Strange visitors in the sky...

While I was working out in the yard I was relaxing with the sounds of nature around me. Occasionally I'd hear neighbors down the street talking with each other, a dog barking in the distance, a car drive by, etc. But for the most part it was just me, the birds, the bugs, the frogs, the wind through the trees, etc.

I'd heard the old guy across the street and down a few lots talking to someone across the street at the new house that was just built at some point, and then after a bit of quiet I heard this odd, loud noise. After several repeats of the noise I thought I was hearing a furnace firing up...were they using some device to burn stuff?

Looking down the street I couldn't see anything odd - no one was even around. Looked back in the other direction down the length of all the yards. Nope, nothing. So if no one was to be seen, who was making the noise?

Then I looked up a little bit, and what did I see coming over the tree line? A couple hot air balloons! Whoa! I know A Balloon Affair, the annual event in Ravenna just miles away from us, had already happened a month or so ago - but there's often hot air balloon sightings in the area. Just never anything quite this close!

I ran inside, grabbed the camera, and told Brett to come out and look around - he was hearing the noise now, came out, and couldn't tell were it was coming from.

"Look up!"


And then we heard a "Hello down theeeeere!"* LOL


There were two balloons passing over the neighborhood at a decent clip. Kinda fun! What we were hearing was the riders flaring up the fire to keep the balloons aloft, and the darker one at one point really seemed to drop down near the trees down at the far end of the neighborhood at one point (after they'd passed over us), and then started firing up again to rise back into the sky. Cool!









* It was a short while later, after all the mowing, reseeding, fertlizing, and balloon excitement that I was walking to the back door for a drink when I found a ball point pen in the back yard. Hm, I must've dropped it. Wait, I haven't been writing in the back yard! AND it was just a short while before that I'd made AT LEAST three passed while doing all the yard work! So I think the balloon riders that passed directly overhead who littered in my yard!! Can I sue them!? What if that pen had hit me in the head!??! What if it hit me in the eye while I was looking up at them!??! LOL

Time for a haircut!

No, not me - the lawn! It's been in for one month now, and wow, it's starting to get shaggy! Some areas are REALLY tall, while others are a bit sparse. Since some of the grass was so long, and you're not supposed to cut more than a third of it's height at any time, I decided to go a bit sparse with the first mowing - about 4inches high. I figure I'll mow again next weekend, and bump it down to maybe 3 1/2 inches.



Gee, don't I look butch!?


Clearly, Brett was working hard TAKING PICTURES (and video!) while I was out working my ass off! ;-) After the mowing I used the remaining grass seed to reseed all the bare spots one last time, and then did a very light follow up application of starter fertilizer (dad's suggestion). I'll hit it with winterizer fertilizer in a month or so - it's still very warm right now (supposed to hit 80 a couple times this coming week!)


After the lawn work I finally planted the red bud in the front yard, along with the new creeping phlox I bought last week. Still not 100% certain the gifted maple tree is going where I have the pot heeled in right now. Got several drive-by/walk-by complements from various neighbors while I was working in the front lawn (on the landscaping/lawn - not on me!). Unloaded a couple more cart loads of top soil into the first L-shaped bed I've put in the backyard (needs more), and then put about 9 more cart loads into the second raised bed, which I planted with kale, swiss chard, spinach, peas, carrots, and beets - all were seeds except the green kale. I figure it might be too late to get some of these things started, but this is me learning...

The third raised bed is super low priority for filling - I want to get another L-shaped bed tilled in and add more top soil/manure to the existing beds, plant all the shrubs/perennials, plant the blueberry bushes (arriving next week), get a pine tree of some sort for the front, and, y'know, I'm really tempted to install some split rail fences in the two L-shaped beds (mostly for decoration, partly to create some "rooms" in the backyard, and also to maybe grow grapes on next year?) - but I think that's a job for spring!

Happy Birthday Boyfriend!

Yay! Brett's turning 32! (Actually, his birthday was YESTERDAY - just been too busy post anything in advance!)

Brett's SO hard to shop for most of the time 'cause there's nothing he wants. Then something shows up on the horizon, and it's usually either the latest version of a video game (probably a Zelda or Metroid Prime game), OR a cool new gaming system (Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii), OR, lately, something iPoddish.

