Need I Say More?

I thought not!

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Now Where Did I Put That Ark?

(Part of the mess that is now our basement floor). Today was a long day of more torrential rains which finally began taking their toll (again) late this morning. Sand bags. Shop-vac'g. Buckets. Digging a trench. Shop-vac'g. Shop-vac'g. You get the idea. Our basement's flooding (I took the pic above after Hubby's shop-vac'd it the first time) and water's coming in around the patio door (still, that started yesterday). But, it could be worse and probably is for a lot of folks in the area, so in essence we are lucky. I don't feel we can complain since we Knowingly live in an area with "drainage issues" though many others apparently don't feel the same! Nothing has been damaged so far in the basement - everything's up on pallets and shelves for the most part and the only kind of boxes we put on the floor are the plastic kind w/lids (and most of those are on pallets too). We're keeping our fingers crossed for the washer & dryer - they're not on pallets (though they will be soon). It's the most water we've had down there since we moved here in '05 & thankfully it happens infrequently. (Getting water in the kitchen? Way more frequent unfortunately). Thankfully the end of the rain is in sight!

I posted a couple of pics over at New Jersey Through My Eyes. I hope everyone makes it through this latest storm alright!

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Beginnings

Despite a raging sinus headache on Friday, (I've lost so much time to headaches of one kind or another as of late) I started seeds in little peat cups (as I couldn't find the un-waxed paper cups I've used before) with Miracle-Grow Seed Starter Potting Mix.

Veggies:
Spinach (Bloomsdale Longstanding)
Swiss Chard (Mixed Colors)
Chives (also an herb/spice when dried after harvest)
Squash (Dark Green Zucchini - the seedlings smell Heavenly!)
Tomato (Rutgers)
Tomato (Kellogg's Beefsteak, orange color)

Herbs:
Lavender (True, pale purple)
Cornflower
Lavender (True, dark pink purple)

Perennials:
Echinacea (Purple Coneflower, pink color)
Columbine (Blue)
Mix (Mainly yellow & pink perennial flowers)
Viola (Johnny Jump Up, purple & yellow)
Black Eyed Susans

Annuals:
Zinnia (Enchantress Rose, pink)
Zinnia (Envy, pale lime green)
Vinca (Little Choice Mix, pink, dark pink & white)

There's nothing like the scent of damp soil in a peat cup...

Well, there's not!

And Guess What?!

Yesterday, finally, I brought home a Forsythia! (Along with some more Pansy's but that's not the point right now). It makes me so Happy to finally have my own Forsythia! (For a photo example, please see my previous post, directly underneath this one entitled, "Let The Gardening Begin!"). I can't wait for this latest bout of RAIN to be over with so I can get it settled into its' Large container and release its' bindings.

I've made notes about where things will be shuffled and where new containers are called for for this year, out front and in the back yard. Very exciting stuff!

Well, it is!

Don't let the fact that you're an apartment/condo/house dwelling Renter (or [_____] ) stop you from gardening if you love to, regardless of the size of your space. (Or lack there of as the case may be). I sure don't!

Let The Gardening Begin!

Well, almost.

Sorry for the tease!

It's still a wee bit too early to do much here but we've cleaned things up (again) after the last storm and things are coming back to life quickly, especially my Roses, Bleeding Heart, Butterfly Bush and Autumn Joy Sedum.

I did bring home 5 four packs of Pansy's day before yesterday (3 light purple, 2 deep dark purple) and tomorrow we're heading back to the farmer's market to pick up some more plus a Forsythia! (I'm so excited, I've wanted a Forsythia for Years!)

Oh, and it's a small world: The guy who runs the year round farmer's market up the highway from us is Hubby's (second) cousin! They both come from such large families that they're both meeting people they end up being related to.

