Post Scrips II

Back in June 2011, I updated a few past posts. As I type this, it is Sunday morning and Carlos is still in bed - so I have a few minutes to update some other posts, which I have been meaning to do for awhile.

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Update to Gardening: Year Two
and
Gardening: Year Two, Week Three

The Summer 2011 here in New Orleans was very dry for about two months. Then we had tons of rain for about a month. This year's crop - green bell peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, jalapenos, and snap beans - shriveled up in the heat. And then were drowned out by the rain.

NOTHING grew this year. Next year, I'll try bell peppers, cucumbers, snap beans (which seemed to do the best this year) and onions - a new choice, that Monica, a friend of mine at work, tells me grows well.

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Update to Fun with Remodeling

At the end of the post, I wrote, "Once all this is completed, I’ll post before and after pictures". Well, I completed the office remodeling project in February 2008, but never got around to posting pictures. Thanks to a reader (Hey Iona!) for pointing that out. Here are before and after pictures of my office / guest room.

Back wall...

Front Wall...

 

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And an update to a very recent post...

Update to An Evening with Stephen King

 "The doors open at 6:30 pm." My plan was to pick up Carlos at 5 pm, eat at a restaurant about a block away from the event, and get in line at 6 pm. We altered our plans a bit and ended up getting there about 5:45 pm. This is what we saw:

The entrance was on the other side of the block - meaning that the line snaked around the front of the building, down the entire left side of the block, and back to near the middle of the next side of the block - where we joined it.

By the time, everyone was let in at 6:30 pm, the line almost joined back to itself at the front of the building. In the auditorium, we were in the middle - so the seating wasn't too bad.

We received a free book with our ticket. Only 250 out of 2000 were signed - randomly distributed. I got one!

Since I'm also in the Stephen King Book Club, I will also receive the book within the next month. I'll give that copy to charity.

Carlos and I ate at the newest location of New Orleans Hamburger & Seafood Company on St. Charles Avenue. New Orleans has many, many great restaurants so there is really no reason to eat at a chain. This chain is the only one I enjoy.

Gardening: Year Two, Week Three

The garden is coming along nicely. I am already learning some lessons: Next year, plant only one pack of snap beans. They're growing wildly. I'm interested to see what happens when the cucumber vines start to crawl around.



From last year, I did learn that cucumber vines grow and grow and grow. Thus the addition of the chain fence in the back.

I'm really getting into this gardening thing. I learn new things every year.

Gardening: Year Two

Last year, I planted red bell peppers, green bell peppers, orange bell peppers, and cucumbers in my first ever attempt at a garden.

Only the cucumbers really worked out.

This year, I am planting cucumbers again. Plus, another try at green bell peppers. I am also attempting eggplant, jalapenos, and snap beans. Here is a picture of my garden - week one. Ever week or so, I will post an update.



I have learned from last year that the cucumber vines like to crawl. Thus the reason for the chain link fence.

I may also post some recipes that I make from my garden's results.

Gardening: Day 48

I have created a cucumber!

To follow the history of my garden:
Day 1
Day 34

This is my first year so I am still learning, but it is very exciting. (I really need to weed and water my garden more often.)

Carlos and I cut it up and ate it with a simple vinaigrette. Mmmmmmmmm Good!

Gardening - Day 34

Here is what my garden looks like - Day 34.




Here is what my garden looked like on Day 1.

Supposedly, by Day 75 I will have cucumbers and bell peppers. We'll see.

Hobbies

Carlos and I are still cultivating our love of cooking. Last night, we made:
Shaved Raw Asparagus with Parmesan Dressing (very good!)
Mushroom Meatloaf (bland - but I have a solution for next time)
Garlic Mashed Potatoes (ditto)

We are hosting our Monthly Family dinner next Sunday (May 2) so are trying to perfect the menu. I think we'll serve all of the above, working on the seasoning. Carlos is going to come up with a nice dessert that mixes well with the other dishes.


I have picked up two new hobbies recently.

New Hobby #1 - Genealogy. During our Katrina evacuation, I bought a family tree program, but never took it out of the box. I finally did earlier this month. My dad's mom (who had 8 brothers and who died at 98 in 2003) kept great family records. I added all her research into my program.

Then I started with my mom's dad, who died in 2004. I was able to trace back to my great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather (Christophe Mequet) who was born in 1700 in France. My method: Using the relatives I already knew, I searched the internet for other people who have published family trees with my relatives included. I found my great grandfather (Hector Mequet) in this family tree.

My next goals:
1) Find out if any of my relatives fought in the Civil War.
2) Prove or disprove the long-standing family legend that my grandfather's grandparents were first cousins.
3) Prove or disprove the long-standing family legend that, along those same family lines, that we have black relatives.
4) Find pictures of as many relatives as possible.


New Hobby #2 - Gardening

I have had "Start a garden" on my To Do list for many years. This past weekend, motivated by my brother-in-law Jeff who planted a tomato garden when I was in Atlanta recently visiting, I finally got around to it. Here are pictures on Day 0 - before anything was started, and Day 1 - minutes after everything was planted.




The garden consists of:
Cucumbers
Green Bell Peppers
Red Bell Peppers
Yellow Bell Peppers
Orange Bell Peppers

According to the packaging, I'll have food in 75 days. I'll post updated pictures soon.