...can cause such pain. If I squash it, I can barely see the remains. But if it bites me, it causes swelling, pain and itching for a long time. The poison is very simple, too. HCOOH, or formic acid, is the poison. The critter is a teensy, tiny red ant. It ain't fair!
BTW, in North Carolina red ants are an unwanted invasive alien specie. Red ants go home!
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
To Chef, or Not to Chef...
Some years ago, when I was thinking of learning to be a chef as a hobby or second career, I had some free time in a hotel. I wandered into the kitchen and a chef was kind enough to talk to me. He had a handful of dill and a sheet pan full of deviled eggs. He was picking off a pinch of dill at a time and centering one on each deviled egg. I decided then and there that I did not want to be a chef.
(There are other reasons as well. As a hobby cook, I cook for whom and when I want. As a "real" or professional chef, I would loose that control over my life.)
Wednesday I was working in horticulture at the aquarium. I was transplanting Lemon Basil seedlings to peat pots. I did about a hundred. The chef and the dill came to mind, but I had a totally different attitude. Sometimes it was a Zen thing, a kind of moving meditation. In any event, these plants will grow and benefit many people over a long period of time. It just *feels* good to do it!
(There are other reasons as well. As a hobby cook, I cook for whom and when I want. As a "real" or professional chef, I would loose that control over my life.)
Wednesday I was working in horticulture at the aquarium. I was transplanting Lemon Basil seedlings to peat pots. I did about a hundred. The chef and the dill came to mind, but I had a totally different attitude. Sometimes it was a Zen thing, a kind of moving meditation. In any event, these plants will grow and benefit many people over a long period of time. It just *feels* good to do it!
I am not a Moonie, but...
...I may be a Luna-tic. It is amazing the things once notices when one has the time. I have seen the moon an uncountable number of times in the last 60+ years. I have known for a long time that when the opening of the crescent -- the missing part -- is to the right, the moon is decreasing in size (waning.) (The right hand, being stronger, pushes in the moon. Sorry lefties!) When the opening is to the left the moon is increasing in size (waxing.) I have recently noticed that when the moon is near new, just a slim crescent, then the opening is to the top! It makes a certain amount of sense, but I never noticed it or thought of it before!
(Luna is the name of the albino alligator at the aquarium where I volunteer. Thus I am a Luna-tic!)
(Luna is the name of the albino alligator at the aquarium where I volunteer. Thus I am a Luna-tic!)
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Where did all that dirt come from?
Being from Minnesota, I am used to dirt and dust all over, especially in the spring. Farmers as far west as the Dakotas are plowing their fields and raising a lot of dust. Prevailing winds carry it to MN, where it can settle gently or splat as mud balls in the rains. I have seen dirt spots two inches across on my car from dirt in the raindrops.
The other morning I saw a lot of dust on my car. I had no idea from where it came. It wasn't just my car as I saw other cars all dusted up. Driving around I saw such cars in other parts of town. I took my car to the car wash and later that day it was dusty again, but not as heavily. It turns out it wasn't dust, it was pollen! The live oaks and a few other trees were in their floral prime and it was very bad. Even I, a sturdy northerner, have come down with hay fever.
It ia supposed to rain this evening and that should was all the pollen out of the air and down the drains. I hope our lives (and cars) will be better tomorrow!
The other morning I saw a lot of dust on my car. I had no idea from where it came. It wasn't just my car as I saw other cars all dusted up. Driving around I saw such cars in other parts of town. I took my car to the car wash and later that day it was dusty again, but not as heavily. It turns out it wasn't dust, it was pollen! The live oaks and a few other trees were in their floral prime and it was very bad. Even I, a sturdy northerner, have come down with hay fever.
It ia supposed to rain this evening and that should was all the pollen out of the air and down the drains. I hope our lives (and cars) will be better tomorrow!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
A Zen Moment, of sorts
Last Wednesday I was volunteering at the aquarium horticulture department. I was pulling up kale (a winter decorative plant) and knocking the dirt off the roots, in preparation for planting some spring flowers. I was feeling a little bored and sorry for myself at the repetitive nature of the task. Melanie, the horticulturist, was very happy, excited and energized by the season! We were finally able to plant the flowers we had grown from seeds in the greenhouse! And I was feeling grumpy!
My life seems to be filled with things that can be done, ended or finished. When I change the oil in the car, I am done. When I install some software, I am done. When I fix a plumbing a problem in the house, I am done. When I finish off the basement, I am done.
With a garden though, you are never "done". There is no end. There is always the next season to prepare for. It is a continuous process of creation. It is not something that you are done with, it is something that you do. It takes a totally different mindset, and you receive joy differently.
Some things in life are like a garden. You can receive satisfaction from a long process, watching different flowers bloom in their season. Raising children comes to mind. We can think of it as unpleasant task after unpleasant task, or we can step back and see the growth season after season.
My life seems to be filled with things that can be done, ended or finished. When I change the oil in the car, I am done. When I install some software, I am done. When I fix a plumbing a problem in the house, I am done. When I finish off the basement, I am done.
With a garden though, you are never "done". There is no end. There is always the next season to prepare for. It is a continuous process of creation. It is not something that you are done with, it is something that you do. It takes a totally different mindset, and you receive joy differently.
Some things in life are like a garden. You can receive satisfaction from a long process, watching different flowers bloom in their season. Raising children comes to mind. We can think of it as unpleasant task after unpleasant task, or we can step back and see the growth season after season.
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