I smell like sage...

(And, if ya ask me, that's a good thing!)

After our days of rain we've got a reprieve - at least a short one. Today's supposed to be super sunny yet stay below 80. We slept in BIG time, finally getting out of bed around 11 (that doesn't include getting up for the super-early cat feeding to get them to leave us alone, bathroom breaks, etc). Did a little snacking. Shared my mixed berry yogurt with Tucker (he's insane about it - is yogurt bad for cats!?) And then while Brett was watching some TV I decided to check out the back 40 (har har) and let the cats stretch their legs.

WOW! Sure, we've had a lot of rain and some warm weather, but I did NOT expect the growth spurts!!! I think all the dahlias have doubled (or more!) in height in the last few days. Some of the potted tomato plants have done the same. I found the small potted catnips on the patio table were found by visitors and chewed down - have had to stash them again! Can't be the same visitors chewing the basil on the patio table (all the other basil plants seem fine), so I'm assuming there's a slug living in one of the pots and making visits to the little basil that really wants to live....so I moved it over to the grill for now.

Amazing with all this weather a few pots in poorly placed positions were bone dry - so I had to get out the hose and water those, plus the hanging baskets (SUPER lush and colorful in the back, getting lush but lacking much more than green in the front) were also kinda dry. Since it's warming up and the sun's out, I get them a good dose of water as well.

Looks like the raspberries growing out of the back wall are starting to get some red to them, while the ones up against the house are a little later in their development. Not going to get much out of any of them this year, but I don't give them special treatment - no pruning or anything like that to inspire more production. Once we get a new place I'll plan to give them more space and move TLC.

Had to move the curly leaf mint - even though it's potted up and tucked in behind the raspberries (I think the raspberries would win that battle), it's starting to get curious and send out runners. I moved it over to the rock wall - just LET it try to get a foothold in there. (Oh, who am I kidding - I can get nasturtiums to grow in the wall, and the potted raspberries jumped ship last year with a couple runners and now I have raspberries coming up in new places!)

Hm. Mint. Also got a little parsley growing back there (doesn't do as well confined to a pot!?). Storebought (blah!) tomatoes on the counter. Bulgar wheat in the cabinet and a couple lemons in the crisper drawer. I think I'm making tabouleh later today! :)

We're talking about maybe going for a short walk in a little bit - Brett's foot with a possible bone spur will let us know how far we can go. Need to stop by Rick & Carolyn's and feed Ayla the cat while they're in New Orleans at the ALA conference (same place Peter's at!). Need to stop by WalMart for some twine for the garden. Maybe I can get Brett to go along for a ride out to the garden - I could do a little more weeding and finish twine on the teepees!

Oh, and about that "I smell like sage" header? At first I was thinking it was because I brushed up against some of the sage out back, but I don't remember doing that. At least not the culinary stuff - and it really doesn't leave a scent on me THAT easily when I do. But I DO know I was poking in and around the Russian sage, and wow, that'll really leave it's scent on ya! Just as good a smell, although sometimes with a sticky residue. Seems I escaped that this time.

Hope everyone's having a great day!