Bittersweet Gardens Blog

THE ORGANIC BUZZWORD

2009-02-14T21:12:00.000-05:00

There is an organization of organic gardeners and there is even a national magazine called Organic Gardening. Their precepts are honorable and good but, like most things, we don’t “do” it, we “overdo” it. I’ll start with the most ludicrous case: I recieved a catalog in the mail that advertizes their seeds as being organic. I emailed them and asked what makes their seeds organic and they replied that they were taken from organic plants. Say what? Which came first, the chicken or the egg? As far as I am concerned ”ALL” seeds are organic. There is no pesticide that can carry over a generation through a seed. So therefore what their claim amounts to is a marketing ploy. That’s right, if your product is labled organic you can charge more for it. So it’s not about safety and wholsomeness, it’s about money. Even more absurd was the Paste magazine advertisement I read for cigarettes made from organic tobacco. So you’re going to buy a theoretically more healthy product to give yourself emphysema and cancer? Now the question comes to mind as I wander through a Farmer’s Market and see a product labled organic, is it naturally organic or is it certified organic. Now don’t be afraid but I must tell you the government has gotten in on the act. There are precise regulations on what determines certified organic. For three or four years you must monitor not only the amount of pesticides and fertilizing and sprays you use in your garden but also your neighbor’s gardens. The fact that this country could (at one time) raise more food than we could eat is what helped us become a great wealthy nation with stocks of food available for us to store and to sell to other countries. During this time we used lots of chemical fertilizers. We also used lots of terrible poisons. Thanks to Rachael Carson, author of Silent Spring, we no longer use DDT but you can bet that before it was taken off the market a lot was probably stockpiled by farmers because they thought it was necessary. I’m sure it has all been used up by now but there are other poisons on the market and there are no regulations on who can buy it nor how much they can buy. I’m the first to admit we did a lot wrong back then but where is Rachael when we need her? Who is going to say to the homeowners of America “You are responsible for the price of food going up because you have a lawn service.” Let me explain: It’s okay to have someone cut your grass or blow your leaves into the storm sewer ( I suppose), but these companies, in order to make more money, also spray your lawn with chemicals. Is it because you have a problem? No, it’s to PREVENT your ever having a problem. Think about how there are less and less honeybees not to mention I never see toad frogs anymore or June bugs. Could it be because of all that unnecessary spraying of poison? Oh but these companies put out little signs warning that the lawn has been sprayed. As soon as the bees and frogs learn to read everything will be okay. And what about these guidelines to spray Sevin and other chemicals in orchards sometime around petal drop and at certain late hours when all the bees are supposed to be back at the hive. Has anyone studied this to see if it’s 100% effective? I know for a fact some bees are too far from the hive when it gets late so they spend the night inside a flower and resume working the next day. And so, the little bit of poison they track back to the hive weakens it. Multiplied by lots of bees you have a collapse of their system. The frogs are eating bugs that have crawled across the lawn and coated themselves with poison. Then it gets into th e water supply and the food chain. Can our scientists not figure this out? I guess it's like global warming, some scientists say it's happening, some say not. When something like this is written it brings down the wrath of the great chemical companies who have lots and lots of money and lawyers and scientists and politicians on their side. But I say to you, my fellow Americans “What part will you play in this?”
Eddie Rhoades

Trivia and Severe Water Shortage

2007-12-20T21:05:00.001-05:00

Trivia questions:
1 What is the world's largest commode?
2 How many chinese do we need?
3 Does Georgia have a water shortage?
4 Can you name one animal that is becoming extinct?

Trivia answers:
1 The ocean
2 Evidently billions
3 No, we have plenty of water, we just have too many people
4 Me neither, I can't think of a single animal on the verge of extinction but if there are any I'm sure the government is handling the problem.