But here's the Exciting reason for my post (exciting to all of you gardener's out there that is): Yesterday I picked up a Dinner Plate Contraste Dahlia for $2.99! They usually go for $10 and up around here. Happy Dance! I haven't had a Dahlia in my garden since 2007 or 2008, terrible I know. That one was similar to this though not a Dinner Plate and was more of a reddish pink in color. (Okay, maybe not so similar then, lol!) I'm stopping back there this evening to see what else I can dig up to bring home!

(All links to photo's provided by Google Images).

Join Me...

Over at New Jersey Through My Eyes, new photo's posted yesterday and today.

Tip-toe Through The Tulips

Watch CBS News Videos Online

I Just Finished A Wonderful Novel

The Lace Makers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I can't say enough about this novel. It enchanted me right from the start through the finish. Funny, heartbreaking, relate-able, transportive. A glimpse of my heritage in the present. Wonderful.

Click above to find the Goodreads description.

View all my reviews >>

The Moon arrived in time to watch the Sunset with us.

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Local September 11th Memorial destroyed in the recent storm.

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Happy St. Patty's Day!

"May you always be blessed

With walls for the wind,

A roof for the rain,
A warm cup of tea by the fire- -

Laughter to cheer you,

Those you love near you,

And all that your heart

might desire."

~An Old Gaelic Blessing

Did you know? Irish actually ate cabbage and thick, cured bacon on this day. (They didn't have corned beef). Also, blue is the "National color" of Ireland. An interesting site in keeping with the day: Irish Cultures and Customs.

How I miss my Nana on days like this! She came to America, by herself, in 1919, at the age of 19, on a ship (which didn't go through Ellis Island as she had a "sponsor" here already). Forced to leave a life, the land and the people she loved as a replacement for her sister because her sister was sent back to Ireland because of a punctured ear drum. Nana always talked about going back to Ireland and taking me with her. We never made that trip and I truly hope that before I pass on someday, I will see Ireland in person for her.

I'm about to get the corned beef going on the stove for dinner, later with Hubby, myself and Mom. (Along with potato's, carrots and Irish Soda Bread). The parade in NY starts at noon so that will go on soon. It's sunny and warm(ish!) here today and things are maybe starting to dry out. (After 4 inches of rain on a saturated ground, who knows how long it will actually take).

What are your plans on this day?

I hope you enjoy the music playing in honor of my heritage and this day!

A safe, lovely and Happy Day to all!

March is Women's History Month

Did you know? I didn't until I saw author Darnell Arnoult's blog post on March 12th, and this year's theme is "Writing Women Back Into History (over at the National Women's History Project, link below).

I haven't heard this on the news or read it in the newspapers. Have you? As soon as I saw it on Goodreads, I posted it to my Twitter and fb accounts as well as in the groups I belong to on Goodreads. Please spread the word!

For more info, please visit Women's History Month and National Women's History Project.

March 2010 Garden Blogger's Bloom Day and March's Fury

For more info on GBBD, see May Dreams Gardens.

The Monarch Butterflies are suffering this Winter season! For more info, please click here.

It's still chilly, foggy and raining here, as it has been for 5 days. This storm has been unlike anything we've seen here in many years. Power's out all over (thankfully we only browned out- dozens of times), trees down, homes flooded, schools closed, roof's blown off, debris everywhere, people have died... Mother Nature's fury indeed.
Beware The Ides of March this day!

The Fog Rolled In Yesterday...

And has yet to leave. Rain and wind have joined in.
(Twin Lights of Navesink, Highlands, NJ)

Fog drifted past our windows yesterday like thick, white billowing smoke from a fire coming to the end of its’ burn. I could see it rolling in, whiting out the hills, then the highway and then I couldn’t see out of the window to the sidewalk.

Fog is an incredible mood-setter for me. It peaks my interest. Awakens my imagination. I could watch it for hours and not get bored.

I’ve lived inland from here and mostly the fog seemed to hang low to the ground much of the time when we got it at all. Not here. Here it’s down low in the valley and up high in the hills. It swirls along the road and blanks out the horizon. And it’s foggy here nearly every day, at least in the early mornings. There is something very different about the fog on the coast (or in the mountains). It's unlike fog I've experienced elsewhere (except in the mountains).

