jersey kid, being handled by NYC HQ – gonna buy his parents a house, we’re to make arrangements’
I sent admins/receptionists out to early lunch – just me and the partners – when Bruce came in to the muted lighting/mahogany paneled reception lobby – I thought he was a bike messenger !
long story short – he was a doll baby, very polite, unassuming and respectful to the old farts – killer f’ing smile
when he left, Sr Partner spoke of his respectful attitude and generosity (Bruce moved additional money to some local charities – anonymously) always chuckle when I think of the old guy’s parting shot – “apparently there’s some money in this rock and roll business”
Yes and I thought Wright’s answer to how Obama’s response made him feel was a good reminder to us. He’s a Politician! I’m a Pastor! Two very different roles. Something very important when we wonder so much about the candidates, I think.
Christy @ 77: I’m thumbing through the book & I know both you & peanut will love reading it together. Here’s a poem in it:
I meant to do my work today….
But a brown bird sang in the apple tree,
And a butterfly flitted across the field,
And all the leaves were calling me.
And the wind went sighing over the land,
Tossing the grasses to and fro,
And a rainbow held out it’s shining hand…
So what could I do but laugh and go?
Yes, I guess either one would be OK. The wife and I aren’t planning on any more kids, and I heard somewhere you only need one to have fun.
Here is some wacky weather Fort Wayne, Indiana is 46 degrees and Pittsburgh is 78 degrees.
I think Obama will easily beat McStain.
It’ll be like Bob Dole in 1996. CrazyTrain will fall off a stage into a vat of Bisquick, or some such gaffe.
It’s just up to Clinton, and those donating and voting for her. As they keep doing what they’re doing, it gets progressively harder for Obama to fend off attacks from multiple angles and the complicit BigMedia.
Obama will have no problem dismantling the Repube spin since it’s so predictable and easily refuted.
That was a reply to barbara. For some reason my reply didn’t show up that way.
Rev. Wright, in passing, referred to the “my country right or wrong,” mentality. I was trying to look up the actual Stephen Decature toast, which has been mangled, but ran across this one from G.K. Chesterton:
‘My country, right or wrong’ is a thing no patriot would ever think of saying except in a desperate case. It is like saying ‘My mother, drunk or sober.’
Gilbert K. Chesterton
We’re going to plant squash and vines in tubs in the garden as we’re hoping the vine borers won’t be a problem
Try adding marigolds, basil, sweet alyssum, or nasturtiums in or around the squash. They attract beneficial insects (predators) of the vine borers.
A good friend took me backstage to meet Springsteen in L.A. yrs. ago (yes, Sergio, I’m looking @ you. Thanks!) Also later met him when I was working for the L.A. Food Bank.
A completely low key, modest & unassuming man when you meet him.
And an amazing powerhouse, on & off stage.
Pittsburgh is 78 degrees.
WOOHOO!
My creeping phlox is happy.
.
Good Morning everyone…..
Sitting out poolside here in Phoenix…. it is 70ish…..will be in the high 80’s or 90 today….. having organic Italian roast French Press coffee, homemade yogurt and sprouted wheat bagel with the Beagle buddy sunning herself on the diving board….the roses are at full bloom Jacobs coat, Elizabeth and red climbers….. the rosemary, greek Oregano, thyme and sage just within reach….. the citrus just finished blooming and the star jasmin are busting out all over….it probably is too late to start any veggies, have put herb pots out on my patio linked to my watering system.
Here in Anchorage I’m looking at about 12″ of fresh snow.
Morning Pups, good morning christy, fine post, thank you.
Went to Jean-Talon market earlier this morning. They’re getting ready to tear down the walls for summer. In a couple of weeks, I’ll be able to get a couple big pots of red and green peppers, and a couple pots of tomatoes. I plunk them in the backyard, and the money saved, and taste of these veggies are so worth the care I give them.
This fall, my 88 year old mom and I will get italian tomatoes, and make ourselves a basic tomato sauce that we’ll freeze. I’ll convince her that we should make a bit more, and I’ll bring it to a community kitchen close to here. Thank you for the insparation.
The show text feature is excellent, thanks to the techs.
we were lucky enough to get a spot in the community garden here this year, so I have corn, snap peas, cucumbers, zucchini, pumpkins, bush beans, a tomato, and sunflowers in the ground over there and more tomatoes (some to move over there when they’re a little bigger) and basil in the backyard. I’m trying tomatillos and Anaheim chiles in the backyard too, but they’ve been extracted twice by my 2year old, so they’re a little behind everything else. Same with the cilantro…had to start over from seed with that. I started everything from seeds from Seeds of Change, which I learned about here! If all goes well, I’m going to have 10 tomato plants and do some serious canning!
Well there’s the bee in the ointment.
