Less computer, more outdoors

These past few months, I’ve opted to drastically reduce my computer time and, instead, I have taken more walks, and done more gardening, and read more, and paint more.

See more progress on: adopt the French way of life

9

I’m currently at 169 —from my original 178. It’s going very slowly, but steadily.

See more progress on: lose 43 pounds

Painting Group

Earlier this year, I joined a local group to paint. Though I have only painted while at the outings, it has been a pleasant experience not only with watercolors, but with drawing as well.

See more progress on: watercolor paint again

Another Haiku for my Crush

Emotions within
Stir whenever I see him
Shimmery Luna

See more progress on: have a crush

Yet another one...

Given his aunt’s failure on his first sweater (beautiful craftsmanship, terrible timing), she has embarked on knitting him yet another sweater.

Spring is here, so he won’t use it till next Autumn, but I made sure that this time the pattern fits 2-3 year-olds. It will fit by the time his baby sister arrives :)

See more progress on: knit a sweater for my nephew

Crush Haiku

A crush I’ve not had
For the longest time, alas.
[Mmmmm] Emotions within…

See more progress on: have a crush

Haiku #9

Blossoming cherries
A splendid season’s announced
Spring is everywhere

See more progress on: write haiku on fridays

A tip I have about Paseo

Succulent tortas! Try the #8 (has pork, swiss cheese, and pretty much everything else) —it takes a little extra time to get it done, but so worth the wait!

See more progress on: Paseo

Give up or strive

Daylight savings will come into effect next Sunday —yet again. Should I give up and accept the fact that I’m a night owl, or should I strive to accomplish being an early bird? I really enjoy the fresh mornings, but it’s been a year with this goal pending, and my current life just does not match it.

A few days ago, I didn’t even make it to the early-bird breakfast special of this Capitol Hill restaurant. Of course, for the Capitol Hill crowd, “early bird” means until 11:30am!!! lol And I wasn’t even close!! ::sigh::

See more progress on: Early to bed, Early to rise

Done and cleaned

All done before our move back in December, except #10 which will need to be rescheduled for the spring clean.

1. fully clean the house of dust and spider webs
2. mow the lawn and clean the garden
3. sweep front street—done again
4. sweep outdoor areas
5. deep-clean kitchen
6. deep-clean bathroom
7. declutter and give away clothes and miscellaneous things
8. store summer clothes and retrieve winter ones
9. reorganize shed—emptied out
10. change the soil of the two big plant pots —still pending from spring clean —our ficus “Phyllis” is done; “the other one” is still pending the soil change, but we have finally named her: Abasi (meaning “stoic” in Swahili; it’s a boy’s name, but it’s appropriate for her resilience after being rescued from the dumpster)
11. clean the chimney’s doors and the wall on top
12. get packing materials and pack

...and now onto spring cleaning with the equinox just a couple of weeks away…

See more progress on: fall clean

Haiku #8

Glorious Leap Day
Hinting the late-spring season
Beauteousness abound

See more progress on: write haiku on fridays

Early start

In my third year as a gardener, I’m extending the planting season. I started a couple weeks ago with a few seedlings. I’ll be building a cold frame very soon —already have the materials out in the front.

Sadly, an unfortunate thing happened today: Accidentally while taking a shirt from the dresser, A knocked down a tray of about 20 seedlings. I’m almost positive five will survive; about six or seven definitely did not withstand the fall; and about eight or so are struggling. Hopefully, my future plantings will have better luck.

See more progress on: eat from my own garden

Rhododendron

Craigslist can be such a wonderful thing. Today I responded to a “you-dig-you-haul” ad which was just three blocks away from my house. What a treat! I’ve been dreaming about a Rhododendron (Washington State’s tree) for so long, and today I got a one-meter tall plant!

Little by little, my garden is taking shape. The tulips and narcissus are not out yet, but the “surprise” irises and the orange irises (both also from Craigslist) are adapting well to their new surroundings. The potager built in the “Square Foot Gardening” fashion is also coming about.

This weekend, I’ll be attending the Northwest Flower & Garden Show and will get a ton of ideas for this coming season :)

See more progress on: landscape my garden

2008.02.20 19:26 PST

Half a year after the last total lunar eclipse, the Sun, the Earth, and the Moon meet again. And Seattle again was benevolent with its weather and partial clouds. Just before totality, the Moon rose above the horizon clouds. What a splendid view! These spectacles always awe me.

See more progress on: Watch a total Lunar Eclipse

February 19th: My first 43 year

Wow! A year has gone since I first came to 43 Things. My first-year anniversary might not be really so, since I have not been as active these past three months as I was the first nine. Funny, I’ve been distracted doing activities suggested by fellow 43ers, but I have failed to post them here. Yet, today I had to come back and make a statement about this date.

Many Things have passed in this last year; many Things have been accomplished; many Things resist to be so. And 43 Things has been witness of them. May this coming second year bring many more things, and places, and people, and lists…

See more progress on: Celebrate my 1 year anniversary on 43 Things

Haiku #7

Rain, sun, rain, sun, rain
Oh, capricious Seattle!
Clouds, sun, clouds again

See more progress on: write haiku on fridays

Not this time

I wanted to repeat the spectacular experience from 2004 —when I watched the silvery-blue, rapid meteors across the sky for the first time—, but clouds obstructed the view this past December.

We’ll see what meteor showers 2008 will bring us —Seattle clouds permitting, of course.

See more progress on: watch the geminid meteor shower

Out of season, my first carved pumpkin

Three months after the Halloween celebrations, I finally come around to carve my very first pumpkin ever in my life! So I might be late with the festivity, but this was quite entertaining and am very proud of my first project —especially since I grew its parent plant from seed :)

An eclipse of the Moon and the Sun proved more than appropriate for my first carving. This was a good-feeling-all-around project and will definitely be a repeat every October —instead of on Groundhog Day/Día de la Candelaria :P

See more progress on: Carve a pumpkin

Haiku #6

Meteor Shower
Geminids shooting above
Alas, the dense clouds

See more progress on: write haiku on fridays