Snapdragons in the garden, originally uploaded by trixieskips

I grew up loving okra plants. My dad had a small garden in the backyard and those okra plants were the coolest thing--we could actually eat the things that grew on them! And that cornmeal-coated, peppery fried okra was so tasty.

That love of the garden has followed me into adult life, but my apartments meant it had to happen in containers. Fine and dandy, but I always dreamed of living in a house with a square of dirt for me to play.

Moving in with Tim last September has fulfilled several dreams: having family over and hosting Thanksgiving; having space to hang art on the walls and not worry about a deposit; finding my mate and living with him... It has also provided me ample room to plant, plant, plant!

Our garden is about nine-by-seven and last week, after giving up on our pathetic seeding attempt, we bought plants and put in red bell peppers, three kinds of tomatoes, English cucumbers, hot peppers, two kind of basil, cilantro, watermelon, and cantaloupe. And, of course, okra! These join the strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and fig tree planted a few weeks and months before.

Yesterday, I got tired of looking at the dying pansies in our brand-new brick planter around the tree in the front, so I drove to Ruibal's on Garland Road and bought three flats of flowers and decorative plants for that space.


I'm frequently disappointed upon first planting flowers because they need so much time to spread out and grow into their potential glory and this was no exception. After two hours of pulling up old plants and digging holes for the new ones, the dwarf snapdragons, red burgundy coleus, and white star zinnias look a little puny. But I trust the rain and a good dose of MiracleGrow to make my pretties get big and bushy.

That wait for the glory, the time it takes, the care and ongoing love and devotion required to make a garden or planter look fabulous, that's what I love most. To nurture something and see it reach its zenith because of your own hard work, that is a brilliant experience. I can hardly wait.

Tim and me, originally uploaded by trixieskips

Today is one year since I quit drinking and it's fairly amazing to me. I am so happy and grateful. My wonderful Tim sent me flowers and I am relaxing before speaking tonight. What a day. What a year!

Love this season's yellows, originally uploaded by trixieskips

How fun is polyvore.com? I've been playing around with my favorite colors, finding all sorts of awesome clothes and shoes that are in style this season. Yellow!


And blue! Is that blue-and-black short skirt not the cutest thing? I love designing these images, too.

New art, originally uploaded by trixieskips

A few months ago, I ran across the work of Heather Powazek Champ on flickr. Her pictures have a Creative Commons license that allow printing and I adore her style, so I blew up two of my favorites from her sprockets set. Both are 20x30 and look so beautiful in our home.

"Persimmons, Flying Cloud," above, is hanging above our bed. "The Accordionist, Golden Gate Park," below, is hanging at the end of our entry hallway, right before the kitchen. I sit and stare dreamily at them both, loving them intensely.



Other ones I am thinking of framing include Cairn, Fort Funston and Untitled.

Seedlings!, originally uploaded by trixieskips

The last few warm days have felt like such a revelation for my winter-weary brain. My body feels like a secret, arms newly revealed in a halter top, legs in a skirt. How incredible to step outside at midnight with the puppy and feel the slightly-warmed breeze and see my Dutch irises peeking out of the dirt, or the pansies in full blooming glory. The seedlings are growing stronger and in just a week or so, will be ready to live in their outdoor garden home.

I'm never much of one for a beat-down blaze, but these peeks of warmth and sunshine in February feel totally new to me, like I've forgotten every other spring so that I can be particularly delighted this year. How lovely.

April 16th: Seedlings galore, originally uploaded by flickrich.

I feel the call of Northaven Gardens. On the "seeds to buy" list this year: baby tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet basil, purple basil, green bell peppers, red bell peppers, okra, Arapaho and Navaho blackberry brambles, and a few wild cards. THIS MAKES ME SO EXCITED!

Out the window, originally uploaded by trixieskips.

I surely do miss Copenhagen today. I am thinking about my friends there, the sea air, green spires, and the sound of my red clogs on cobblestons. Jeg elsker Danmark.

leah, originally uploaded by travis(ty).

I still get all goosebumpy when I think of last Tuesday. What a day. And so far, I am way happier with the Obama administration that the Bush admin. But that is not a tall bar to cross.

What? What are we doing?, originally uploaded by trixieskips.

This is just exactly what it feels like on a Monday at our house. HI!

Yx3, originally uploaded by ReyGuy.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love the photography of Guy Reynolds? Seriously. I own one photo of his and it is a prize. I gaze at it adoringly from time to time, like when I'm not on his Flickr photo stream. He is just amazing.

Playing in the rain, originally uploaded by trixieskips

I collaged pages from a book onto the back of a shirt box, then triple-glazed it. Next came the little lady with the glittery hair under the red umbrella. Now I only need to figure out where on earth it will go in the house.

Naughty! , originally uploaded by trixieskips.

And yep, she's still just as naughty as can be and getting bigger every day. Lately, I swear, I can SEE her grow! Oh Matilda, my mouth fills with kisses for you.