Arrived home to 70 degrees heat, shininess all over the show and plants on
Spring Training (ritual here where Dads and sons pay loads of dosh to watch pro baseballers skylarkin' around on a field in Arizona.) And look, the banana leaves are going... bananas. Wish I felt as springy. The main topic of conversation on our ski minibreak was how to get through that 3pm Arvo Arse Drag (technical term obviously).
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| Backyard sprouting |
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| More stuff sprouting |
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| Amazing how Clivias get so orange in the shade |
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| Succulents on front deck |
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| The never-used bocce ball court, banana leaves going bananas |
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| We have "borrowed landscaping" from the neighbors as realtors would say... |
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| For the artificial grass it's always springtime |
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| Posting too many photos of same thing... |
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| Japanese maple trees grew back in while I was away. Do you like my lemon styling? |
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| Asparagus plants waving to you. Full disclosure, I am not the gardener, like most people I know we have the weekly "mow and blow" plus Tamar and Rogellio The Magnificents. |
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| ....unlike New Zealand, where gardening is Number One Pastime. Sixteen years ago, Harley helping Mum with her garden |
Ok back to arse drag....the
Kombucha drinks work a bit - and about five kiwifruit, though I have to nap many days. I've never been a high energy person and now two weeks shy of 52, it's pretty hard to say what part of the day I feel best.
My friend Cameron has a cup of strong coffee and two squares of dark choccy to get through the 3pm Drag. What do you do?
Oh god - so jealous -we are in midst of blizzard!
ReplyDeleteI have 3 p.m. arse drag coupled with 8 pm hot flash...
I try to drink water but have been know to go for chocolate. If I am standing bored in the kitchen will reach for water!
Your trip looked like such fun!!!!
Gardening is so short-lived here - what I wouldn't give to have a 6 month season!
No mow and blow needed then?
DeleteLove your patio....
ReplyDeleteLike Wendy.....we just survived yet another blizzard......eeeeeek!
I like a coffee and berries to pick me up at 3pm....
I want more succulents!!!
Why do I live in Canada? Anybody?
Enjoy the upcoming weekend....
Cheers!
Linda :o)
what kind of berries are best?
DeleteI love a mix....
DeleteStrawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries....
Yum.....making me hungry😜
love your garden, why the fake grass darling??? Do you get people in to sort out your pots??? who'd've thought? x
ReplyDeleteFake grass stay the same through all the rain and shine and no mud. Kids play out there all the time and no mud inside. To be honest, best thing we did of all the re-model. Yes to the pot sorters, I used to spend all kind of money on plants and dirt and whatnot and it never looked that great. I know. My mother can't believe it either...
DeleteEverything looks perfectly green and spring. I got into the habit of "lying down" around three waiting for chitlins' to arrive from home at 3:45.. Amazing what a quick nap does for the ass drag. Fake grass? Hilarious but also pretty smart.
ReplyDeleteJust doing that now. Thought i heard the door so just got up...poltegeists
DeleteWish it were like that here
ReplyDeleteStill cold I fear
Blow the warmth this way
And some green on display
Loving this Bay Area soring weather! Is the next Superbowl on your artificial turf?
ReplyDeleteYou have such a beautiful yard! I really miss greenery. And I get through the afternoon drag by taking a little nap with the kiddos. Although now that it's staying light until 9pm I find I'm dragging a little less. Nothing like some sun to perk me up!
ReplyDeleteYour plants are in full bloom or all blooming. It's spring.
ReplyDeleteThe photos are bright and wonderful.
Your mum's garden photos from NZ looked fantastic. I can't believe you don't garden too!!! It's a hereditary thing, I always think (my sisters all garden, my parents and grandparents all gardened. My husband is not a natural gardener, his parents and grandparents were not gardeners. They all hired gardeners).
ReplyDeleteYour gardeners are doing a great job -I love your garden, and the blue of the pot is fantastic. I'm a bit jealous, as my garden looks depressing. Plus I went on a garden tour today in the country, which was SO beautiful... and then have come home to survey my dust bowl back garden, which needs so much work to rectify it from the builders and their trucks. One day..... The 3pm slump is when I am driving to school to collect the kids. I'm always yawning and feel like a nap. Never get one though, sadly. xx
I know, I feel terribly guilty, esp as I am defying the Kiwigardening gene thing. I think its like cooking proper recipes rather than assembling, I like the idea of cooking and gardening but can't get around to the actuality. Spent many hours trying to do the pot with wilting results.I do like getting my hands dirty though...
DeleteYour garden is amazing, artificial grass must be the way to go!
ReplyDeleteI raid the breadbin at 3pm, it doesn't give me more energy in fact I think it saps the last remnants of what energy I had; but I like bread!