:-D
.
I have been doing some research on Community Gardens, and it seems that the most daunting challenge isn’t getting one started, it’s getting insurance. Now how sad is that?
We did a little tweaking overnight, hope everyone enjoys the bits of improvements.
Good Morning Christy and pups.
Wonderful post Christy.
No time to read comments, I’m afraid, so forgive me if this has already been said.
The local food banks pretty much all over the country are running on empty. As are other charities. It would be a wonderful year for those with gardens to plant an extra row or whatever extra they have space and energy to tend. I think it’s a given that the food will not go to waste.
Also, for anyone “downsizing” or cleaning out unused clothing, toys, crayons, file folders, furniture, warm coats, pots and pans, etc. etc. PLEASE consider donating rather than just tossing them out. We’re doing a lot of that lately, and are astounded at how grateful people are. In these hard times, what you no longer need can definitely have a second life helping someone else.
Somehow, for whatever silly reason that’s rattling around in my head, that pic of McSame and Junior laughing over the birthday cake while Katrina vented her fury, the pic that was all over HuffPo again yestidie seems more and more obscene and revealing. There is a disconnect, a gaping chasm in the cramped, narrow consciousness of such people. They don’t even have enough soul to feel ashamed, much less probe for reasons why that should be so. I expect junior and deadeye to be strewing trash and causing mayhem until their last minute in office.
I was at the garden yesterday watering and a fellow gardener stopped me on the way out and offered an armful of beets saying she thought my boys would like to try them. I peeled, baked, and mashed them and ate them myself! The boys were brave enough to try 1 bite each, but that was enough for them. They were delicious! Garden people are so nice.
THANK You to you and the techs….. you have no idea how many times I would scroll up and down a thread to “get” what a comment meant…
The lake just gets better and better. Now if I could just find that other oar.
Luv that tweak! Thanks Christy & techies. I think we’re ALL sighing with a big case of the gratefuls! heh.
Hey Lea.
How ya doin’?!
Asking for input for this years vacation…. the tentative plan is this:
Fly to Paris – 4 days over weekend…
Drive around France to Milan Italy – 9 days
Fly from Milan Italy to Crete
9 days soaking up Greek sunshine and super food… then home
anyone have a special place that I should put on my list to see or do?
I agree. Great tweaking. Thank you FDL.
I am happy to enjoy the gardening of ya’all until spring shows up
Really well, Adie. I’m thrilled to have my own 15 x 15 garden spot so I can grow more and use some of those books you gave me! How are you and Mr. Adie?
Sounds wonderful. Climb the bell tower at Notre Dame in Paris if you get a chance.
12″ eh?! Whoosh! Patience, grasshopper. *g*
KayinMaine,
Shall we share our little project discussed last night?
It started with Peterr’s most excellent post about Edward R. Murrow. Yes, you can all go back and read.
We were bringing up the names of a few current excellent journalists…and Helen Thomas’ name came up. Someone wanted to send her flowers. We decided that a card or letter might make her happy and feel appreciated as well. Kay posted her addresses and I’ve got a nice flower thank you card in the post this am.
Like Christy says, it makes us feel good to think of others.
I sent the following letter to Goodyear; then prepared one (with minor individual-adjustments)for my Mom and my daughter. (One is time-challenged; the other technology challenged–so I sought to ease their burden.) Included an overview of the Ledbetter case and urged them to sign the letter, insert in provided envelope, and add their voices to mine. Feel free to use, or create your own. If Congress can right a SC ‘wrong’ maybe consumers can. Anyone know some Nascar fans. (Goodyear is a biggie in Nascar).
April 24, 2008
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
1144 East Market Street
Akron, Ohio 44316-0001
Dear Sir,
I have been a lifelong Goodyear consumer. I cannot begin to tell you how disappointed I am with your decision to appeal the Ledbetter decision as far as necessary to avoid responsibility. Obviously, your lobbying and political dollars have been well-spent.
While I am only one customer, I AM one (former) customer. Needless to say, I will now engage in my own form of lobbying, encouraging my family and friends to follow my pledge: to never buy another product of Goodyear-origin.
Your mistreatment of women in general, and Ms. Ledbetter in particular, should bring shame to your corporate conscience, embarrass your executives and board members, and point to the moral bankruptcy that your actions emphasize.
My action alone will not impact your bottom line—which seems to be the only metric you consider in formulating policy. But other mothers, other daughters, other wives can do no less than share my outrage. Our voices will be heard.
Yes, thank you techies, I love the new feature.
From WaPo this morning:
Party Fears Racial Divide
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..id=topnews
Yeah, i was there. Suzanne kinda blamed me for the hiccup… ;-))
demi,
I missed the thread last night, but a number of us emailed Helen after her confrontation with Perino about torture. She appears to respond to these emails individually and was grateful for kind words sent her way. She certainly is a national treasure.
