Tuesday, August 17, 2021

Russian Strawberries


When Olga and I walked down to the Overground station on Sunday, on our fruitless quest for a train to take us to Hampstead Heath, I noticed that the little cafe across the street now has a brightly painted security gate. (I'm assuming this is by arrangement with the artist, Festa.) It looks much better than it did previously.

Dave came home yesterday morning as planned. He was exhausted from his long flights, first from Indianapolis to Atlanta and then on to London. We looked around the garden and re-watched our episode of "Gardener's World" from a few weeks ago. I know he's glad to be back on his home turf, and I'm relieved he's safe and sound.


After the garden tour he climbed into his chair and promptly fell asleep for several hours, joined by the equally exhausted Olga (who apparently needed the security of her tennis ball during her nap).

So, yeah, back to life as usual around here! I don't know if I can stand the excitement.

I even made dinner last night, a scrambled egg concoction with shallots, olives and sun-dried tomatoes, which happened to be just about all we had left in the refrigerator. I was pretty impressed with my food ingenuity during his absence. I can make a meal out of almost anything.


The Russians have gone on vacation for a few weeks, and before she left, Mrs. Russia asked me to take care of her strawberry seedlings (above). She handed me these pots covered with plastic wrap, with instructions to mist them regularly. I've never grown strawberries and I'm a little terrified I will kill them, but after reading about them online I took the plastic wrap off. I think they need more light and air than that mini-greenhouse provides. I hope I'm not wrong about this, but it's been a few days and they seem healthy enough. Oh, the burden of responsibility!

I should probably put them in the dining room, which gets morning sun. I just did a massive cleaning of the windowsill in there, treating all the orchids for scale (with rubbing alcohol) and wiping and washing everything, and now there's a little extra space.

I forgot to mention my movie of choice on Sunday night: "Against All Odds," with Jeff Bridges and Rachel Ward. I've written before about my soft spot for this film, even though it's not the greatest. The ever-incisive Roger Ebert said it best: "There is a lot of plot in this movie -- probably too much. The best thing to do is to accept the plot, and then disregard it, and pay attention to the scenes of passion. They really work." I also love the footage of Mexico, early '80s Cozumel and the Mayan ruins at Tulum and Chichen Itza.

Last night I watched "Pray Away," an interesting Netflix documentary about gay conversion therapy and the fact that many leaders of the movement have since renounced it and resumed their gay lives. I'd been saving it to watch with Dave, but of course he fell asleep -- poor guy!

48 comments:

  1. I have never heard of growing strawberries from seed. I thought they were always propagated by pinning the " runners" down into the ground.
    Great photo of the sleeping beauties! Hope that Dave soon recovers.

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    1. Yeah, I don't know why she's doing it from seed. She already has some mature plants. Maybe it's just an experiment to see if it works! Seems like it will take a long time for them to get big enough to produce, though.

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  2. Hope Dave’s jet lag doesn’t lag. With all the security issues, travel is not easy. But he and Olga look very content -- while you tiptoe around the house. I wouldn’t be thrilled to have that responsibility from the Russian neighbor. But if anyone can do, it’s you.

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    1. I spend a lot of time tiptoeing around here -- both of them are often asleep! LOL

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  3. Welcome Home Dave! We will not tell you what Steve has been up to since you have been away. What happened in Hastings stays in Hastings.

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  4. You are doing well for the seedlings. With the year turning they need more light.
    Welcome home Dave!

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    1. I did move them to the front window so hopefully I won't roast them.

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  5. I suppose they are indeed Russian if they have a Russian mum.

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    1. Which I guess means all of our plants are American?

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  6. Dave should try a flight to Australia and he would really know about flight exhaustion.

    Has Olga travelled on a train before?

    We once grew strawberries in a terra cota strawberry pot and the plants were magnificent, but not one strawberry.

    YP, you shouldn't have mentioned the place name Hastings at all. Steve may have his location turned on it recording where he has been and Dave might see the Hastings.

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    1. Olga has been on a train many times. We've taken her to Bath, York and recently the Isle of Wight, among other places.

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  7. I'm terrified of what might happen should the strawberries die. I'm good at caring for pets, but never ask me to care for your plants. Oy!

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    1. I'm a bit nervous too. Fingers crossed they're hardy plants!

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  8. I think you did the right thing with the strawberries. They have germinated, after all.

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    1. Yeah, exactly. I think once they've sprouted they're fine to grow in open air. (Hopefully!)

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  9. glad to hear Dave is home safe and sound. don't think I've ever seen Against All Odds but Marc and I went to Cozumel and Chichen Itza a couple of times in the 80s. When my granddaughter went to Costa Rica for her study abroad summer she brought me all her little plants to take care of and a couple of them did die.

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    1. You should definitely watch the movie just to see if you recognize any of the footage of Cozumel. It's an intriguing film, even though there's a little too much plot.

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  10. Jet lag! that's what we get for becoming global.

