Q: What happens if you take my mom to the Huntington gardens?

A: You drive back to San Diego with a trunkful of rose bushes.

Everything else in the window box is dead. . .

. . . But the Amaryllis gets nicer every year. (Small brown cat included for scale purposes.)

Awww. . .

Each of these wee cabbages is about the size of a tennis ball. Perfect for vegan Easter egg hunts!

Savoy cabbage in the sunshine at the farmers market this morning. Happy spring!

"Tis the season...

No, actually, 'tisn't.  Or at least 'tis, but just a bit longer.  

Yes, pomegranate season has come and is now on its way out.  I've celebrated as much as I can without making myself physically ill.  See?

You know the secret to getting the seeds out without turning yourself all purpley, yes?  The thing with the bowl of water?  It really is a clever, magic way to mine all the nooks and crannies without looking like you've just left a crime scene.

Many of my friends know about my seasonal pomegranate obsession. Some have even seen me all hopped up on pomegranate-related enthusiasm at the farmers market, even before I've had coffee! That being said, I have no idea who left this on my porch today:



Anyone with clues about my mysterious benefactor is encouraged to share them so I can express my gratitude. In the meantime, I think I can come up with some way to dispose of these. Thank you pomegranate fairy!

YES WE CAN HAS

Plus, I'm leaving the HOPE sticker up in my car for a while to celebrate the good news.

Don't bet against the mouse...

... because the mouse always wins!

Okay, not always. But this time it did. Valerie and another coworker and I put together an entry for our department's (faux) pumpkin carving contest and we won in a landslide. Almost half the total votes! Go Team Slow Loris! Er, I mean, Team Mouse House!

(We totally thought this cool, creepy Medusa pumpkin would win. You have no idea how bouncy we were when we found out we were wrong.)



I did the windows you can see here, plus the little mice made out of Sculpey.* Check out my curtains. Not bad for someone who can't sew a straight hem, huh? Our coworker did the door with the cute little wreath.

* Or, as a (different) coworker said, "polymer modeling clay." I guess that's why she's the Executive Director and I'm, uh, not. (Hint: It's because I am way, way less detail-oriented.  And stuff.)



Check out Valerie's adorable Venetian blinds! And the plaid awning!! Go ahead and admit you're about to keel over from the cuteness.

Anyone remember Flash Gordon?

These would have been perfect for that movie. I'm having a hard time coming up with another set of surroundings in which they'd fit right in, however. Barbarella's space opera too, so I'm not sure that's all that different. The opening of really posh swamp-themed museum?

Rube Goldberg would be proud...

... and should be awarded posthumous honorary Dutch* citizenship.

Click this link but once the page has loaded, just watch.  I know it's full of pretty colors and you want to click, but restrain yourself.  Trust me, you'll be happy you did.

Turning your sound up is good too.

* Still the funniest language** ever!

** I know, I know, I said Flemish was the funniest language ever, but Flemish and Dutch*** are practically the same.  Honest.

*** Tompouce!  Feestvlaggetjes!! Mooi!!!  The Dutch word for "good looking" is mooi!****

**** And apparently, in Swedish, it's "snyggt"

I am overcome.  I think I need to go lie down.