HNT...Getting a little dirty

I have had so much fun outside in the last week. The weather has turned to spring nearly overnight. One day last week it was 40 degrees and gray. The next day it rained. On the third day all the buds and grasses and all things in Alaska turned green. I received a rose plant and a gift card to a local nursery as thank you gifts for teaching confirmation class at my church. I went to the nursery and used every last penny of it to buy flowers and garden veggies. Then I set to work getting dirty. These were some of the first pots I put together. It felt good to play in the dirt. Really good. Happy HNT!

Bedtime Meme

I'm procrastinating going to bed because I just can't bring myself to go to bed before 9 pm on a Monday night. Lime posted this and I thought I would give it a try.

1. Name 2 things you have done under the covers in the last week.
Dreamed, rolled over on a cat

2. Do you know what a woobie is? Do you have a special one?
I have a collection of woobies. Currently have a hand made one from the outpatient floor desk clerk that was presented to me before I left MN.

3. What prompts you to pull the covers over your head and hide from the world?
A lot these days

4. Firm or soft?
Firm! A bed should not swallow you.

5. Silk or flannel?
Flannel

6. Lights on or off?
Make it dark...really dark. Hence the insomnia this time of year in all day daylight Alaska!

7. Fan or no air?
Fan

8. Completely dark or nite light?
See above!

9. Windows open or shut
They are now open and will remain so until probably September.

10. Sweet dreams or nightmares?
Crazy vivid, all over the place dreams

11. PJ’s or……
Depends...

12. Set bedtime? Never

13. What do sheep count when they can’t sleep?
Hay bales

14. What does your alarm clock sound like?
102.5, Country radio station

15. White noise or music
Neither

16. TV or IPod?
Neither...a book and then lights out

17. Can you recall a pleasant dream you’d like to share?
The other night I dreamed I was back at Carroll doing another Search retreat. That was sort of nice.

18. Under the covers or outside the covers
Half and half. I like to burrow but then stick a leg out to act as my thermostat.

19. Insomniac or sleep angel?
Insomniac

20. What is your favorite sleep aid for those tossin’ and turnin’ nights?
A warm shoulder to curl up on

21. Morning person or night person
Mornings were created by the devil! I'll stay up all night

22. Bedtime snack?
Nope

23. Hot or cold room
Cold

24. Bedtime ritual?
I always read before I turn off the light no matter how tired I am. Might be half a page but still something read.

25. Twin, Queen, King, Bunk or Futon
Slatted sleigh bed, size queen

26. Socks or naked feet
Nekkid except for happy socks from Lime sometimes.

27. Bedroom door locked or unlocked?
Usually wide open

28. Tent or hotel room
Yurt, this was Lime's answer but I might have to agree. The resort in Seward has yurts you can rent but if not available a tent is perfect.

29. If you could be bored to sleep, what would bore you?
Medical journal articles.

30. Prayers or mantra?
Prayers

31. What was the worst nightmare you ever had?
Too many to count!

32. Please share any ideas on how to stop a person from snoring.
I’m all ears.

Move them to the couch and cover your head. They aren't going to stop.

33. If one purely pleasant thought could ensure fast and sound deep sleep for you every night, what would your one thought be?

Knowing I'm not alone when I wake up in the morning

34. How many hours do you normally sleep?
Not nearly enough ever!

35. Thunderstorms or quiet starry night?
Thunderstorms

36. Warm bath or hot shower?
Hot shower

37. What is the craziest thing that ever happened in your bed?
Uhm...plead the 5th

38. Name a song you could fall asleep to.
Anything Enya

39. Who last told you a bedtime story?
It's been a while, can't remember.

Okay, it's 9;30. I can talk myself into bed now.

Spring planting

After accomplishing all I did this weekend, the above is where I will be spending the rest of the day. The weather has been spectacular this weekend. I took full advantage of it. Earlier in the week I had planted a few flowers. Over the last two days, I finished the flowers and did the garden beds. Now, I will put my feet up, cross my fingers and toes, and hope it all grows.

My landlords made four raised garden beds when they lived here. I'm going to see what I can get to eat out of them. This one has Romaneso (a spikey cauliflower/broccoli cross) and pumpkin in it.

I have two different types of spinach here. A regular variety and then one that climbs.

I ate sugar snap peas straight from the garden as a kid. We will see how they do.

Also giving red pepper, zucchini, and cucumbers a shot

Two plants of Roma tomatoes and one regular sized.

I couldn't leave the deck without something. I filled three rail baskets with blue and purple petunias with purple and pink verbena. The bees and wasps are very happy.

I also planted several bushes to be permanent. I have always been partial to bleeding hearts and hope this one does well. I love the smell of lilac bushes too so I planted two of those in the front of the house underneath the kitchen window. I can't wait until they bloom and fill the house with their fragrance. The last bush was the European Rose bush the confirmation students gave me as a thank you gift last weekend. It is in front of my front step.

I have always liked flowers that drape. I bought a silent auction basket of garden things last year and included was this coconut basket. In addition to some wave petunias I found the above vine. I can't remember the name but they are already making flowers.

I decided to do a few herbs as well. In this pot I have curry (the taller plant) and Greek oregano.

Sweet basil, lemon basil, and cilantro are in this tray.

Summer Food

In the last week the ice has gone out of the river, the trees are fully leafed and the sun is out nearly 24 hours a day. That means flip flops, gardens and grilling. One of the things that has been neglected of late is me. I need to get myself back on track. That starts with taking care of me. That means eating better and taking time to exercise. Tonight I grilled pork tenderloin with pineapple and serrano peppers along with a spinach, strawberry, and kiwi salad. Thought it looked sort of pretty. Tasted wonderful!

HNT Anniversary...in the beginning

just for you Os! you can't really see it all that well in this picture (mostly due to the distraction of a very sexy Jude Law gazing at you) but I had a nasty bruise developing at the base of my 3rd and 4th toe from having dropped a bottle of shampoo on my foot in the shower. The toe ring is permanent, been there since May of '02. And yes, Os you don't even have to point it out, I have Hobbit-like toes.

Can't believe it has been 5 years since we started posting half nekkid pictures on the internet. Now, half nekkid has been hugely elaborated on and widely interrupted but I have followed the initial intentions of the project. My first picture was of an injury (there is usually always one) plus my latest read. So tonight, to recreate the image I offer you the other foot with an injury taken this week as I planted my flowers. Yup...that's my foot. Nothing a shower, a bandaid, and some hydrogen peroxide couldn't take care of. Reading material came later that night.

Head Above Water

The title of this sculpture at the ice park was "Head Above Water". I am barely there. My blog has been left alone since getting home from Nome because I have been too busy treading water. It started with a sinus infection that knocked me out of work and caused a bit of drama because of that Then a relationship ending that wasn't healthy and was getting scary. Then a financial windfall followed by pitfalls. That is where I'm at as of now. Treading...waiting for a chance to float instead.

I love being in Alaska. I love what I do for a job. If the rest of life could fall into place all would be well. Until then, I'll keep treading. I have many things to be grateful for but at this stage of my life I need to have more than that. I need to have "things" together. I don't feel like I'm there. Over the last three weeks I have done lots of thinking, lots of adjusting and more than usual working on getting there. I have a lot of things to work on.

I'll tread through and when I have less to complain about and more to share I will. I'm keeping the book list up to date. I need to take pictures of all the scrapbooks I've been working on. At least those things give me a bit of piece of mind. I'll be around. I promise.