January 21 2008

This past week there's been no evidence of global warming here - quite the contrary. It's been bitterly cold, I think I feel it more as until now that's not been the case. Whatever the reason, we are burning fires and fuel at a pretty fast rate; hard not to, when the temperature doesn't get above the teens in the middle of the day! And yet, ten days ago it was in the 60's, and we were out raking up the fall leaves, most of which got left as they fell, due to the months of Brian's illness. That weekend we finally got the gutters cleaned out,and it was very strange being out gardening (of sorts) in January. Now, of course, we're more in sync with the season, much to my dismay.

The big news here of course is the happy and healthy birth of Hyla Day Dotson on January 8 - a day before her mom's birthday! I'll let the photos convince you of her charm and beauty, and just say that already this is a tiny woman with her own agenda, and full of surprises. Everyone including Lisa, the mom, was absolutely convinced this was going to be a boy. I had a hunch otherwise, but for once was smart enough to take my own advice and learn the value of unexpressed thoughts, as it was just a hunch (or maybe a hope?) and could easily have been wrong. Whatever the underlying reason, we've now gotten to see her twice, once at the hospital when she was not yet a day old, and again last week when she was ensconced at home. Each time was a delight! And I am equally impressed by the parents. As with my nieces and nephews, this generation seems to know parenting inside out. The result thus far: many happy, healthy babies. And we're not nearly done! Cara, Brian's West Coast daughter, is due (a boy, we all know from ultrasound)in a week or two. And both our former "little brothers" from Santa Barbara, whom we met when they were 9 and 6, are going to be fathers too! One shortly after Cara is due, the other this summer.

And now for the obligatory (short) garden report: in the mild, gutter-cleaning weekend, I snipped some forsythia branches just to see what might happen, figuring not much as I was at least a month early. Well, they bloomed yesterday! I'm going back for more (assuming we get any other mild days before spring). And my tiny kalanchkos (Hawaiian plant, unsure spelling, feel free to correct) are all blooming, many tiny yellow flowers on tiny green plants. So we do have a few spots of home-grown color in the midst of the snow. As for the tomatoes, I have vigorously whacked them back at five weeks as per instructions and they now look like they are just about to set really really tiny flowers. Which means tomatoes soon - especially welcome after we rejected the small, unlovely store offerings which despite their lack of visual appeal are selling for $1.50 each. Yikes!

January 7 2008

After a very cold and snowy December, these last few days have been so mild as to be almost unreal. It has been in the 50s and even 60s! So some of our many feet of snow have begun to melt, but there's so much (and it's been on the ground so long) that quite a bit still remains. This morning I could even take off my light jacket and do my morning walk in just sweatpants.

In these long and dark winter months out here, I plan and replan my gardens and make and remake lists of things to do when the thaw comes. But while even the evergreens look cold, and nothing remains of color above ground, I have stumbled on a gardener's delight - something called an Aerogarden (just Google it and you will see). I got my little unit just about a month ago, and opted for the cherry tomato grow pack (they have many: herbs, flowers, vegetables, and are adding new things all the time). And I must say, thus far the plants are doing exactly what the brochure said they would. They sprouted in 2 or 3 days, and are growing happily in my photoscreening dark room, under their own little lights and complete with their own little timers and pumps and stuff. I had thought to try to do some herbs or vegetables indoors in the winter before, but having never done so and having absolutely no experience, was so confused by just the choice of which light to choose I just gave up. Then quite by accident I found this site, and there was the answer to my gardener's prayers: a simple, small, self-contained unit in which to grow plants during the winters. It couldn't be easier, is so automated that it has lights that blink to tell you when to add water, when to add nutrients, and other than admiring the new leaflets there's not much one needs to do. If the baby toms continue on track we should be eating real, flavorful, completely untainted tomatoes by next month. I can't imagine a better Valentine! So here are my little sproutlets for your viewing pleasure - hopefully next shot will feature actual tomatoes!