When I found out the new iPod Touch was coming out the day before Brett's 32nd birthday, and after all the drooling he's been doing while watching Steve Jobs' keynote speeches, ads, etc, I figured, alright, I'll get him this, but it's tapping into his Christmas gift fund! For one thing, I wasn't just gonna get him the 8MB version if there's a 16MB - he'll need more space for videos! His audio podcasts don't eat up much space, but now he'll get to enjoy VIDEO podcasts, movies, tv shows, etc on his new toy!



I think you can tell from these pictures that he was a little bit happy with his new toy. I snuck up to the Apple Store Wednesday midday, and Brett had no clue I did anything but come straight home after work!! It was so hard not to let him know what new toy was waiting for him!


The new iPod Touch got wrapped up in newspaper, along with some other goofy stuff (boxes of au gratin instant potatoes, cookies, candy bars), and then put all those in a bigger box, which I also wrapped. So when he opened the box, he seemd mildly amused but appreciative of the goofy stuff (luckily, by random chance he grabbed the iPod AFTER most of the other stuff - I wasn't giving him any "open this first" guidance... I just kept saying "sorry, I couldn't come up with anything cool or fun for you..." Heh heh!)


He's had it in hand for a good chunk of the time since opening it, just putting it down to eat, go to the bathroom, and do errands/chores... And, yes, that's Britney he's TOUCHing - maybe he thinks she still has a chance at reviving her career!? (He's getting senile in his old age!)

I also secretly invited the guys over for birthday dinner last nite...while Larry had to work, Jay, Dave and Randy were able to join us (plus Jay and Randy hadn't seen the new house yet!). Brett was totally surprised... I'll post those pictures tomorrow nite - there's quite a few fun ones!

I'm gonna get you, sucka!

Like Cerberus, the three-headed dog guarding the gates to Hades, sometimes Simon takes it upon himself to guard the stairs. (Or, if you're walking up the steps, he'll appear from no where, tear past you on the stairs, and then come to a screeching halt in front of you...like he beat you to some unmentioned step that you didn't know you were racing towards.)


"I told you to get OFF my stairs! Now you're in for a heap of trouble!" While it may look like he's barreling at me like a 30 pound badger, I think he was just coming to greet me once he realized I was taking his picture.

Too Odd?

Took Friday off to prepare for Brett's birthday - yay, this also meant a chance to make something fun for my lunch. Being in a fall mood, knowing I still have a TON of apples to work through, and wishing I was eating more swiss chard now that my plants are starting to pick up production (and influenced by Farm Girl's recent entry), I whipped up an odd little grilled (more fried) sandwich for lunch. I DO kinda wish I would've cooked it on the panini press instead - less greasy tasting than in the frying pan. Anyhow - whaddaya think:

Slices of extra sharp cheddar, thin slices of Gala apple from the local orchard, bacon (Oscar Myer, of course!), and sauteed swiss chard, all on Tuscan multigrain bread (from the grocery store, not homemade). Was kinda funky - good, but not great. Needs tweaking. Sauteed spinach might've been a bit better? Definitely felt like a slice of autumn!

Moonlight Feels Right

We've been getting some beautiful night skies lately - we had the full moon just a few nites ago, plus either crystal clear skies, or very few clouds. Here's my attempt at a night photo - pretty, hunh?

PS. Bonus points if you can name the song/band that I used to name this entry!

Reaper! Watch it!

You watched the CW's Reaper, riiiiight?

If not, you better find a way to watch the premiere episode (aired this past Tuesday nite, and again tonite at 9pm). And booooy was it funny! I'm pushing it on everyone. We DVR'd it just on a whim to see what it was about, and it had us rolling. Way fun! Maybe that's 'cause Kevin Smith is doing it? I dunno... But check it out if you get the chance!

The main guy was the red-head girl's boyfriend on "Grounded For Life".

The chubby guy ("Sock") was on "Invasion", which we really liked, but it didn't make it past the first season (bummer).

And the girl ("Andie") was the evil shape-changing/illusion-casting beeyotch, Candace, from last season's Heroes.

Ever wonder what would've happened if your parents sold the soul of their first born child (let's say that was you) before you were born, figuring they couldn't have kids? Heh heh... Just watch it!

Ugly Sadness

Ok fellow Ugly Betty watchers, fess up... If you didn't shed at leas a little tear by the end of tonite's Ugly Betty, you basically have no soul.