Thank YOU!
I will share the link to your comment with others this weekend.
Goodyear has to do right by Lilly
Marigold tea is good for sad tummies.
There are medicinal uses for these things we can grow and they do work. I got all into that in the mid 70s. Those are good things to know.
and
Good morning.
:)
all
Good morning. What a lovely post, I wish I had time to read all of it right now. I’m off to help friends at a plant sale today. It’s sponsored by a local program called Harvest for the Hungry, which grows organic vegetables for homeless shelters and food banks, and flowers to give to folks at rest homes and other care facilities. Today’s sale is their main fundraiser for the year. I’ll be filling my garden with their organic starts of heirloom tomatoes, herbs, eggplant, peppers and maybe some other things I won’t be able to resist.
If there are any Sonoma County folks reading this, the sale is at the First Methodist Church on Yulupa from 9 to 3ish today (there will also be fair trade items for sale–profits go the HFH, beeswax thingies and other neat stuff). Drop by!
Thanks for all you do, Christie.
Be well, all.
Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy is over near Verona. And you have to go to Verona, after all…Katymine Katymine, wherefore art thou (you get the idea). There is actually a statue of Juliet under a balcony, quite the tourist attraction.
Also, you can drive to Venice (well, next to Venice). I know a lot of people say it’s dirty, smelly etc etc but it’s also a wonderfully interesting place with fabulous architecture, interesting alleyways and it’s just plain cool. If you’ve never been, check it out.
Otherwise, find a nice cafe where you can deny in broken Italian (unless you’re fluent) that every voted for the moron-in-chief and have a nice cappucino and pastry in the sunshine, read a book and then wander off thorough the interesting and urban metropolis of Milano!
errrp:
meant to say
:-)
Oh, and driving in Italy, especially outside the cities, a lot of fun… just make sure you get a GPS. And the “autogrilles” on their limited-access highways are wonderful combinations of diners, grocery stores and truck-stops. Pretty good food, believe it or not.
Sounds like a great day, Laura.
Too long of a drive from LA, but I sure wish I could drop by.
If only my Transporter wasn’t on the fritz.
Wow, the only thing I ever got over 10 years at big 4 accounting firm was screwed over. :)
The Greeks are way involved in politics….. they also read, have real Teevee and love to discuss it…… it was funny how they approached the subject of the war & BushCo when they found out we were Amerikee ….. as soon as I let them know that we totally disapproved of the administration…. well it was all smiles and on to other discussions like how our mortgage crisis was going to ruin EU economy …
O/T, but breaking – US Contractor Ship Fires on Iranian Boats in Gulf http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080426……html?.v=2
Yes, it is cold here in Indiana this morning. Everybody is abuzz about the coming primary. I have received 1 mailer from Obama and 2 from Hillary. Got my Obama sign in my front yard. Took guts since this is Dan Burton country!
Thank you for the new feature, it’s great.
bom dia, pups
We are late starting a garden because a) we are procrastinators but more importantly b) we decided to do native drought resistant bee and butterfly friendly grasses and flowers. We are going to do the square foot gardening and have gained some new tips in terms of tub planting (would love to do arugula and spinach) Getting to it today. Nice thing about native plants is that they don’t need fertilizer *g*
The above is very telling.
IMHO, Sen. Clinton has every right to continue in the race.
She shouldn’t use that right to destroy Sen. Obama’s chances in the fall, however.
wish i lived closer, I would be there in a heartbeat. It is a wonderful idea for a fundraiser (I wonder if the folks in Santa Monica or Long Beach does anything like that)
And insider tells all re the dumbing down of Muka.
We’re happy for you. The Mr. just tilled our home patch just yesterday, probably for the last time *sniffle*. I took a couple of pix to record the event. Actually, I’m taking a bunch of pix, showing our woods in all the seasons, so we can show it off to our new friends. The conservation easement will stay and help protect the area, even after we move.
Looks as if we’ll be buggin’ outta here next year, maybe about June. TBA. No tears really. Just kidding. Lotsa work and wonderful memories, but it’s time to cut back on the responsibilities and effort. Where we’re moving, the folks are warm and friendly, smart and environmentally conscious, to the point of working very hard to make the grounds more “prairie”-like. Lots of trails to trek. Lots of the same stuff that interests us now still within a stone’s throw. And… someone ELSE gets to shovel all the snow, clean the gutters, fix the clothes washer, and do the heavy work. But there’s a community garden, so we’ll still have dirt under our fingernails, heh.
The other day, we took a little picnic lunch and sat on a bench next to “our” pond we’ll be living next to. That’s something we haven’t had just outside our door before. The tree swallows were swooping all around us, and a bluebird family was starting up housekeeping in a nearby nestbox.