About The Drought -
It's funny how I can be out in the garden and think of lots of things I want to say but later when I get back inside I can't remember them. I may hop and skip around a bit here but that's why we named it Eddie's RAMBLING Blog. We are in what is classified as an extreme drought and it was all I could do this summer to keep my valuable plants alive. Reduced to its lowest common denominator I could say we have plenty of water, problem is we have too many people. Not only are people suffering but plants and other animals as well. Be sure to keep birdbaths and other water sources clean and filled during this critical time. You and I can walk inside and have a drink of water but plants are rooted to one spot, they can't do that. You might try digging in some crystal polymers like Water Grabber or other brands. Pike nursery has this product mixed with fertilizer. You don't want that. The fertilizer would only increase water needs. Be sure to presoak the crystals before you dig them in. Also, you can add more mulch to keep moisture from evaporating from the soil surface. I have greatly reduced the size of my lawn and you can do the same. A side benifit of a smaller lawn means less mowing naturally, but it also means more growing space for flowers, shrubs and trees. Me, I'm installing two rain barrels. Every little bit makes a difference.

Water Woes

2007-10-19T23:05:00.000-04:00

It has been a while since I posted here. It's funny how I can be out in the garden and think of lots of things I want to say but later when I get back inside I can't remember them. I may hop and skip around a bit here but that's why we named it Eddie's Rambling Blog. We are in what is classified as an extreme drought. Reduced to its lowest common denominator I could say we have plenty of water, problem is we have too many people. Not only are people suffering but plants and animals as well. Be sure to keep birdbaths and other water sources filled during this critical time. You and I can walk inside and have a drink of water but plants are rooted to one spot. You might try digging in some crystal polymers like water grabber or other brands. Pike nursery has this product mixed with fertilizer. You don't want that, the fertilizer would only increase water needs. Be sure to presoak the crystals before you dig them in. Also, you can add more mulch to keep moisture from evaporating from the soil surface. Me, I'm installing two rain barrels. Every little bit makes a difference.

STARBUCKS

2007-01-01T12:20:00.001-05:00

I don't drink much coffee myself, maybe a half cup of decaf a day but I often frequent Starbucks because they have a program of bagging up used coffee grounds and giving them away. I take these easy-manageable size bags home and sometimes I spread them around individual plants and occasionally I will add some to my compost pile. I look at it as free organic matter to enrich my garden soil. It may not have high numbers in the nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium ratings but earthworms love it and they make a tremendous difference in soil health and viability. If gardeners weren't using this by-product then it would simply go to waste in a landfill. Someone at Starbucks had to make a decision to initiate this program (probably after local gardeners kept asking for used grounds) and go to the trouble and expense (those waterproof bags aren't free) to provide this service. It is little things like this that make a big difference in conservation. It shows respect for people and the planet and for this I thank you Starbucks.

A Tribute To Jim Wilson

2006-11-15T13:45:00.000-05:00

Jim,I really enjoyed your speech at the GA Master Gardener convention in Augusta. You mentioned how it got away with you when a lady came up to you once and said she loved you - but we all do. You are a national treasure and people just like to be in your presence. Besides being a gardener I think you are best defined as being a Southern gentleman. Your story of how a teacher demeaned you the work you turned in for writing an assignment where she deemed it was too good for the likes of you, remained with me. It is a shame some teachers do things like that and do not recognize talent early on and encourage it. I also remember how you said “We weren’t poor but we shot every rabbit and caught every fish and picked every berry for miles around so we would have something to eat.”
I know you are a prolific author, past president of the Men's Garden Clubs Of America, past president of the Garden Writer's Association Of America, host of the Victory Garden for many, many years, spokesman for Fafard Soil and garden promoter extraordinare and a lot more that I don't even know about.
I hope with your move to Missouri you can simplify your life and do some of the things YOU want instead of trying to satisfy the demands of everyone else. I am glad you have found Janie to share your life and bring each other joy, you certainly deserve it.

I remain one of your greatest fans,
Eddie Rhoades

Oh Wow! Jump Up And Down!

