Tuesday, February 15, 2022

No Title, Lots Of Pictures


Besides the many azalea bushes we have out front which were here when we got here, there are a few random ones in the back yard that we planted and which, I am ashamed to admit, I have not taken very good care of over the years but they are alive and here's one that's blooming. They are looking a bit better since I started my chicken/compost lazy woman's method of fertilization and clearing-out around which is that I dump the scraps and peels I feed to the chickens beside the plants that need some attention and the chickens proceed to scratch about the plants, thus clearing the area, also pooping, and then, what they don't eat goes back into the soil eventually. 
Win, win, win. 

Chickens are such a neat part of the eco-system of my yard. Of course I can't plant pansies because they will eat them and I can't set begonias down where they can get to them because those, too, are tasty chicken treats but nothing is perfect. 
Except eggs, of course. 

So. Guess what? I woke up this morning planning on dragging my ass to Costco to buy new airpods but I tried one more time to pair them with my phone and as if by magic, as if they had suddenly remembered what they were supposed to do, the case flashed the correct colors and my phone screen advised me as to how to connect them to the phone and voila! They did. Easy as pie. 
It was like during the night they got their minds back and this morning said, "Oh yeah. We remember this." 
Yesterday, no matter what I did on the advice of every tech nerd AND Apple on the internet, my phone would not recognize them. It's a longer story than that but who needs to hear it? 
Not you. 

So that was good and I've resumed my book-listening, podcast-listening life again and today I began the task of pruning back the confederate jasmine on the fence in the back yard. In years before I have done the whole job in one day but last year I didn't get to the chore at all and besides that, I am taking things more slowly and deliberately these days. 

Here's what the fence looks like. 


There is more you can't see. And so, yes, it is a bit daunting and I got maybe a sixth of the entire job done today. That was three very piled-up garden carts worth of trimmings. Here's some of what I'm dealing with. 


And really, that's the least of it. 

Here's a shot of what it looks like where I've cut it back to within an inch of its life. 


Left side, untrimmed. Right side, trimmed. 

If I had any sense at all I would just have Mr. Moon pull the dang vines up with the truck and call it done. Who needs confederate jasmine? Okay, it does smell sweet but I'm not sure it's worth the trauma. Actually, I am quite sure it's not. 

Oh well, keeps me out of the pool halls. And also, it gives me more bonding time with my always curious chickens who have to observe everything I do outside. 


Maurice spent some time with me too, but she got bored and moved on to other, more fulfilling activities like hiding on the porch and making sure that Jack doesn't come in. 


So recently I realized that some plants in the garden were not, as I had thought, mustard greens but in fact, are Gai Choy, otherwise known as Chinese mustard greens. 
Well, you learn something every day. Here's what it looks like, fresh out of the garden and washed. 



It's a pretty thing, isn't it? Mr. Moon had an early-ish basketball game to attend so I've already made his supper which did indeed involve the Gai Choy and also, leftover steak from last night. Which was, by the way, delicious and we had a very sweet time. 
Here's what the stir fry looked like in the wok.


Oh my Lord! Have you seen the moon tonight? I just went out to put the chickens up and it blasted my brain into tiny bits. 


I have got to get a real camera. 
I so miss how our darling Rebecca always named the full moons for us. I think I will call this one the "If You Were On A Beach In Florida And Saw This Moon Right Now You Would Be The Luckiest Person In The World" moon. 

Love...Ms. Moon (Believe it or not)


30 comments:

  1. That moon is marvelous and so are you.

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  2. I eas just sitting watching the moon come up through the trees, from dusk to dark. It's wonderful. I think this one has a few names, hunter's moon might be one, snow moon would certainly be a good one here, too this year.

    My one little azalea which I keep because a friend gave it, and don't like, too stabby, don't like its reddish flowers. Anyway it gets my used tealeaves for the acid and seems that like it.

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    1. My coffee grounds go into what I throw to the plants and chickens so there is that too.
      I read that it is called the Snow Moon which would be appropriate for you but not for us. And the moon shines down on all of us.

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  3. Replies
    1. Hi gosh I miss you, R
      You are the Moon of Challah Cat goddess forest Animal Gods.
      How's your enchanted kitchen and ever everything? We lots of us love and miss your footed reality!

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  4. We are immersed in a cold (well, cool) foggy drizzle, so no moon for us. Except for you, Mary Moon, and that is more than enough.

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  5. I did not realize the moon was so full. I must look tomorrow.

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    1. I think it is actually full tonight. Not sure.

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  6. Thanks for mentioning the moon! I just took a look and it is lovely tonight! I love that I can look up and see the same pretty moon that you see, Ms. Moon!

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    1. The same sun and the same moon shine over us all. The stars as well. That is magic.

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  7. the stir-fry looks delicious. I think having Mr Moon yank out the jasmine with the truck is a fine idea. That's a great moon shot :)

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    1. The more I prune the more I am thinking it would solve a lot of problems to just get rid of that stuff.

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  8. I noticed the moon the night before last when I woke up in the middle of the night and went out to our living room and it was like a SPOTLIGHT shining in the window. So bright!

    Is Gai Choy the same as Bok Choy?

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    1. It was so bright here, too!
      No, the two choys are different. The Gai Choy has ruffler leaves and is slightly spicy. Thus- Chinese mustard greens.

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  9. I would go to a pool hall with you, Mary Moon. I think we'd have a fine time. Confederate jasmine be damned.

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  10. I was enjoying the very same moon as well. It was lovely. The snow moon works well here, although, touch wood, it hasn't been a bad February at all.

    I found out on Monday that I have enough saved to retire. I am hopefully optimistic, because life. I would like to work less though. My poor feet are killing me. Who knew they could hurt so damned much!

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    1. Oh honey! That is such good news! Yes, please work less because right now you are working SO much at your job and with your little guy. I know your feet would be so happy.

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  11. Ironically, Mr. Moon has a picture with the exact same title. It is a picture of you on a beach in Florida.

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  12. That confederate jasmine seems a bit like the honeysuckle and wisteria by my front door. Beautiful to look at but a bugger to cut back!

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    1. I have a native jasmine and it is no trouble at all. My wisteria does want to take over but it is nothing like this damn confederate jasmine. Ugh!

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  13. Pruning back the jasmine reminded me of the two months or so it took me to clear the fence over at the shop of grape vine, virginia creeper, greenbrier, poison ivy, and 25 some odd trees.

    And what the difference between bok choy and gai choy?

    I can't believe you already have azaleas blooming. Not mine, not yet.

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    1. Oh god. I remember that, Ellen! I felt so bad for you! There are a few small trees that have grown up under this mess but mostly I can pull them.
      Bok choy has less ruffly leaves than gai choy and the gai choy has a little mustard bite.
      Well, these are early variety azaleas. The others are no where near ready unless I'm not paying attention which is possible.

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  14. That is a wonderful name for a full moon. I miss Rebecca, too, but I imagine she is practicing self care of some sort so I shall simply send love winging her way. Also, I have a wonderful book to recommend, especially to those who listen to their books, The Final Revival of Opal and Nev by Dawnie Walton. It is something special and entirely unique. If you do listen, I'd love to hear how it strikes you.

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  15. It was super amazing on the left coast, too. My son texted me from his bartender job like this: "The moon looks sick tonight." "Sick," in case you didn't know, means "outstanding" or "fabulous" or "wonderful" or "amazing."

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.