I picked up my suit and it fits, which was sort of the objective, so I’ll consider it mission, accomplished.
I went to two nurseries and am thinking of adopting a rose bed in a public garden. The garden is adjacent to one of the nurseries along with a small public park and an old building that is rented out for parties.
I think it was all part of one person’s home many years ago and has local significance, but I’m not sure what the significance is. Not surprising since I lived a couple miles from a California Mission my whole life and never got around to seeing until I was thirty (despite having gone to the Santa Barbara Mission twice).
Anyway, I think basically my adopting the rose bed means that once a month or so I have to go there and prune and deadhead, and add new roses to those that are already there if I feel like. I think it would look nice if it was bordered in Coral Bells, Lavender or Catnip, but since it’s a rose garden they might not allow any other plants. If that’s the case, I may not be adopting anything. (I don’t like being told “No,” and roses are all well and good, but the eye needs something different to rest on occasionally.)
I went grocery shopping so my sister will eat something while I am gone, and I forgot to get peanuts and birdseed. Oh! I have a new squirrel–he looks like this. I have never seen a black squirrel before, but he is quite striking.
I think my birds are racist since they are afraid of the rest of the squirrels, but were chasing after this one. Ironic, since the birds themselves are black. I haven’t seen him interact with the rest of the squirrels so I don’t know if they dislike him too. If they are mean to him, I’m cutting off their nuts (their supply of nuts, that is).
7 responses so far ↓
Laurilyn // Monday, April 21, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Which mission?
Darn squirrels and their peanuts–I keep finding them in my vegetable beds as I double dig and get ready to plant.
I have planted fleabane around my roses, but like the idea of lavender and catnip.
apremerson // Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at 7:27 am
Mission San Jose, which is not in San Jose anymore, it’s in Fremont. I don’t know for certain if the spot was once part of San Jose or if the Mission was named for the closest large town.
Yes, the squirrels can be little buggers, they sometimes buried nuts in my potted plants. So I started buying them already shelled nuts, which makes less mess (no shell to pick up), discourages them from burying them, and are actually cheaper. (because I buy them in big bags at the Indian market).
Laurilyn // Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Me, too! I grew up in Fremont. I don’t think the two San Joses are related–they are both just named after the same patron saint. The city was established before the mission, I think. Something I vaguely remember from California history in 4th grade.
apremerson // Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 7:46 am
I didn’t remember that from 4th grade. I think I blocked some of that year from my memory–I had a teacher who despised me from day one. She’d taught both my sister and brother and didn’t like either of them, so when I walked in she had made up her mind already. The fact that I was a smart-ass didn’t help either. (Geraldine Leonard at Millard.)
Do you remember when Elephant Bar was Lions? (Had to ask a really random question about our hometown.)
Laurilyn // Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Why yes I do! And when Target was Ward’s and Tower Records was across from Safeway and all the incarnations of what is now Bed, Bath and Beyond.
And being a smart-ass never helps, but as a teacher, I can tell you it makes students endearing over time. Did Mr. Deeder teach 6th grade at Millard? He is currently the superintendent of my school district.
Enjoy the OTHER city (I refuse to capitalize it).
apremerson // Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 7:18 pm
I don’t recall a Deeder, but I’ll ask my sister and brother and sister in law who might.
I capitalize it by choice, you don’t have to. (I think it makes me pretentious and I like that.) Talk to you later.
pilgrimprincess // Monday, April 28, 2008 at 5:28 pm
I don’t like to be told ‘no’ either.
Like gas stations in rural Texas after 10 pm, comments are closed.