Discuter, Partager, Expliquer

I think I've planted everything from the last plant sale, which is not technically a prerequisite for attending the next one but it's a helpful baseline. Since the groundhog in the rock garden out back is awake again and there's suddenly a bunny living under our front porch, I changed my phlox plans and got a bunch more nasturtium and marigold seeds.

I did put one phlox in the back garden--surrounded by nasturtium seedlings--but the others went out on the fence where there's less cover for smol wildlife. (Don't worry, there's still plenty for the bunny to eat in the front garden next to the porch. It's already mowed down the dicentra and woodland phlox and is starting on the columbine.) A neighbor also pointed out some forget-me-nots growing in the brush pile, so I dug them out and installed half out back and half in front.

I planted the potentilla and roses in the dogwood garden as planned, and at the same time dug up a bunch of volunteer rose campion, plus some soapwort and mugwort, on the assumption that they are unkillable enough to possibly survive in the roadside garden, which is where I transplanted them to last night by the glow of Marci's headlamp. (Why have I taken over the roadside garden, you might ask, especially if you knew how far away it is and how poor the conditions are: because no one else would, and it has been languishing for years.)

( street garden )

( more prettier )

( dogs are so helpful )

Saw an indigo bunting for the first time ever! Planted the little blueberries, speedwell, and bunched leaf penstemon in the lower rock garden. (Everything is blue now.) I definitely don't need any more mini roses* but I found another packet of nasturtium seeds at the hardware store, and those won't come amiss. Completed week 1 of my "watch 2 hours of Chinese video a day" challenge.

*My next post will probably be, "So I got some more mini roses."

Called the vet about non-emergency dental work for Daphne; she will call back tomorrow. Is it even possible to safely sedate this dog enough that she can be anesthetized? Someone managed it, because she was spayed after being picked up by animal control. But I am not convinced and would like the professional opinion of someone who has seen how difficult she is to handle, preferably while looking at the medical records from her second shelter intake, which indicate she received four different sedatives and still had to be muzzled.

1) Today has been one of those "what is the point of anything" kind of days, but my current language challenge involves watching a lot of videos, which is sometimes doable even with a very low level of motivation, so I was watching one on emptiness and it inspired me to get up and steam some vegetables for dinner. (The guy is clearly selling something, but that doesn't make him wrong.) And when I was moving around I was like, "Wait, isn't this how I always feel three days before my period?" So I checked Garmin which hasn't synced in weeks and it was like, "Your period will start in three days."

( being self-aware )

2) I've been enjoying everyone's posts about their life and times so much; it makes me want to share my own as a way of returning the favor. When I don't feel like posting I'll be like, "well, [this person] posted and that made me happy, so I guess I'll post too." It's nice.

3) The other day I meant to say, "if it's worth doing it's worth doing badly," but now I can't remember why. Oh, wait, typing that made me remember! When you care enough to cheat.

There's lots of helpful applications of the "it's worth doing badly" idea, from learning new skills to practicing something you've forgotten to awkwardly trying to do more than nothing in any situation that seems to call for it, even when you don't know what the best thing is. I have a magnet that says "just because you can't do everything doesn't mean you can't do anything." It's worth it to try even when you already know it won't be perfect, because A) plenty of imperfect things are wonderful ("two cakes!") B) almost all imperfect things are better than nothing, and C) making imperfect things can help you make better things (and/or make things better).

( what even is cheating )

Anyway, that's Sunday for me.