SPOILER ALERT! Don't read what's next if you plan to watch the episode still!


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All I have to say is, I THOUGHT things seemed a little too clean and easy, not to mention segregated from the rest of the episode/cast tonite!!! I figured we were getting a "uh oh, quick, let's give the-guy-who-plays-Santos his job back because 'Drive' fell through...", but wasn't too happy about it because we went through the wringer with last season's cliffhanger ending, AND they didn't pull any punches, and if his death was undone this easily it really would've invalidated how we felt. Sure, there's red herrings and such, but seriously....if he'd lived, I would've felt cheated. Sure, Hilda would've been happy, but...it wouldn't have felt right.

And fat Amanda? Heh heh - fun!

Ready for a little Superman on Superman action?

From ComicsContinuum.com:

Cain, who starred in ABC's Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, is playing a character named Dr. Curtis Knox in the Smallville episode "Cure."

Here's how The CW describes the episode, which is scheduled for Oct. 18:

"Chloe (Allison Mack) learns that a doctor, Dr. Curtis Knox (Dean Cain), has been treating meteor-infected people and removing their abilities. Desperate to get rid of her powers, Chloe makes an appointment to see him, unaware that Dr. Knox has a nefarious plan to kill his patients and harvest their organs. Meanwhile, Kara (Laura Vandervoort) cons Jimmy (Aaron Ashmore) into helping her locate her crystal and defies Clark's (Tom Welling) order to stay on the farm after she discovers its whereabouts. Lana (Kristin Kreuk) sets up secret surveillance of Lex (Michael Rosenbaum)."

Power Trippin' Super Librarian Chick

Woo hoo! Sharon got her dream job! This means she'll be taking me out for more meals and buying me pretty sparkly things.... Get me some bling, woman!

Seriously though, I think to honor Sharon and to congratulate her, we should all do the special "Congratulations on getting your library job" dance. Hm. I forget. How does it go? Maybe Sharon can show us...




Oh, and her birthday's next week - Tues, Oct 2. I wonder if there's a special birthday dance she might know?

Princess Moxie

When Brett's folks brought us this bar stool/chair, Tucker took an instant liking to it - he clearly thought it was his.

It seems he was overthrown. Moxie's been spending way more time in it than Tucker has - and to make it even more special, I've turned it so the cats, er, Moxie can enjoy the outside view. It's clearly HER throne...

Where's Tucker?!

Brett had the mattress up while washing sheets/bed skirt the other day. Later, with a few of the windows open, things seemed too quiet - where were the cats!? Had they popped out screens again?

Nope - we found Moxie. Found Simon. Where the hell was Tucker?

I was searching around elsewhere after checking the bedroom when I heard Brett calling me, sounding a little panicked.



As you can see, Tucker wasn't too concerned. Just tired.




Crazy cat!

Got wood

Pics from the other day - bringing home wood for those two additional raised beds. I'm really amazed with what we can get in my car! The day before it was three trees!

Show Cat

Is this Brett's form of working out?

Tucker preparing for a cat show?

Tucker thinking he's Super Cat?

Whatever...check out those happy paws - you can see he LOVES this kind of stuff!

It's ALIIIIIIIVE!

Remember when I was wondering if the rumbo seeds I pulled from the year old rotting squash/pumpkin were viable recently? Well, on a whim, I stuck one in one of the potted plants in the kitchen the other day.

Look what popped up two days ago!

By this afternoon it was three times as tall... I went to pluck it out (I will NOT have my kitchen overrun by rumbo vines!), and it snapped off. Oops. I don't figure the plant will put out new leaves at this point. At least I know the seeds are still good!

Rainy Day Gardening

So after running some errands after work I figured I'd come home and work on more yard/garden stuff. I want to get all my homegrown fall crop seedlings in the ground now that their bed is ready. I raked through it one last time, turning in some 5-10-10, and started digging little trenches to pop seedlings into. The thunder started up fast, but lately the thunderstorms have mostly gone around us... I figured I could plant fast, or not even have to worry about it.

Dammit.


Boy did it come down fast and hard! Lightning was striking all around (about made me jump out of my skin at one point!). The rain gauge showed it was coming at the rate of 1.73 inches an hour, and the gauge is actually too close to the house right now and probably not real accurate. I don't know how much rain we ended out getting, but I went out afterwards, tip toe-ing around briefly in the super squishy yard.