2006-11-08T13:00:00.000-05:00

I just found out that I was accepted to play at the FBISF: Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama. This is truly an honor as I will be associating with people who write the songs for well-known stars. Lots of little things running through my mind right now like which songs to play? what to wear? should I put new strings on the guitar? what all should I pack?
I should take my camera and I wish I had some business cards. Nonetheless, I should exude confidence and get up there and perform my heart out. I think I'll start out with a couple of my rocking tunes then hit them with a tear jerker or two. I must go now and practice. I am so excited. This is going to look good on my resume.

We arrived in Gulf Shores, Alabama on Thursday Nov. 16, 2006 and drove to the Silver Moon cafe & bar at around 2 pm. The volunteers were handing out goodie bags and name tags and we found out where our accomodations were to be and where meals would be. Mealtime turned out to be the best time for networking. I found myself a little shy about approaching these successful songwriters and performers because let's face it, I'm a sensitive guy. It's true. I have to admit I cried the first time I ever had sex but I think that was because of the mace.
I got to perform twice officially with the "New Friends Of The Festival." To me a couple of the singers sounded like folk singers or what they call Americana. Nothing wrong with that and I do the same sometimes but too many slow songs in a row and I tend to get sleepy so when it came my time to sing I picked some of my peppier songs to liven things up. According to the applause, I think they liked it. In fact, this guy announced that I had single-handedly created the biggest genre shift of the evening. I personally like traditional country and old time rock and roll. I was born before there was such a thing as rock and roll so I have had the great fortune in this life of watching rock being born. The two biggest thrills while at the festival were going across the street to FloraBama roadhouse and watching the performers there while the "Lolas" were there. LOLA stands for Ladies Of Lower Alabama. The Lolas are a group of women similar to the Sweet Potato Queens who dress outrageously in bustles, leotards, fishnet stockings, boas, pink wigs (or blue), and ridiculous accessories. There was a big, loud crowd there and everyone was having great fun in the middle of the afternoon. The second big thrill was going to RiverWatch. That's the name of the house directly behind the Silver Moon. The protocol there is, you come in with your guitar and take a seat around the dining room table and each person takes a turn playing a song. If you stay as long as I did (till 3 am) you eventually get to play all your songs. I heard some amazing songs that night. Songs about a rhinestone Jesus outside the Taco Bell, a song about RCs and moon pies, a song about a southern girl that calls everybody honey and sweetie and is always fixing to go over yonder, a song about waltzing the two-step all the way back to Texas and many, many more. You needed to be there to experience the magic of the moment. It was so great I am really a little bit stunned and haven't had it all sink in yet. I told the coordinator that if I didn't get invited back next year then I would more than likely kill myself and she did not want to be responsible for that happening. I learned that beside the hospitality room where we all ate there was a place called Hub Stacy's where they hold the kick off party and the closing festivities. Not only that but the Hub hosts several open mic nights. Sadly I didn't learn all this till I got back home.
While I was there I did a little fishing and when I got back to the room my wife said "Did you catch anything?" I said "God, I hope not."
Now I am seriously going to work on my second CD. I have all the songs written and the finished sound is in my head. It's an expensive venture but I am going to bite the bullet and do it. Although I write great songs, I drop the ball when it comes to marketing and promotion so it winds up being a labor of love. I would love to hear anyones comments on any part of this.

A Memorable Day In Mexietta

2006-09-03T11:23:00.000-04:00

A Glorious Day
It is a Thursday here in Mexietta, Georgia. The Temperature for today will be in the 80s and the lows are predicted to be in the mid 60s. If you are from the north and are reading this please don't take it as an open invitation to come on down because what with everyone in Mexico moving here we are approaching full capacity. I often have the thought of "how many people does the planet need?" I can just see the earth a few million years from now as the then dominant upright reptile with opposable thumbs and the power of speech says "Digging through the strata we find there was a time when monkey-like creatures dominated the world." "Due to catostrophic conditions they became extinct." "We believe that due to a flaw in the earth's rotation it swung too close to the sun for thousands of years and all the ice caps melted causing the oceans to rise 400 feet which wiped out many, many species and life forms." "Some of our scientists feel that the ice melt age was somehow caused by emissions from machines these creatures used for transportation but of course they are in the minority."
All of this is purely conjecture and futuristic. Meantime, I am not going to worry about the future of mankind or even this planet we live on - it is a beautiful day and I intend to spend it outside playing in the dirt and admiring the 'Vulcan' magnolia that is blooming while I graft my pawpaw trees.

