6/29/2016 — a zucchini begins to grow!

7/8/2016 — starting to achieve decent size!

7/14/2016 — Holy moley, I think I left that a couple of days too long! O_o;;;

7/14/2016 — Yep… pretty sure I did. -.-;;;

7/20/16 — Well, it had gone to seed on the inside, but even with the entire inside scooped out…

…there was more than enough for two loaves of zucchini bread! (Actually there was enough for at least four. Oops. ^_^)

And it was DELICIOUS! 😀

I have officially eaten the first thing to be harvested from my garden!  😀  My mom and I spent the afternoon baking zucchini bread and watching Leverage.  Not a bad way to spend a day!  ^_^ And the zucchini bread was SO GOOD.  *_*  There was actually enough (even with the entire center cored out) to double the recipe and make four loaves, but we only made the two.  We’re saving the rest of the zucchini for schnitzel.  ^_^

Next thing to harvest will probably be my first tomato, and I’ve finally got an eggplant growing, too!  AND I’M REALLY ENJOYING THIS, JSYK.  ^______^

Advertisement

First zucchini!

FIRST EGGPLANT!!! XD

First zucchini harvested!

The first tomato to grow is now the first tomato to start to turn red!

I just realized that it’s been a while since I last posted pictures of my gardening efforts and THERE ARE UPDATES!  😀

The two outside pictures up top are of my first zucchini to be harvested (I’m afraid I waited a day too long to harvest it, but I’ll let you know about that once it’s become zucchini bread.  ^_~) and in the center is MY VERY FIRST EGGPLANT!!  XD  I’M SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT.  Anyway, the bottom picture is of my very first tomato… and it is now my very first tomato to start turning red, too!  😀

So, YAY!!  I’ll be eating these things soon!!  😀

Anyway.  Carry on.  ^_^

Today was a pretty good day, so I thought a “good day photoset” was in order.  ^_^

First three pictures: my new soothing bowl, some brewing earl grey midnight tea, and the newly cleansed clear quartz chips that will go in the soothing bowl.

Middle pictures: Gabriel being a cutey.  ^_^  Because he is.

Bottom three pictures: MY GARDEN.  LOOK HOW WELL EVERYTHING’S GROWING!!  😀  My first zucchini should be ready in a few days and I’ve been eating the chives for over a week.  ^_^  SO EXCITED.

Other things that were good behind the cut:

So, my therapist is out on medical leave for back surgery and her friend/mentor is taking over most of her cases while she’s gone.  Anyway, I was REALLY REALLY nervous about that.  But you know what?  I REALLY really like her.  In fact, I hate to say it, because I really do love my therapist, but I’m almost tempted to say that D. is a better fit for me.  We have the same energy in a way?  That kind of high-strung, excitable almost-nervous energy?  And combining me with another person like that usually means SHIT GETS DONE.  So… I’m tentatively hopeful?  Which would feel like a major betrayal, but my therapist basically already said, “If you like working with her and want to stay with her, THAT’S OK.”  So… I guess we’ll see?  -.-;;;  Anyway, it’s at least two months too early for that particular worry, so I’m going to not focus on it for now.

Other things that are cool: I finally stopped in at the yoga studio and got information on classes with an eye towards starting yoga again.  Because I am so stiff and in so much general muscle pain because of all my lost flexibility and something has to give and I’d rather it not be my back.  -.-;;;  Anyway, I really liked the studio and the receptionist was SUPER nice and just kind of left me with this feeling that this was the right move?  Which is good because I think I needed that level of encouragement.  Because on some level, as the new therapist smacked it right on the head, I don’t think I deserve to feel better.  So I don’t do the things that I know will make me feel better.  Well, FUCK THAT.  I WANT TO FEEL BETTER.  So.  Gonna try?  -.-;;;

And last but not least, my soothing bowl.  LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT IS COOL.  It’s exactly what it sounds like – a bowl meant for soothing you.  Here’s a picture.  It’s a bowl with some kind of polished stone/crystal chips inside it.  Nothing fancy.  Anyway, the idea is that when you’re stressed, you run your fingers through the chips and pick them up and let them sift through your fingers.  And I saw the one they had in the window and was kind of like… huh.  That sounds interesting.  So I did as instructed and just… OMG.  As a sensory thing is was SO SATISFYING AND SOOTHING.  It was everything I love about running my hands through dry sand without the roughness of the sand or the granules getting stuck in the creases of my fingers.  So with that in mind, I bought a larger ceramic bowl the color of sand fading into the turquoise ocean in the bottom.  And when it came time to pick a crystal, well… I know nothing about crystals.  O_o;;;  So I just go with my gut of which one I think feels right.  And I picked clear quartz.  This is the blurb from the store about it:

Crystal Quartz is known as the “master healer” and will amplify energy and thought, as well as the effect of other crystals.  It absorbs, stores, releases and regulates energy.  Clear Quartz draws off negative energy of all kinds, neutralizing background electromagnetic radiation.  It balances and revitalizes the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual planes and acts as a deep soul cleanser, connecting the physical dimension with the mind.  Clear quartz enhances psychic abilities.  It aids concentration and unlocks memory while it stimulates the immune system and brings the body into balance.

Sounds like just what the doctor ordered for someone with anxiety, ADHD, a wealth of negativity, and chronic pain, doesn’t it?  O_o;;;  GOOD JOB, SUBCONSCIOUS.

