Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Pretty in Pink


OK, back to our regularly scheduled programming (whatever that is) and away from political flights of fancy. Thanks for indulging my musings yesterday, and let me just say by way of celebration: TODAY WE GET A NEW PRESIDENT!!!! Wooo hooo!!!! (yes, I am shouting)

It's a shame school's not in session, because normally we'd put the inauguration up on the big TV in the library for everyone to watch. I remember when Trump was sworn in we did it, even though we were holding our noses. It would have been nice to have the same opportunity now.

I saw this woman (above) in her fetching pink outfit in Hampstead when I was walking Olga on Sunday. She's kind of striking a pose, isn't she? Very "Vogue" in her fuchsia trainers. At least she was wearing a mask.

Yesterday I worked in the garden. I cleared out the wildflower bed, cutting down whatever dry, dead stalks remained from last year, and removing the blackberries that seem to infest every corner. They're incredibly persistent -- I cut them down and they come right back up. We allow them in a few areas, so we can pick blackberries in season, and I trimmed out the dead stalks in those places too. (And got scratched up in the process.)

I also removed a lot of ivy from our side fence. It was quite bushy and although pretty, it was just getting out of hand. I felt bad because I know the birds like it -- I even found an old nest -- so I left some behind for the critters and did not denude the fence entirely.

Between this and the rose-pruning Dave did on Sunday, we have six bags of yard waste for collection on Friday.


And then I worked on some indoor plants. We have these two cacti -- the one on the left was a recent rescue from the library, where it had been abandoned. See that ridiculous ring of false flowers around its middle? Poor thing! I bought some cactus potting mix and now they look like this:


Much more dignified.

I also rescued a couple more orchids from school, where they'd been left on a common windowsill and were slowly perishing from neglect. We now have 14 orchids, which is a little ridiculous. Many of them are in the process of sending up flower stalks, so we should have lots of blossoms in a few weeks.

Today we're supposed to have some dramatic weather, with a 90 percent chance of rain and wind. Apparently this is related to Storm Christoph, though we're not getting the brunt of it here in London -- most of it is striking to the north. (Why does this storm have a French name? Haven't we Brexited?)

I'm working from home today (which basically means reading Newbery books) so I'll be staying inside.

46 comments:

Mitchell Block said...

It just started raining here and we're supposed to have a day of it. I'm counting down the hours until Trump is OUT and Biden is IN. I don't envy Biden and Harris what they've inherited but I'm so grateful they're taking it on. Could you really have too many orchids? The cacti look so much more respectable.

Ursula said...

The vision in pink somewhere between how fashion models pose (look at her left foot pointing outward) and a hooker (left arm on hip) waiting for business to pick up. The hair most intriguing as incongruent. Wonder who is hiding behind her stylish facade. See, Steve, that's what I love - cross fertilization. You took the photo, I've already woven a whole story around her.

Christoph/Christopher is actually Christophe (with an 'e') in French. The irritating part of names like that they tend to be abbreviated. Spare a thought for my nephew Christopher who morphed into Chrissie. He is a grown man now.

I can't stop chuckling at your first photo of the cacti. What a pair of eccentrics. Be careful the one you defrocked won't prick you (in a most un"dignified" way). Anyway, hail to Steve Hood, the saviour (and tamer) of plants and greenery.

U

gz said...

I am not a fan of pink for myself, but love those trainers!
Good for you for having a garden tidy. Everything is just sodden here.
Time to stay warm with the seed catalogues.

Anonymous said...

Being noticed is the motto of pink woman. Inauguration is at 5am here. I won't be watching or listening but good luck Joe and congratulations.

Debby said...

It is still snowing here. Supposed to get very cold over the next 24 hours. I have been babying along quite a few plants this year. I enjoy my african violets, and I see I have a new bud on my hibiscus tree. There is something quite wonderful about flowers in winter! The lady in pink? More power to her, I say. She is, boldly and unapolagetically herself.

Yorkshire Pudding said...

When you say "rescued" from the school do you really mean you stole those orchids? The subtleties of the English language!

I see that Trump has pardoned Steve Bannon but thankfully has not yet attempted to pardon himself. What a ridiculous and unjust feature of American democracy is this presidential pardoning facility. Madness.

Peter said...

I keep "rescuing" orchids from the local super market, once the blooms fade there the store marks them way down and I can't resist. I now have almost 40 of them and 9 are now in bloom, so nice in the winter!
Cheers Peter

Bob said...

You gotta give that woman major style points!

The Padre said...

Pretty In Pink, That Takes Me Back

Cheers

Ms. Moon said...

Incredibly beautiful day here. Will you be watching the inauguration?

Anonymous said...

Steve, I would love to know how you take care of your orchids. We have one orchid plant that was a gift to us more than a decade ago. It's not a happy plant. I baby it and tend to it, but it still languishes. How often do you water yours? What kind of "soil" do you have it in? How much sun does it get? HELP!!! (LOL!)
Love that Pretty in Pink photo.

