Sunday, September 28, 2025

Doing Squat Or Not Doing Squat. Whatever


Yesterday when we were at the farm to table restaurant, we went out to look at the front garden beds. One of the beds had a sign that said anyone was free to take a clipping and there were even scissors for that purpose. The plant in that bed was one I don't think I'd ever seen. It was an herb which I've now identified as Cuban oregano or Mexican mint and the leaf is quite thick and somewhat hairy and the edges are serrated. See above. I've just looked it up and it's actually a succulent. Which makes sense. The scent of it is very pleasant, unlike any other plant I've ever smelled. It almost has a fruity odor to me but lots of other scents mixed in with it all. But of course I did indeed snip two stems of it, brought it home and put it to root in that little glass which I placed in the window of the laundry art-room/plant nursery. You can also just lay the plant down on moist dirt and spray it every few days with water and it'll root that way too but I chose to do it like this because it is quite possible I'd let the poor thing dry out. 


I have no idea what culinary use I'll put the herb to but I'd grow it just for the coolness of the plant. You know how I do love to make plants out of plants. I think many of us do. 

I did not do SQUAT today. Do y'all use that word in that way? You can also say "diddly squat," of course, but I like the elegance of just the one word and besides that, "diddly squat" makes me think of Bo Diddly and he has certainly done more than squat. 
Uh huh. 
And I really do not care that I did nothing. I did make our Sunday morning breakfast and that is actually not nothing. And I cleaned three bathroom sinks and boy, did they need it! I pulled the drains and cleaned all that nastiness too. And oh yeah, I blanched and bagged a bunch of field peas for the freezer. 
And all of that together probably took about an hour. 

If there's one thing from the Bible I do not mind following, it is that we should remember the Sabbath and keep it holy and "holy" can mean whatever you want it to. If that means on Sunday you like to stay in your pajamas and eat edibles and watch reruns of Lassie and have delicious snacks, you do it! If it means you want to get in the dirt on your knees to pull weeds and plant peas, you do that. And if it means you are most happy taking out the kayak and paddling a river- hell yes! 
We here at the Church of the Batshit Crazy believe in a lot of free will, free kisses, free healthcare (I wish) and free time to do whatever your heart desires. 

Obviously I do not have a lot to say. Or anything, for that matter. Oh, there are things I could talk about, one being books that the New York Times gives excellent reviews to and which I find to straddle that line between why-the-hell-am-I-reading-this and maybe-something-will-happen-of-interest-soon.
In this case, the book is What We Can Know by Ian McEwen and really, all it's doing for me is making me feel as if I have no ability to judge art at all and am simply ignorant. Not unlike the paintings of Jackson Pollock. If I live to be a thousand (fat chance) I'll never "get" his art and I long ago gave up trying to even care. 

See? I really have nothing to talk about. 
No one had a birthday today which was another reason I didn't do squat today. Well, Billy's birthday is today but all I've done is text him my good wishes and eternal love. 

Tomorrow I have to go to town to pick up my dresses at the alteration lady's place because she told me to and I dare not disobey. It is August's birthday tomorrow and there will be a small pizza party after volleyball at a park but I may or may not make that one. I'm sure he'll forgive me if I don't. I did get him a present and that's what matters. 

Here's a picture of Maurice and marigolds. 


She came out to the garden to join me the other day and then completely ignored me. She hasn't drawn blood in about three days so I have forgiven her. 
Grudgingly. 
We have a dysfunctional relationship, to say the least. 

I hope you've had a decent Sunday and that the sad, sad soul of that particular day of the week did not infect your soul the way it can. 

I'm going to go cook some shrimp. 

Love...Ms. Moon

35 comments:

  1. I didn’t do much, either. A little canning, chicken stock, laundry on the line. I bagged up a few things for the thrift store. All in all a slow drawn out beautiful day. I talked to one son which fills my heart even when we don’t have much to say. I love the herb in the cut glass; very elegant and beautiful!

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    1. Sounds like you got a LOT done. But when you can go at your own pace, it surely makes things better, doesn't it?
      Glad you got to talk to your son. Always good.

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  2. I love herb cuttings, just pinch and sniff!

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    1. Yes, m'am! And I have a feeling this herb is going to grow like Godzilla.

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  3. I got up, canned the tomatoes I had simmering in the crockpot over night. I then did the second half bushel and popped them in the crock pot to make spaghetti sauce. I made meatballs. Dehydrated the tomato skins. Chopped up cherry tomatoes to make salsa. It looks like a lot, but it was a slow day that unfolded at its own pace, and I loved it.

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    1. As with Debbie above, sounds like you were extremely productive and yet, were able to take your time which makes all the difference.

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  4. You did more than me, per usual. And we each did enough 😀

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  5. That Mexican Oregano looks lovely in that Window Vignette and it seems as if it's loving it's Location.

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    1. I feel like that stuff would grow in a dark closet.

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  6. Got to say, your cake for Ms. Lily was spectacular.
    I do love the little bit of plant that you snipped, it does look hearty- worthy of portrait by Ellen. Maurice is still as adorable as poison oak.