There’s even a resident colony of the endangered Indiana free-tailed bats sharing “our” pond in the evenings. Our kitties will go with us. And there’s a world-class college within walking distance, at which we get free auditing privileges in whatever courses interest us, plus recitals and concerts.
Sounds like a dream, but it’s real. But first, we need to get outta here some how. 35 yrs of accumulated “stuff”. Whew!
oops! surely more than you wanted to know. seriously, a good move to make at a good time, if we can just manage, heh.
What warmongers we have running this country. They’re making us hateful. They want war with Iran, N. Korea, Venezuala, Syria…..have I left anyone out?
Katy, you are in heaven. ;-)
That photo in the DKos post is taken from the top of the ski-jump from the Oslo Olympics, quite a sight, and perfect for the disaster: downhill all the way, free-fall for sure.
We are off to elect our (maybe new, change is good) national committee man and woman today, plus the last of our at-large delegates to Denver.
That sounds wonderful, Adie. Change is good! Good luck!
Just read a few comments about Ms. Helen Thomas. If you’d like to send her a card, some flowers, or both, her address is…
Helen Thomas
c/o Hearst Newspapers
700 12th St. NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20005
She’ll love it! Hey, even if it’s 20 or so that go out to her, she will know the Ladies (and Gents!) of The Lake that we The Everybody who heard her a few days ago. ;-)
I have no objection (as if it mattered) to Clinton staying in the race. Being so far left that Nixon spins in his grave every time I open my mouth, I don’t see much I like in either candidate. IMO both are corporate beasts dancing to the corporate tune. My interests lie in getting progressives elected to Congress, where we can do something about the corporate takeover of our democracy. That said, I’m not so naive to think that this struggle will end in 2008, or 2010, or even by 2012. I do hope for significant progress by 2012 but, unlike most Americans, I don’t possess that immediate gratification gene. I’m in this for the long haul and plan accordingly. The tigers and I want to see a real democracy again before we go to our graves.
Oh, and they’re fully “wired”, so we take our toobz with us. U can’t get rid of us that easily. We’ll still be at the Lake daily, after we get settled in. Gotta have my fellow pups at the Lake!
By the way, thanks Demi for keeping our little project alive! Appreciate it.
Okay, back to cleaning my house and then off to the dump. ;-)
Thanks again, Kay.
Tell it, sister.
And, cheers to all who help Freedom Ring.
And, who plant their own vegetables too.
Got some tomato plants sprouting, though they won’t be going outside for at least another week. The strawberries haven’t sprouted, though I can always reuse their soil for other plants.
Life goes on!
Left out all the power countries..McBush types only pick on the weak….gutless chickenhawk-chickenshits.
Good gawd my grammer is atrocious this morning! (waiting for kitchen floor to dry) LOL My post should have read, “…she will know The Ladies (and Gents!) of The Lake were The Everybody who heard her a few days ago.
Demi, sometimes the simplest things have the biggest impact. ;-)
I agree and, to that end, I think Sen. Obama will have much longer coat tails than Sen. Clinton in the general election.
:) Simple things? One of my favorite sensations is bare feet on a clean kitchen floor.
got a link to this?
Good post.
Real and handy information.
In the tall timber looking out at the 12+ inches of new snow that the wind is stirring up into drifts. Just filled the bathtub in case the power goes out, not uncommon up here. We’re snowbound, and reminiscing when power outages meant melting snow on the wood stove.
Spring is a fickle woman here in the north country.
Daughter said the WSJ had an article encouraging bulk buying because either food will be scarce or prices will spike. But how will the poor afford to buy in bulk now? Be mindful of the needs of food banks in the months to come.
George Bush and Big Oil’s war on America continues.
yes to longer coattails.
and yes to Hillary can continue if she chooses, but not at the expense of destroying Obama and the Democratic Party.
Will not forget, nor forgive.
egads, of course that should be ‘do’ and not ‘does’
I really is edumacated
It looks like I’m late to this. If there’s another thread that it should go in, let me know.
A few of us who live in the city of Chicago are growing heirloom vegetables on our rooftops in cheap homemade self-watering containers. The design of these containers allows for “more than double the yield of a conventional garden using less fertilizer, less water, and virtually no effort”. All without a garden.
Among other things, we think they’re a great way to build connections in a fragmented social/political landscape.
Not selling anything, we’re giving “it” away.
Our Flickr site has roughly 30 links that show you how you can do this for yourself, whether it’s on your roof, deck, or balcony.
We’ve even got an expert to answer the question, “Why Bother?”. Michael Pollan was nice enough to, without knowing it, write a great essay that supports what we’ve been doing for a year.
(I also wrote a Daily Kos diary about it)