Mesmerizing to watch.
Comes & goes as it pleases.
Engulfs entire area's down here in gray & white.
Moves to a rhythm not even Mother Nature is familiar with.
Muffles noises.
Muffles light.
Makes large drops of moisture drip from the trees.
Magical. Mysterious. Eerie.
Intimidating and beautiful.

It's as much a part of living here as the Ocean is. Both are unique characters in their own right.

My mind wanders when I see it, wonders what’s out there.

Of course that means I have to stop my mind from picturing some of the creepy parts of John Carpenter’s classic film “The Fog” and not remember Stephen King’s short story “The Mist,” which scared the ever living shit out of me so bad a couple of years ago that I not only couldn’t finish it, I literally threw the book it was in away in the dumpster outside because I didn’t even want it in the house. (Seriously, that’s not an exaggeration. It messed up my mind something fierce, terrified me).

Anyhoo…

For some reason, foggy days stir my desire to create, batten down the hatches and hunker down. Instead of turning on lights to brighten the room, I light a candle or two. I turn the television off and in the cooler months, make a hot cup of tea. In warmer months, I may go out onto the front porch to sit awhile and inhale the sweet scents of my Butterfly Bushes and flowers., brought out into the thick air by the humidity. I relish the quiet. I picture other places along the coast, in other states and countries (why I don’t know) and wonder of anyone living in those places, like me living here, has the same thoughts about the fog.

Spring Is Springing!

The Snow Drop's have opened and other pops of green & red have appeared throughout the back yard and garden.

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Today is International Women's Day

While today is a day to celebrate Women's achievements (political, social, economical) around the World, I would like us to not only celebrate being Women today and appreciate how fortunate we are being Women in this Country, but I would like us to take this opportunity to say to the World that Violence Against Women Must Stop And The Discussion Of It Must Stay Out In The Open Where It Belongs So That It Does Finally End and no longer continues being this World's dirty little secret.

Click here for more info about International Women's Day.

Welcome Grand-Niece #12! and Tip Of The Day

Say hello to Cassandra Jade who's down in South Carolina. (2 more girls are on the way & there are 4 Grand-Nephews already!)

And now for something completely different! Tip of the day: If my blog (or any blog/web page) print and/or photo's doesn't look right to your eye and you have a scroll button on your mouse (on top of it between the left click & right click buttons), hold the Control Button on your keyboard down and at the same time scroll up & down w/your mouses scroll button until the print and photo's look okay to you. Blogger's Minima Stretch template allows me to adjust photo's to a larger size, so the photo's will be large regardless (especially panoramic ones which are much wider than most).

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Coming Soon...

...To New Jersey Through My Eyes.
Photo's taken Sunday, 2/28/10, at the beach.

In Like A Lion Or A Lamb?

Happy First of March everyone! For those of you counting down the days, Daylight Savings Time begins on March 14th, St. Patrick's Day is on March 17th and it's officially 19 days until Spring arrives on March 20th! (Brenda, that's for you!)

It is a Gorgeous, albeit very gusty, morning here at the Jersey Coast, which leads me to wonder if that means March is coming in like a Lion (gusty winds) or like a Lamb (stunning blue skies & sun)? Perhaps both! At 9am this morning, it was 65 degrees in the sun on our patio! (38 degrees elsewhere). Windows are cracked open all over the house.

Either way, faster than Spring will arrive, the Ides of March will be here; March 15th, the anniversary of Julius Caesar's murder. In Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar," Caesar was warned to "Beware the Ides of March". We all know how Brutus made that warning an omen.

I've got some fun and not so fun things on today's to-do list like laundry, writing, finishing up bookmarks for the Chicks on Lit 2nd Anniversary Bookmark Swap, reading (hopefully, for book clubs & for me) and catching up on my in-box. What are your plans this day?