I took this surreal picture on my walk home a couple of days ago. I like the layers -- an underlying movie ad featuring a red-eyed monster, topped by a reflection of me and Finchley Road, topped by a tattered "Free Palestine" sticker.
I was going to say that it depicts the IRS coming after me because I am unable to file my taxes, but that joke seems like too much of a stretch. Seriously, though, H&R Block still can't seem to get the IRS to accept my return because I have an international phone number. My tax adviser says this is a "known issue" and she led me to believe this has more to do with their software than with the IRS -- but either way it's frustrating. I just want it done.
One of the perpetual annoyances of living overseas: It's often impossible to get American web sites to work because they want either a ten-digit phone number with a recognized area code or a ZIP code, and I have neither.
On a completely different topic, I was looking at my blog sidebar yesterday and reminiscing about departed bloggers, like Mage from "Postcards" and Miss Edna. And whatever happened to Wilma from Belize? I used to love her blog, with pictures from her tropical paradise. I saw Sarah from Circles of Rain not too long ago, so I know she's still around even though she's not blogging, and I see Robin on Facebook. I probably need to clean up some of those old blog links, but I don't want to remove connections to bloggers who have died -- that seems disrespectful, doesn't it?
I'm struggling with two of my Thanksgiving/Christmas cacti. This is one of them. See how the plant has rotted in the center, with dead stalks? There's also a dead fern in there, and a campanula that took root on its own. Anyway, this plant got root rot, and it was entirely my fault -- I didn't empty the saucer after watering, so it got repeatedly waterlogged. Yesterday I threw it out, after taking cuttings which I will try to root. (Frances, I'm sorry to say, this is the one you sent me. I swear I will save it!)
My salmon-colored cactus is also struggling. I have tried and tried to root segments from that plant and although they're not dead, they're also not prospering. I also repotted those cuttings yesterday.
Here's what I'm left with. Fingers crossed I can get these to take.
I also threw out an orchid yesterday -- this one -- because it was clearly dying. Never let it be said that I don't have some failures in the houseplant realm. I think winter is a tough time for plants here because it's so dark, and I probably need to reduce my watering more during that dormant phase. Live and learn!
Weeding your blog list....I ought to do mine too...but sometimes it is good to go back and re read a blog...even though it isn't being added to....
ReplyDeleteHouseplant woes.. over watering is a problem, you don't want the plant to dessicate....but....
I hope that your cuttings will " take". Best to let them dry out a bit before planting. Callousing I think they call it? The one you gave me is looking good. Will send you a photo. I can always send you another few bits off mine if you fail to get them going.
ReplyDeleteThat first photo is amazing. And no Photoshop!
ReplyDeleteSo sad about that gorgeous orchid. You have my sympathy when it comes to the cacti.
I have a large plant in the hall that sometimes looks happy and sometimes sad. When I look up how to stop it doing what it’s doing I read “it’s getting too much water” and “it’s not getting enough water.” I at least know to keep the shades closed in summer. The afternoon sun and heat are too much for it.
The American address and phone format is a pet peeve of ours. Our postal code is the same as somewhere in South Carolina and often, even if I’m able to enter the address info correctly, the system sees the postal code and automatically moves me to South Carolina.
Strange picture at the top. Like you say, there's a lot going on there - different layers. It's like looking inside the skull of a school librarian.
ReplyDeleteI just caught up on your blog posts as I have been in New York and have been crazy busy. I loved the photos from Dublin. I was there years ago and it brought back some good memories. Your comment about school would be fine if the students weren't there reminded me of when we used to say that on teacher workdays when the halls were quiet and we actually got some work done. And your Christmas cactus issues I can understand. I have one that hasn't bloomed in two years, though it looks healthy. I was watering it yesterday and noticed one bloom beginning, and it is pushing April! I don't know what I am doing wrong, but it is still alive!
ReplyDeleteI have a folder in my browser where I stick all those old blogs that are no longer producing. Every now and then I go through them seeing if there is any word or change and nearly always come back disappointed. I've always wished blogger had some sort of fail safe mechanism so after an appropriate amount of time one last post occurs saying, "if you are reading this..."
ReplyDeleteCarlos has an orchid in our sunroom and this year it was blooming like mad.
ReplyDeleteI leave the bogs of people who have passed on my blog roll; I like seeing them and remembering them.
Winter suits my forgetful watering practice, since the plants need less then. But I get caught when the weather changes, as I did this week, upstairs plants now gasping.
ReplyDeleteMy zipcode is like some place in Mexico, very confusing sometimes.
Can you get your taxes filed on paper if they can't go electronically? And why take you as a client knowing they couldn't file?
I know what you mean about deleting dead bloggers. I'm the same way with my address book -- I can't seem to cross them out. It feels wrong. I do miss Vivian's blog. I know she's in the world -- but I miss the blog itself, too! Good luck with your tax issue. You certainly can't be the only person living abroad who files US taxes. Seems like H&R should be on top of that! I don't suppose you could borrow your brother's phone number?
ReplyDeleteI'm lucky if any of my plants survive as I never know what I am doing. But it actually makes me feel better to know that sometimes you have trouble with plants too. I thought it was just me! :)
ReplyDeleteHope the tax return filing problem is settled soon.
I miss sweet Robin.
Not all plants are going to survive for one reason or another. I think we tend to give them all the same care (I do, at least) and what suits one plant definitely does not suit another. Ferns and succulents may both be green but don't share a lot else in common. As you know.
ReplyDeleteI've never thought about the problems created with American web sites for people who don't live here or have the same sort of ID's. You'd think we would have figured all of this out by now.
Christmas cacti tend to overgrow. I have to repot mine into a bigger pot or start a new one.