Anyway, I cleansed two of the bags of crystal chips earlier and they’re now drying in the window, so hopefully they’ll be dry enough for the bowl by tomorrow.  ^_^

So, yeah.  That’s what’s going on with me.  Not too shabby for once, huh?  ^_^

Forgot to post these yesterday, but look!  😀  A second tomato and THREE zucchini!  😀  (…the third one is kind of hiding around the back, but trust me it’s there.  ^_^)  I AM SO EXCITED.  XD

The chives are still growing well and the lavender is getting taller, too.  ^_^  The eggplant is also getting taller, but so far, no eggplant.  Hopefully soon, but I guess time will tell.  ^_^

Forgot to share this earlier, but it’s official! My first tomato! 😀 (It’s in the center of the picture just above the rim, in case you can’t see it.) The zucchini, eggplant, chives, and lavender are looking promising, too! Sorry… I know most of you are probably here for cute kitty pictures, but this is very exciting to me. I have officially grown a food! 😀

Chives and eggplant

Zucchini, Lavender, and Tomato

Eggplant

Zucchini

Tomato

One month ago, overhead view — 5/13/16

Today, overhead view — 6/15/16

Remember a month ago when I was babbling excitedly about my new garden?  Well, for anyone wanting an update… here it is a month later!  Complete with flowers!  😀  I may even have actual vegetables before too long!  ^_^

For a while I was having trouble with someone coming along and digging at the plants (my parents claim they saw birds, but I never caught anyone in the act :P) but that seems to have stopped.  I can’t help but wonder if the visitor we’ve had for the past few days has anything to do with it…

They’re a beautiful kitty, well-fed looking, well-cared for looking, and not really all that skittish around people–certainly not as skittish as a truly feral cat would be.  I only hope they have a home nearby and just like to hang out in our yard.  We’ve been putting out water, but I still worry.  -.-;;;  As much as I appreciate your effect on the garden pests, I hope you have a home somewhere close by that you go to at night, pretty marmalade kitty!

@kingesstropolis replied to your photoset:For as long as I can remember, every year my…

You are precious. I hope your garden prospers!

^__________^ THANK YOU. I hope it does, too! ^_^ I am so excited for all the yummy foods! Like… 😀 …I CAN MAKE ALL THE ZUCCHINI BREAD. AND I CAN LEARN HOW TO MAKE EGGPLANT ROLLATINI. 😀 And I WANT TO BAKE SOMETHING WITH LAVENDER. XD *happy squirms* I AM JUST VERY EXCITED. XD *tail wag*

eirenical:

For as long as I can remember, every year my father has planted a garden.  Mostly tomatoes and cucumbers and strawberries, but with the occasional zucchini and grape vine and herb wandering in.  And ever since I moved in with my uncle, I’ve wanted to plant a garden of my own.  There’s just something about growing your own food that is so immensely satisfying, and let’s face it, it just plain tastes better than most of what you get in the supermarkets, because it doesn’t get any fresher than “walk outside and pluck it from the plant to put in the salad.”

But for some reason or another, every year I managed not to have time or to forget until it was too late, or whatever reason it was that kept me from doing what I wanted that year.  NOT THIS YEAR.  THIS YEAR I DECIDED I WAS PLANTING.  *firm nods*

Cut for babbling about planting things.  ^_^

Keep reading

omg!  😀  omg guys!  It’s raining!  My little plants are getting their first drink at my house!  😀  *dances around*  I’M SO EXCITED FOR THEM.  XD

*coughs*  Sorry.  Proud mommy is proud.  Even of her little plants.  *sheepish grin*

For as long as I can remember, every year my father has planted a garden.  Mostly tomatoes and cucumbers and strawberries, but with the occasional zucchini and grape vine and herb wandering in.  And ever since I moved in with my uncle, I’ve wanted to plant a garden of my own.  There’s just something about growing your own food that is so immensely satisfying, and let’s face it, it just plain tastes better than most of what you get in the supermarkets, because it doesn’t get any fresher than “walk outside and pluck it from the plant to put in the salad.”

But for some reason or another, every year I managed not to have time or to forget until it was too late, or whatever reason it was that kept me from doing what I wanted that year.  NOT THIS YEAR.  THIS YEAR I DECIDED I WAS PLANTING.  *firm nods*

Cut for babbling about planting things.  ^_^

The only thing was that I needed to coordinate with my father.  Because, you see… that house on the right hand side across the fence?  That’s my parents’ house.  So, let’s just say that plenty of food gets shared across the fence and there was no need to double-grow anything.  -.-;;;  SO.  Today my dad and I went to the nursery and coordinated planting.  He planted his usual: tomatoes and cucumbers, and already has the strawberries in the backyard.  My mom also planted some herbs – basil, parsley, and dill.

So, I went with chives (because some of my fondest planting memories are of finding chives outside, plucking them, and eating them right there ^_^), eggplant and zucchini.  I also chose lavender because it smells and looks pretty and it attracts bees and I had decided that if I was going to garden, I was going to do it responsibly and put in at least one plant that bees like.  *nodnod*  Then my dad popped his head over the fence to tell me that he ended up with one more grape tomato plant than he had room for and he didn’t know where to put it, so I offered to take it off his hands.  ^_^

So, now I have all kinds of yummy things just waiting to grow and I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.  ^_____________^

(I’m also excited that my dad’s sprinklers apparently reach that bed because it effectively means I won’t even have to water.  NOT A BAD THING.  ;D)