I wish I had the temperature, I could do with it, it's cold and rainy here again. Some sunshine would be lovely. The garden is gorgeous xx
ReplyDeleteIt all looks very exotic and burgeoning.
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm at home, I usually have an afternoon cuppa. Can't at work, or I could but it's too much of a pain. I'm taking a twice daily dose of spirulina at the moment http://wellnessmama.com/4738/herb-profile-spirulina/ to boost the poor old post-winter bod.
I don't drink kombucha but I do make and drink kefir water. I'm experimenting with it so it's palatable to the boys (some hope).
Kombucha revolts me, hubs loves it. I don't really slump until bed time but that's really early for me.
ReplyDelete70 degrees? We would be lucky to get one day in summer that hits 70 degrees.
Glad spring is making it to your neck of the woods. May this spring be wonderful for you!
ReplyDeletecoffee and v.dark choc helps, but I don't wait til 3!
ReplyDeleteOur weather has been crazy, Wednesday it was 59 F and sunny in the a.m., yesterday it was 25 with mean mean winds. Today it's supposed to be 60 again.
Nap!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a coffee for the afternoon slump - unless I can take a nap! Then I am sure to nap first, then have my coffee. So jealous of your fake grass. My husband (also my gardener) would love to have that. It does look great.
ReplyDeleteOk so I'm glad I'm not the only one trying to figure this out. I read that doing a yoga headstand for 15 mins is worth 2 hours sleep! Only I hurt my neck trying to do it and then just read an article about how yoga can kill you (probably not true, I did it religiously for 14 years before I fell off the wagon) but still haven't figured out the 3pm crash. Let me know if you find the secret!
ReplyDeletexo Mary Jo
Unfortunately I'm often leading an IEP meeting at a school site when the 3pm drag hits....ugh. It's very rude to yawn and lay on the table but sometimes I feel like doing that instead of act professional. Chocolate is a good thought. Love your garden and those lemons are clearly very happy!
ReplyDeletexx
Ooh that weather and those banana leaves! Gorgeous. I have perma-arse drag. Water helps although I never have enough. I always have to set an alarm for school pick up lest I forget the wee ones if I fall asleep mid-afternoon.
ReplyDeleteOh stop! Your photos are making me mildly annoyed. We are at 50 today and everyone's rejoicing but it's going back down again next week. Such a tease!
ReplyDeleteLove the succulent pots! I am totally tired from this crazy Daylight Saving business. Told my daughter that when she tires of Berkeley she should run for President on the "Abolish Daylight Saving Time" ticket. Heard that Kiwi fruit (is that a redundant term?) lower blood pressure significantly when 3 or more are eaten daily. Wonder if it's true?
ReplyDeleteI have extremely low blood pressure (crocodile levels) so must be. They have more vitamin c than oranges too apparently. Oh yes, that's what's mucking me up, the daylight savings.
DeleteYou look very good for 52.
ReplyDeleteActually you're being very brave even mentioning the number.
My beloved has just cooked a desert of such amazing taste and temptationing (I know it's not a word, but it should be) that even though I'm diabetic I had a small portion.
Bananas caramelised in butter, brown sugar and cream. Served with a scoop of Tiptop French Vanilla Ice Cream.
Once I got to 50 I thought well there is not a damn thing you can do about it...Oh what is that banana dish actually called? It sounds a bit like a banoffi pie I used to make when I was a chalet "girl" in Swtizerland, except I did it the lazy way, boiling up condensed milk to make the toffee part of it. And yes of course once i did leave it to boil too long with toffee all over the show....
DeleteGosh you do have an amazing garden! Love all those succulents. Mine are starting to take off too. I just love the fake grass thing..No mowing or chemicals..I have a mow and blow team and they basically just come by, blow dirt around and charge me $80...I need help! I'd like to take a vacation in your yard!
ReplyDeleteForgot to comment on the drag...I have ice tea around 3 and start doing some kind of chore otherwise, I'm out.. SO darn tired by then and the daylight saving has made it worse!
ReplyDeleteI love how spring-y your home is looking! As for the 3pm drag--- hmmm-- funny, for me it is an all day drag! No-- but seriously, Sparkling water with lemon or iced green tea tend to give me a shot of energy!
ReplyDelete'never' been a high energy person?! I beg to differ-you are always interviewing and writing, you keep a huge beautiful house,you have about 12 kids, you breakdance, have a writing group, and you write this blog! And Im sure Ive missed a couple of things. Im exhausted just typing all of it.
ReplyDeleteYour yard is lovely. I want to sit in it with a mojito.
I dont drag at three that often but if I do I just stop working. Im not as responsible as most.