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    1. Our bodies were not made for this kind of lifestyle!

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  11. Traveling is exhausting so it is good that Dave is resting a lot. Good luck taking care of the strawberries. You are so careful with your plants that I am sure they will be fine.

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    1. Hopefully! I'm getting a little more confident now that they haven't immediately shriveled up.

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  12. I would be nervous taking care of the seedlings too - but I am about 1% the gardener that you are. Ha!

    Glad Dave made it back home. That photo of him in the recliner is making me yawn!

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  13. Just watched your YouTube video and so nice to see you 2 fellas and hear your voices!
    Your weed patch really looks super and the flowers ... well, your flower pictures are simply stunning on their own!!
    Glad Dave is home and working on that jet lag business! Sleep is good!

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    1. Glad you liked the video! Our little moment of fame. Ha!

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  14. Glad Dave is back home. I hope his jet lag isn't too bad. Olga looks like she's relaxed and happy to have the family together again. Good luck with those Russian strawberries. If anyone can do it, you can.

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    1. I do think Olga has relaxed more deeply, if that's possible. She has probably been wondering where the third member of the "pack" is!

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  15. I've flown through all the airports Dave scarpered through. IND-ATL-LHR. Hope his layover in ATL wasn't too long. Not fun at the best of times (pre-Covid). Easy to understand his fatigue. Good to see Olga sympathy sleeping with Dave.

    Wouldn't worry about the Russian's strawberry seedling. It could be worse. Just imagine if they belong to Mrs Kravitz...

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    1. Layovers are always a drag. And you're right -- I'd be terrified to take care of Mrs. Kravitz's plants! (A few years ago we did babysit her guinea pigs, which fortunately stayed healthy.)

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  16. Love that photo of Dave and Olga sleeping. Ah, the true comforts of home.
    I'm glad your Russian neighbors trust your gardening skills and asked you to care for their strawberry seedlings. A sweet acknowledgement of your excellent skills.

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  17. I find myself less able to recover from traveling long distances and time changes. I would be terrible taking care of indoor plants. I'm OK with outdoor ones because nature does some of the work for me. I haven't heard of that documentary, but I watched a film about a gay conversion camp. (can't remember the title of it) It was heartbreaking.

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    1. It is nice to be able to leave plants outdoors for the summer. I think it revitalizes them and helps control pests. Being gay myself, I always knew I was never going to be talked out of it! Fortunately my parents didn't try.

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  18. I'm glad that Dave is home safe. What a lovely photo of Olga sleeping. I love seeing a dog sleep like this, feeling so safe and content. It's the way it should be for all animals. You have a great day, hugs, Edna B.

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    1. She is "all-in" whatever she's doing -- even when she's asleep!

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  19. You've clearly made a name for yourself by being on the gardening show. No one would EVER ask me to look after their plants! So glad to know that Dave is back home, safe and sound. He and Olga look so peaceful there. Any chance he has videos from the Drum Corp competition? I'd love to see one!

    I read a book years ago that I highly recommend. "Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate."

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    1. I don't think he took any videos. Apparently it was a weird year, because of Covid -- the corps weren't judged as they normally are, and there were a lot of rules regarding masking and distancing. (Not a bad thing!) But he enjoyed the performances and I think there ARE videos on YouTube. I'll look for that book!

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  20. Olga and Dave and all is right with your world. Just do not let the strawberries die! Russians are not a forgiving folk.

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    1. Perhaps being somewhat Anglicized has softened them up?

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  21. I swear Olga is smiling in her sleep. And I can remember on many occasions conking out in our recliner for a nap - it's pretty comfortable and feels less disorienting when you wake up and it's still daytime. I'm glad Dave had a safe trip and is once again at home.

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    1. Dave loves sleeping in that chair. He can fall asleep there and sometimes not come to bed until the early hours of the morning.

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  22. As you know, I love "Against All Odds" and want to watch it again.
    I started watching "Pray Away" yesterday and will finish it. Such heartbreak.
    Glad Dave's home. He'll wake up eventually.

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    1. I admire those people in "Pray Away" for 'fessing up, though, and talking openly about the harm they know they've done. At least they're facing reality.

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  23. I loved that movie "Against All Odds". Rachel Ward was so beautiful.

    Glad Dave is home, safe and sound. Olga looks happy too.

    I still find it amazingly sad that people think that you can or should pray away the gay. God doesn't have a problem with gay people, only people do. And not really a surprise that it doesn't work.

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    1. And Jeff Bridges too! I think the heyday of conversion therapy is past -- most people know it doesn't work and can be harmful. But the film depicts one guy who is still out there preaching to people that they can change, so it's not entirely dead.

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  24. Your Gardener's World episode was great. Good to see you. Even though the burdock-hating host of the show laid a bit of a downer on you at the end. Ah, well. Television hosts, what are you gonna do?

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  25. I'm glad all is well there. Good luck with your neighbor's strawberry plants.

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