Windowsill Gardening

My repotted geraniums have sent forth a blossom of wonderful magenta.  The paperwhites are pushing their roots deep into the gravel and sending full flower spikes up and up and up.  What a lovely change from the deep, cold, white snow outside the window.  When the sun shines, it even seems warm.  To a Mainer.  My deep blue Hyacinths are moving slowly, not quite ready to break into a false Spring.

My Winter Furlough seems to be speeding past much quicker than last year.  I remember being deep into my Wallander books by this time.  Spending hours each day in the latest Swedish murder.  I haven't opened a book in weeks. It's interesting to me how the same day can change so dramatically.  Long endless hours or "gosh, where did the day go".  G just called to ask when he should schedule his two weeks of vacation.  How do you make that decision in January? How do you make do with only 2 weeks?

Riley is asleep or napping.  He loves the new puffy, softness of his dog bed inserts.  G added a new insert to the existing flattened one giving the dog bed cover a very poofy look.  I can tell from the contented sighs coming from the dog bed--that Riley is very comfortable.  We also purchased 3 new marrow bones and Riley had the small one last night.  Hours of heavy bone gnawing.  The two large bones are in the freezer.  Clean and marrow free.  We aim to please.

G and I sampled a new Wood Fired Grill restaurant yesterday afternoon.  And we had a front row seat to the open kitchen and Wood Fire.  I got to watch the "chef" touch everything with his bare hands (no washing in between) even raw meats, marinating vegetables, fresh cheese etc.  Really, where is the Health Department when you need them?  We won't be eating there again.  He did wear a glove when touching chicken.  And, yes, my salad was made by this same guy after he washed his hands.  A beautiful salad.  I also watched as the helper, helped himself from the open containers of pizza toppings.  Eating his way through a slow hour at work. Bare hands, also.  We went because the pizza was supposed to be good.  It wasn't.  And the 10 inch pizza was $10 with only cheese (that's what I ordered) and each topping was $1.59.  I had the salad on top of my pizza.  So, breakfast oatmeal and then pizza and salad.  That was it for the day.  And I think the stomach thing is gone. Perhaps, I didn't have enough germs in my digestive system?

I MUST walk Riley today (no walk yesterday) and I am not looking forward to it.  If I didn't have a dog, I would be getting comfy on the nice soft couch, covered by the nice warm down throw and opening my book.  Settling in for a few good hours of reading.  Then a short nap.  By then, G would be getting home from work.  The discussion of getting a second dog keeps coming up. Just more work for me. Yes, they would play with each other, but they still need care, feeding, and walks.  Which is Me. Me. Me.  So the answer is always; No. No. No.