ReplyDeleteMy poor little orchid has failed to produce flowers as yet! Last year it was overly productive so, perhaps, it was it's last gasp!
ReplyDeleteI killed an african violet by accident, broke my heart. I tend to overwater, especially in the winter and then my plants get fungus gnats, but I'm working on it.
ReplyDeleteI can't decide if I want to continue blogging or not. My husband reads my blog, which means I self censor and I don't like that feeling. Sigh. Could be worse, right?
Winter is hard on houseplants. I also tend to over water due to oil burning dry heat from the forced hot air heating system. Currently nothing is blooming inside. As soon as it is reliably warm outside, all my houseplants go outside on the patio for the growing season. They seem to revive outside and some double in size. The IRS phone number problem is frustrating. There has to be some work-around.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about weeding out blogs. I've had to remove a couple who have passed, but there are also times that I have simply removed people because it doesn't feel like I'm part of their community, if that makes sense. Snarky comments. Maybe they have a rigid point of view that sort of disconnects them. I don't know. I like the blogs where you can be part of a community, give and take. Not have to worry about getting blasted. I enjoy your space.
ReplyDeleteI go through my blog roll periodically but hesitate to get rid of links, just in case the person decides to start up again. That is a very surreal photo; I would never have known what it all was without your explanation.
ReplyDeleteYou have a lot more successes than failures and you do loads and loads better than I do.
ReplyDeleteI have lost track of several bloggers who have quit blogging. One or two I see on Instagram occasionally but I do miss them in "blog-land". There is something more personal about blogging rather than just posting a photo or two on Instagram.
That top photo makes me think that monster is on the loose in Hampstead. Be careful out there!
This is Wilma From Belize! And I am still in Belize. Lots of changes in the air - selling our house by the sea and building a new one in the mountains of Belize. I hope to blog again at some point, so don't give up on me just yet!
ReplyDeleteI read, and enjoy, your blog every day. I went into an unplanned withdrawal from even commenting on blogs although I still have my favorites that I read daily. You have inspired me to ease back into commenting.
How cool is that?
DeleteYes, live and learn. I'm thinking about trying some indoor herb plantings but I'm not sure we have anywhere they'd get enough light. More research is needed.
ReplyDeleteIf someone has died, I take them off my list. Sometimes their blog goes away anyway, so there's no point in keeping it. As for dormant blogs, I usually hang on in case they ever reappear. I don't have many readers at my blog, but I've still left instructions with one of my kids to post some sort of notice if I unexpectedly drop dead. I like to think my book-blogging buddies would miss me.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo.
ReplyDeleteI have kept some dormant blogs, some of them have stuff I still want to know. Hope springs eternal that they might return. Sorry about your Christmas cactus not doing well. When I buy one (rarely) it's with the understanding that it will be an annual, same with orchids. Both of my thumbs are black.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with all those cuttings.
ReplyDeleteGZ: Well, that's true. If the blog is still there, why not leave the link for a later re-visit?
ReplyDeleteFrances: I didn't callous them, but hopefully they'll take. If not I might come calling!
Mitchell: How funny that you have a South Carolina postal code! In Britain they're a combination of letters and numbers, so no chance of duplication in the USA (or anywhere, as far as I know).
YP: Ha! That's when I get annoyed at misbehaving 9th graders!
Michael: I'm sure that school-without-the-students expression is common to all teachers! I think Christmas cacti occasionally DO bloom in spring. One of mine has a bud as well.
Ed: I would like abandoned blogs to lock after a period of time, so they can't be altered. That would prevent a future hacker from invading and corrupting them.
Bob: Exactly -- it's a nice reminder of people we've encountered!
Boud: There are so many questions about the tax thing I don't know where to begin. If they can't file it this week I'm going to give my brother's phone number. (I'll warn him, of course!)
Jeanie: Funny you suggest my brother's number, as that's what I've been thinking too. I want H&R Block to fix this problem, though. As you said, I can't be the only person it affects! Vivian showed up in the comments here just a few days ago -- I was glad to hear from her again!
Ellen D: I suppose all things must die, eventually. I miss Robin too, but it helps to see her on Facebook now and then.
Ms Moon: That's my method, too. I water everything on Saturday or Sunday, and I probably over-water some and under-water others. I often think I should be more selective but who can manage all that variability?
Red: Apparently they like being somewhat rootbound, and respond by blooming more. Or so I've read!
Marcia: It's not unusual for an orchid to skip a year or even two after blooming. They're very slow-moving plants. (Which isn't surprising, given how long the flowers last.)
Pixie: Maybe maintain your blog but keep a notebook on the side? Would that help? Or you could have a private blog for more personal writing. (Just be aware that Google can probably see it, even if no one else can!)
Susan: Plants definitely prefer to be outside, assuming they're in the right location.
Debby: I agree. I like the community feel of our little blogland. I have come across some obstreperous bloggers who I have deleted!
Margaret: Yeah, I knew I had to explain that photo! LOL
Sharon: There may be monsters in Hampstead, but they're more likely to be of the Homo Sapiens variety. :)
Wilma: It is SO GREAT to hear from you, and I'm glad you're still out there! I hope you do resume blogging at some point. I always enjoyed your photos and stories from your tropical adopted homeland.
Catalyst: I have never had great luck with herbs -- I guess partly because I'm not very interested in them. Maybe if I cooked more I would be!
Kelly: I think it's wise to have some kind of after-death plan for your blog. I haven't made any such arrangement and I should. I might get it put into my will!
Rachel: Not too scary? :)
Allison: I think I often do try to push plants beyond their natural life spans. Even with annuals, I tend to try to hang on longer than I should!
Debby: I KNOW! You never know who's out there reading!
River: Thanks! I will keep you posted, as I do on everything. :)