Heronswood Has Closed !

2006-05-31T19:29:00.000-04:00

Just a few years ago the Garden Writers convened in Washington state and one of the highlights of our trip was a ferry ride out to Bainbridge Island to Heronswood where we spent the day. We also visited the garden of Little and Lewis. I have great memories and photos of that trip. One would hope that beauty would be permanent but the adage is true "The only thing constant is change." Details in the article below:

The front page of the Seattle Times has a feature article about the sudden closing of Heronswood Nursery, a beloved institution here in the Puget Sound region and to plant lovers across the country.
Burpee, who bought the nursery from Dan Hinkley and Robert Jones six years ago, is moving the inventory to Doylestown, Pennsylvania and selling the property.
We're all a little stunned, and wonder what will happen to the beautiful gardens that Dan and Robert have developed.

Links to the articles in the Seattle Times and Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003029627_heronswood31m.html

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/272206_heronswood31.html

Karen L. Preuss, Library Manager
Elisabeth C. Miller Library
UW Botanic Gardens
University of Washington

Returned Mail?

2006-05-08T11:43:00.000-04:00

Not about gardening but someone voted on who I look like and there's no way to respond except here.
-----Original Message-----
From: webserv@freeweb02.slb.mindspring.net, SIZE=128@unspecified-domain
Subject: Vote

Dear Eddie,
I think you look the most like: The Incredible Hulk
it is the green thing

Dear ....uh..... Voter,
Thank you for your compliment. The Hulk is not a bad looking guy and I seem to have a penchant for green (maybe you do too but I will be discreet and not ask). My home page did feature a full size copy of my CD but since my site was entered in the Garden Writers competition I put my green hair picture back up to keep the site less focused on music and more on myself and gardening. The judging is over now and I didn't win. I don't think I'll enter again as that was the third year and it costs $35 to enter.
By the way, I will be playing at the Atlanta Brewing Company May 17th from 5:30 to 7 pm. Stop by. This is actually a paying gig - $40 and a case of beer. Though I don't drink beer anymore I can use it to stock my bar. It's just a little homemade bar in my basement where Noah and I hang out.
Yesterday, Saturday, may 6th, I worked at the Mexietta (formerly Marietta) garden club Plant Sale and from there I walked to the Farmer's Market then to the square for their festival. I handed out pens with my bittersweetgardens.com logo on them to all who would take one. It was a long but sunny day.
I need someone to go to CD baby and write a review of my CD. I could do it but it's hard to be subjective about my own music. Just go to www.cdbaby.com and key in my album title "Last Man Standing" or artist name "Eddie Rhoades" listen to the short clips and write a review. It would be best if it was written by someone who hs the complete CD.
I hear the garden calling me. I must go and piddle even though there is real work to be done such as grafting about 100 persimmon seedling rootstocks to named cultivars of both Oriental and American persimmons.
If more people would comment on my posts I would write more frequently.
Boy, I am chatty today.
Eddie

New Kid In Town

2006-01-11T20:02:00.000-05:00

Ty Pennington,
Evidently TV doesn't pay as much as I had supposed, so if you will kindly send me your mailing address I will send you Two free combs: one to carry with you and one to keep as a spare in case you lose the first. That is unless of course you are going for the Don King of gardening look, in which case you have succeeded. It looks like you presently comb your hair with an egg beater. To be fair, let's put it to a vote:
Those that like your crappy hairdo: 0
Those who think it sucks: 1 (me)

THEORIES

2005-10-02T10:31:00.000-04:00

A friend said he didn't believe in the theory of evolution so I said I believed I could clarify it for him. I took him to the top of a ten story building and told him to look over the side. As he did so, I shoved him off. When he had fallen about half way I shouted out "remember, gravity is a theory too."