Ellen D. said...

Seeing that woman in pink - she definitely has style! I have three sweatsuits that I rotate wearing these days - light gray, dark gray, navy blue! No style for me! :)
Happy inauguration day! Peace!

Margaret said...

Very therapeutic to do so much yard work. It sounds like a lot of progress. I want that outfit. :)

Sharon said...

I took the day off from work so I could devote my time to watching the inauguration. It's been pretty amazing to watch and fills me with pride. And, it gives me hope for the future. And, did you hear Amanda Gorman's poem? Such a brilliant young woman. Another reason to have hope for the future. Can you tell I'm a bit puffed up right now?

Angelicastar said...

I always say trouble don't last forever. We saw all colors, religion, male, female and everyone enjoying each other. What a blessing. We are beginning to look like America again. The trump era is behind us and people should see now how they were used up by this entire trump family. Melania is not the best person either. How could she be if she adhere to that family. They didn't have common sense and the courtesy of welcoming The Bidens to the white house. So be it because their asses are gone.

Red said...

I've never had a cactus. I guess I should look around the dumsters to see if someone has thrown one out.

The Bug said...

I think I need those shoes :)

ellen abbott said...

what a relief today was.

I've been thinking about getting an orchid. I've never had one, thought they took too much special care but apparently not. I did more clearing out in my yard yesterday but not today. spent all afternoon at the dentist.

ellen abbott said...

and yeah, why do they put those ridiculous fake flowers on cacti?

Janie Junebug said...

Pink is my favorite color, but I've never been "in the pink" to the extent of your model. I hope you got to see the inauguration. I want to be a member of the Biden family, be Kamala's aunt, and be Amanda Gorman's grandma.

Love,
Janie

Linda Sue said...

Your cactus plants are charming. They look alien. Fritz has a yard full of them that he has to bring in during winter. Be careful where you sit!

Steve Reed said...

It's a huge relief to finally have someone sane in the White House!

Steve Reed said...

Who's Steve Hood? LOL

I've never seen Christoph as an English name, but I did wonder about the absence of the E. And yeah, I'm always attracted to people on the street who seem to spark some imagination.

Steve Reed said...

It's sodden here too, believe me!

Steve Reed said...

You can catch up with it later! (You probably already have.)

Steve Reed said...

I agree about flowers in winter. Where would I be without my potted plants?! We haven't had much luck with hibiscus -- we had one for a while but it didn't make it.

Steve Reed said...

If a plant has been left on a hallway windowsill and has had no care -- as is evident from its condition -- then yeah, I consider it abandoned and therefore ripe for adoption. If anyone says, "Hey, where's my orchid?" I'll gladly give it back in better shape.

Pardons are supposed to be a last-chance loophole for people who have been wrongly or unfairly sentenced by the criminal justice system. They're not supposed to be "outs" for people who make lots of political donations or pay off the right lawyers.

Steve Reed said...

Holy cow! Now I don't feel so bad for having 14! I'd be the same way, though -- I always want to rescue plants that have potential but will just be discarded if I don't intervene.

Steve Reed said...

She's definitely an eye-catcher!

Steve Reed said...

Right?! I loved that movie at the time!

Steve Reed said...

OH YES!

Steve Reed said...

Here's the secret to orchids: They don't really like a lot of water, and they definitely don't like standing water. Keep them in a well-drained pot, with loose orchid compost or bark. Water them roughly once a week. (That's how we water ours.) Hold the pot and let the water stream through, and when it's done draining put it back in its saucer. Whatever you do, don't let the roots sit in water. Hope this helps!

Steve Reed said...

Also, we wash down each plant every few months by briefly putting it in the shower on a tepid (cool but not cold) temperature. That keeps dust and pests away.

Steve Reed said...

Ha! I'm not wearing sweatsuits but I may as well be. Definitely no style here either.

Steve Reed said...

It felt good, and there's still more to do!

Steve Reed said...

Yes! We watched it, as you'll see in my next post!

Steve Reed said...

Exactly -- it IS looking like America again. It's like recognizing an old loved one who's been absent for years.

Steve Reed said...

Ha! You never know!

Steve Reed said...

They're definitely eye-catching. I wonder who much they cost?

Steve Reed said...

They're definitely eye-catching. I wonder how much they cost?

Steve Reed said...

I don't know, but they're awful. That cactus looks so much better in its natural state. Maybe it will give us a REAL flower.

Yeah, try an orchid! They're really not hard, especially for you -- you have a green thumb anyway. All they need is water once a week and free-draining soil that doesn't leave their roots too wet.

Steve Reed said...

Yes! It's like they're all family -- people we know and recognize. I'm so relieved!

Steve Reed said...

I got pricked quite a bit when I was taking off those fake flowers. That cactus fought back pretty hard, but it clearly doesn't know what's good for it. :)

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this, Steve. I water the plant this way, but have never washed it in a tepid shower. Good idea.

Ursula said...

Robin Hood's little brother.

U

Steve Reed said...

Ha! :)