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    1. Yes! Ellen could do a great portrait of that sassy herb.
      As to Maurice- yes. Yes she is.

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  7. I actually did have a Sunday in my pyjamas eating whatever took my fancy. I didn't even step outside. I should have, because this morning I noticed a swarm of ants, many with wings, settling into and onto one of my pots with the intention of setting up a new nest in my dry-as-dust dirt. I got the hose and drowned the pot, ants don't like damp, so I will drown that pot on a daily basis for a while and water everything else while I am out there.
    I don't get Jackson Pollock's art either, I can see similar works from the three year old twins. Why anyone would pay millions of dollars for a paint splattered canvas is beyond me. It would be cheaper to buy a house painter's splattered drop sheet and hang that.
    I hope the dresses are much more comfortable after the alterations and that August has a happy pizza party.

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    1. I need to water my porch plants tomorrow. Poor things. I don't think I have ants though. I could be wrong.
      I have to agree with you on Jackson Pollock. I mean, there must be SOMETHING that people love about his painting. I just can't find it.
      The dresses are good.

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  8. That was a nice touch of that restaurant to allow you to take cuttings. Good PR for them too I expect! And Jeremy Clarkson's farm is called Diddly Squat and I think it's just perfect - although the amount of work involved on that farm is far from diddly squat!

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    1. I would love to know the story of why someone would name a farm Diddly Squat.

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    2. I read that book and apparently Diddly Squat describes his knowledge of farming. The man made so many mistakes!

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  9. Interesting how you can do squat or not do squat and it’s the same thing. I had a friend named Beau. (Of course he was southern.) Everyone called him Diddly. He hated it. I love the look of Mexican mint, and the scent. You should have a good time with that. Lots of uses.

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    1. I know! And it's not like, "I could care less" or "I couldn't care less." They have completely different meanings. But squat is all purpose.
      "Beau" is a very southern name, isn't it? And really, is it any better than "Diddly"?
      So you're familiar with Mexican mint. Did it grow in California? Does it grow in Spain?

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    2. I know there were a number of plants called Mexican mint that grew in Southern California. I just read that it can be grown here, too. SG has a terrible time with could care less and couldn’t care less. He says “I could care less” and I say “or you couldn’t.” Many people screw it up because the phrase is commonly “as if I could care less.” I’ve given up on SG, but it drives me crazy in movies and television.

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    3. It seems like anything that can grow here can grow where you are too. And often does.
      When I say the care less thing I generally say it in a very definitive way. I. Could. Not. Care. Less.
      The thing that drives me craziest (and I am NOT a grammar judger, generally, is when people say, "Between he and I." No. It's me. It's "Between he and me." Does no one take English anymore?

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    4. Oh my dear goddess! Just between us, that drives me crazy, too. And I am NOT a grammar judger. Just some things, as my niece would say, git up me nose.

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  10. I shared a meme not too long ago that said, "The only squat I'm doing is diddly" LOL.

    Happy Birthday to dear August today, and to all the Moon clan celebrating this month. Ya'll are busy around Christmastime! haha.

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    1. Good meme!
      Yes. I think we Moons must really enjoy our Christmas vacations!

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  11. I do diddly squat most days now that I am old. I remember going to see Bo Diddly perform in a bar when I was a teenager, I was a fan. As far as bat shit crazy, my kids always called me that, so I got a tattoo of a bat just to humer them. Today might be my grandson’s 29th birthday or maybe it is October 29, I was there for his birth so really I should remember. I have a photo with the date stamp so I had better get off my but and find out so I can text him if it is today. Gigi

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    1. Haha! I love that you got a bat tattoo! You are definitely an official member of the Church of the Batshit Crazy.
      You make me feel better about all the things I forget, many of them involving family members. It's hard! Four kids, five grandkids, a husband...
      Phew.

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  12. I just looked and his birthday is today. Thanks for reminding me.. gigi

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  13. Sunday is a day of rest - a leftover feeling from when I used to work but even tho I am retired, I still often think of it that way.
    I think you mentioned that August is going to be 11 and I thought, that can't be right, how did he get to 11 already!?! Hope his birthday is happy and his year is terrific!

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    1. I was so wrong! He turned ten today! Oh god. I am headed to memory care sooner rather than later.

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  14. I prefer diddly squat because it's not just the big squat things but the little diddly things too. Every day is holy as far as I'm concerned but Sundays do make it easier to not do diddly squat since most of the rest of the country isn't doing squat either. I did yard work, talked to my son, and entertained Paisleigh for a couple of hours. So I did get some squat done.

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    1. And then there's "piddly" which is also a good word to describe very little.
      You surely did get squat done, woman! You always do.

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  15. The Mexican oregano/mint looks terrific. The leaf is very attractive and plants with a pleasant smell add to the garden.
    In my opinion, physically doing nothing except maybe contemplating a few things makes a great day. It is all very restorative.
    Cheers to August on his B-day.

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    1. Everyone needs a day here and there to just let it all go.

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  16. I have never seen a plant like that Mexican mint, at least not that I remember. I can't wait to see what it looks like when it grows up!

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.