RKayne's Blog

Showing off a bit :D
Nov 28, 2008 | 3:23 PM PST
Tags: Garlic , white , snapdragon , coffee , lavender , Japanese Elm , japanese maple , purple
There will be rather a few posts, but this is a great teaser, lol. So, since we got the camera it has been hectic here (we hosted Thanksgiving). But, I did manage to get a few pics of some things around here. That is the view out to our balcony. The must have, hunted for one because I can't give up my bonsai!



This is a Southern Magnolia. Seems pretty happy here in Seattle! This was sent to me by YardGranny in SC. I potted it up a while back and it has loved the weather here, frankly it surprises me as it has gotten rather cold here.


Here is the White Snapdragon. I don't grow flowers normally but this one has it's place here. Shannon fell in love with it so I will do all I can to keep it alive. It has grown on me since it flowers when it gets cold. How random is that! I guess I will have to do some research on this bugger so I know it's habits and whatnot :D


YardGranny also sent me two Mimosa's, they were happy but just to make sure, since they are babies, I have done what I normally do for my coffee tree at work (the one I am bonsai'ing) and placed their very own mini greenhouses over them. These will stay on until the last possible frost. There are a lot of mimosa here, not this color...but they seem happy to live here. I figure once they get older, perhaps next winter, they will not require this (and I will get a Bay tree to do this for instead, hehe).


I had these at the house and took them with me (note...MINE!). There is a Purple Sage, a standard Silver Sage, some Garlic Chives (thanks again Poe!) grew from seed from Ohio and a Mother of Thyme. It is so nice having fresh Thyme at any time. Yes...I had to do that ;)


And one last shot for now, the Japanese Elm with a few leaves left, my favorite Japanese Maple (about 7 years old) and some Provencal Lavendar. Shannon is a freak for Lavendar so I think this will get a bigger pot come spring so it can go wild!

GOT the camera!
Nov 25, 2008 | 11:47 AM PST
WOO HOO! And is it ever nice.  Sent it off with Shan today so she could play with it (this is the one day a week that she and a single co-worker, one she should probably be separated from, are alone for the day so I knew they would have fun as they do get a lot done but play all day!). There will be many pics on the way.  Lot of updating to do.  Dang, but I got my work cut out for me as this is not the only place that gets pics, haha.  Look towards a lot of new posts, in a rather steady way :D

Thanksgiving.
Nov 24, 2008 | 11:10 AM PST
Tags: cornish , cornish hens , hen , jalapeno , mozzarella , poppers , thanksgiving , turkey
I have a lot to be thankful for yet have never truly gotten into the Turkey thing. We are going to have a few friends over and instead of the 'traditional' turkey day thing, I am going to do my Cornish Hens. This way we each get our own bird and yet it is a gathering of happy, thankful people. I am most thankful for Shannon, having her in my life completes it. Having known each other for so long and now being here for each other is what makes my day, each and every day. I might also make my Mozzarella Sticks and Jalapeno Poppers. On another note, hopefully our new camera shows up today (it is scheduled for delivery!). Soon, we will get back into writing (all over!) since we will be able to simply take great pictures again! Looks like I get out of being the bartender as I normally am, that is being taken care of.  We got some nice wine and one of the couples coming is bringing *danger!!* Jello Shots!  That makes me thankful for something else...I have Friday off, lol.

Planting Ground Covering.
Nov 17, 2008 | 1:23 PM PST
Tags: Herb , container garden , kitchen herbs , Ground Cover , Crown Vetch

It never ceases to amaze me the simple things (the ones you think are simple) are not necessarily so.  What I mean is, things I know how to do, or about, that are not so 'simple'.  Take ground covers, I think it makes sense to plant something like Crown Vetch on a sunny hill that won't get a lot of water.  It flowers, it takes care of itself.  I say something like that and I get that look from people, that look that makes me want to run to a mirror and see if a second head popped out of my shoulder.

 So I wrote it up as well :D Ground Cover Guide

 Yes, those things we think are so obvious are things other people seem to be oblivious to, haha.

Kitchen Herb Garden, anyone?

That was hard, only because I tried to 'simplify' it.  You, all you smart people out there, don't even think about it.  Share that knowledge, spread it far and wide.  You might be surprised what you know about that other people do not.  One of the things I have written that gets major views?

Boil an Egg

Take that and run with it!  Yes, boiling an egg.  So, yes, if that does not prove a point, I don't know what does!

Share what you know, while you still have it in your head is my theory.

Fried Green Tomatoes
Nov 17, 2008 | 1:10 PM PST
Tags: Tomato , green tomato , fried green tomatoes , Jalapeno , zucchini , okra

Yes, it is that time again.  How I love those first few and last few tomatoes.  Fried.

 Fried Green Tomatoes

 That is MY way of fixin them :D

 Either way, that has been something I have NOT had in some time as I no longer have space for tomato plants.  I gave that space up to a smoker grill, lol.  That is headed to storage here in about a week when our firepit gets here! FIREPIT! WOO! 

 I thought about asking around the farmers market, then got distracted, then I thought, hey...I COULD make room.  And got distracted.  Maybe I really did not want any? haha.  Not so much.  I did zucchini instead.  I make them the same way as I do in that recipe and they were SO yummy.  Guess maybe I should write that out.  And Okra. I do my Jalapenos different, though.  I can get okra, no problem, from the store around the corner (Heck, I can get White Truffel there!).  Maybe what it is...is I just love FRIED stuff :D