Another shot, different speed, during the rain storm - showing my interrupted work area (I was sitting on the bucket).


Four of the five arborvitae I planted the other day (probably ought to stake those, hunh?). Looks like I need to dig a trench around the bed - both to make it look better, and for better water flow!


After the storm - at least none of my trees blew over! Note the filled-in trench across the yard (where I used better top soil than we have across the whole yard - this should be a fun pattern of grass growth).


You can see here I got some of my spinach in, and you probably can't tell that there's also broccoli interplanted. They've really been snacked on by something. I need to dust them a little I think. WHEN it's not raining!


I didn't get any lettuce, brussel's sprouts, kale, bok choy or swiss chard planted this afternoon. :(



Here's a spot where I got the tiller stuck in a surprisingly soft spot on the weekend - note the size of the holes compared to my foot after the rain storm. Grrr....more patch work to be done!

Tonite's dinner

Had a leftover store bought rotisserie chicken carcass to use up fast. Threw it and some crisper drawer/garden veggies in a pot and made stock. Now what.

Got a new cooking magazine that included roasting veggies - mmm, the broccoli looked/sounded good.

Haven't had risotto in ages.

Knew there were some chicken breasts in the freezer - no way was I going to deal with picking the remains off the carcass before boiling, and they'd be dried out after boiling for a long time.

How about herbed parmasian risotto with fast-roasted broccoli and chicken, with homemade (sorta) stock and a splash of sherry and a splash of apple cider, and some snipped in homegrown sage, thyme and chives, with a grating of nutmeg at the end?

Mmmm - turned out good!

Hot For Peter

Sorry - just to clarify, it's not THIS Peter my boyfriend just started yelling "HOOOOOT!" about...


...but, rather, THIS Peter...who I've always thought was a hottie, but Brett didn't care for one bit. At least until seeing with a new haircut, shirtless, covered in grime, and chained up! Who knew!




So - who else watched tonite's Heroes?! Your thoughts? Mine follow, so if you haven't watched it yet, skip the rest of this entry, as it's got spoilers.

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Personally, it was good, but a bit slow. But I'm ok with slow build ups for stuff when I figure it's worth it in the long run.

I can totally understand the torture both Claire and her (adopted) father are going through. Can you imagine suffering through such mundane lives after all the excitement, adventure, and fear they've gone through!?

I'm sad Sulu was killed off. Hiro will be devastated to find out his dad is dead, Ando (who's even cuter this season - love the big anime hair!) will of course feel major guilt, and hey, it was fun knowing someone from old Star Trek was on the show. Oh well - we'll have the appearance (addition!?) of Nichele Nichols (Uhura) at some point. Hey - maybe SHE killed Sulu - how fun would that be!?

Enjoying wondering what's going on with the Maya and her brother. From stuff I'd read about upcoming episodes, I thought maybe her power would be that she goes all lizardy - guess not. Black goo from the eyes of her victims?! Hm! Maybe she's got that black alien oil goo from X-Files years ago!?

Not sure I love the odds that Claire crossed paths with another guy with powers so conveniently.

I like Matt again this season, but feel they wrapped up the storyline with his (now ex-)wife and all that too easily. I liked her. And the little girl he and Suresh are taking care of ("My Two Dads" anyone?) - that actress just seems too "on"...too confident!?

Is the group the guy who's trying to hire Suresh (let's call him Midas til they give us a name I remember) works for - is that the same group that Peter, Nathan and Hiro's parents work for?

Oh, PS - Maya - the girl who kills people unless her brother is around (so he's a power canceller? For just her, or anyone with powers?) - in case you don't recognizer her, she played the mutant Callisto in X-Men 3 - the punk girl with fast fighting skills and the ability to detect other mutants. Gotta say, she's a lot hotter in this!

Ok, so who saw it and what do you think?

Oh, and did anyone watch Big Bang Theory (the comedy between How I Met Your Mother and Two and a Half Men)? We were laughing our asses off, and had multiple "must rewind and watch again" bits. And HIMYM was funny as always. Love the tattoo (what was that called? Skank Tag? I forget now), and the count down to Slack Back! Woo hoo!