A Room With A View

Backyard Cats (Yes, cats. Can you find the orange one?) I have to say, this photo is wonderful considering I took it out my bedroom window just to see what the little girl had all over herself. But really, the composition and framing is sort of brilliant!

This cat has the prettiest eyes. They're seafoam green and just luminous.

I spotted a falcon outside this morning. Looks like it caught a cardinal for breakfast. It's a shame, we don't get many cardinals in the city. I wish it went after a pigeon. Maybe they don't taste so great?

Feasting away. It was a small falcon, much smaller than the hawks we had at home growing up.

Right before I left the apartment, the bird was gone. So was the meal.

Look at those eyes!

Seed Order 'cause Spring is in the Air

My Pinetree Garden Seed order came this week. This year I'm trying Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Crimson Forest Bunching Onion, Crosby Egyptian Beet, Mokum Carrot, Dinosaur Kale, Pinetree Lettuce Mix, Suhyo Cucumber, Earthwalker Sunflower, North American Wildflower Mix, and Masai Green Bush Bean. I already visited the garden and threw in some of the broccoli and onion seed. We've been having such a mild winter that I probably would already be enjoying homegrown veggies if I would have sown them in the fall. Instead I am ammended the soil with compost and now the dirt is a really wonderful, loamy, rich soil that has my expectations running high for this upcoming season.

See? It must be spring. The trees are flowering.

Tomorrow's Salad

The window greens are looking good.

Spring? Is that you?

What a confusing winter we've been having. Today it's snowing and last week I saw these crocus blooming.

First True Leaves... Again

Another go at showing my window greens. They're growing!

On the Windowsill

I started some seeds in a front window to see what happens. What's growing? The Spicy Mesclun Mix I planted in my plot last year. Maybe in a few weeks we'll be adding some homegrown arugula, escarole, and endive to our salads.

I'm putting together a seed list. This year I'm bringing out the seed starting tray again.

Happy New Year!

Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man.

- Benjamin Franklin

Wrapping Up the Season

The garden is all tucked in for a long winter's nap. I turned the soil and added a bag of organic compost a couple of weeks ago. It's all under a blanket of straw for now. When I cleaned things out, I tried to preserve two sprouting garlics. We'll see what happens in the spring!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Mao Mao Haus

Mao Mao is the proud owner of a brand new home located in the Living Room District of Kim and Josh Town. It's a single story, one kitty dwelling with vaulted ceilings, numerous windows, and wall-to-wall carpeting. Mao Mao loves spending time in her new home relaxing, taking baths, and defending her territory from The Pink Mice Cavalry and numerous invasions from The Black Feather Creature. You might not be able to read her expression. She's saying, "I love it here."

Tidy Up the Plot

Jungle-Like

Not-So-Jungle-Like

I pulled the tomato plants, staked the peach tree (spindly thing in the pot), and said goodbye to one of the giant marigolds. I left the carrots and beets until next week. After clearing away some of the overhanging fig tree, I'm hoping the sunshine will encourage them to grow a bit more. I will add compost to the soil before the ground freezes. I swear.