Decisions

2005-06-18T19:56:00.000-04:00

The Garden Writers convention was coming up and I needed to decide if I was going to go. As a quality of life event these things are wonderful if they are not spoiled by airline hassles, but they are very expensive for someone who is retired from a factory job. I finally decided to spend my retirement money and go to Vancouver so I started practicing my karaoke as I am really there for the party. I had a great time there - saw old friends, met new people, saw out-of-this-world gardens, drank lots of wine, attended a fantastic Trade Show, attended several very interesting programs and brought home a few product samples and new plants.
Tomorrow night my brother and I are playing at a local Border's Book Store. I hoped this will be a good venue for promoting and selling my CDs but evidently not. I am just not good at marketing.
On the home front my garden is on a pace to be completed oh, maybe 20 years after I'm dead and gone. I have ordered 50 persimmon seedlings and hope to graft them to named varieties of both American and Asian persimmons. If everything goes well I should have some ready for sale in the Spring of 2006 or later.

Just For Your Information...

2004-12-13T14:11:00.000-05:00

What happens at BittersweetGardens, Stays At BittersweetGardens.

My Latest Song

2004-11-16T11:16:00.000-05:00

My younger brother, Robert set up an appointment for Monday 11-15-2004 at Bird Nest Studio in Covington to record some of my songs. The hourly rate was steep but I figured what the heck, we would probably do three or four songs. I was wrong, we only did one song in nine hours at a cost of $400. Hopefully there's a learning curve involved and we can get more done next time or else I won't be able to afford doing all ten songs of a CD in the studio.
The title of the song we recorded is "Rock Bottom Bar".
I thought it turned out real well. I don't have the greatest singing voice but it is okay and was really enhanced by my brother singing backup. All harmony parts are done by him alone and when he finished I paid him the highest compliment I could bestow on a backup singer: I told him "You sound like the Jordanaires."
When I played the musical interlude on lead guitar it sounded like it needed more so we backed up and played lead again on top of the other. That made it sound like a twelve string guitar or a six string with reverb. The finished recording sounded actually better than I had expected, especially there in the studio. Brother Robert and I are working hard toward having a finished disk of ten of my original songs as soon as possible. Looks like I am going to miss the Christmas market and when I am a vendor at the State Master Gardener conference in Perry Georgia in January. UPDATE: Just finished the second song called "One Good Woman"at a cost of $225. It is the best one so far with more of an old-time rock beat and great piano. Rob, my webmaster, posted a short piece of three songs on my site. Check them out. As with gardening, music is a big part of my life so let me know what you think of these snippets. You can post comments on my guestbook or email me. Down the road I need to decide what to name the album: Basement Boogie, Last Man Standing, One Good Woman or something else. Comments?

Remembrance

2004-10-20T09:18:00.000-04:00

I am going to quote this from memory:
"My way of life has fallen into the sear, the yellow leaf and that which should accompany old age such as honor, love, obedience, troops of friends, I must not look to have but in their stead, mouth-honor, breath which the poor heart would fain deny but dare not." HAMLET

I have been searching the Internet for two guys who were my best friends while I was in the Army. The first is John Tecumseh. He was a few years older than me but accepted a green recruit as a friend. He was the same height as me, 5'6" but I weighed 123 lbs and he weighed 215 lbs. He had no neck. His massive shoulders seemed to join his head. I didn't realize the Tecumseh name was famous. He said he was a full-blooded Creek Indian. Because of his build everyone called him Bull. Once in a bar the barmaid clutched his huge bicep and said "I see why they call you Bull." and he replied "That aint it." That's the first time I ever saw one of those barmaids blush. We corresponded a little after I left the Army and he told me he had a son and named him Eddie Tecumseh. I have searched the Internet looking for Eddie also as I feel he was named in my honor.
The second friend was a Spanish-American named Mico Acuna' We called him Mike. He was a young, muscular guy that, when I first saw him, I thought he was Indian also but his heritage was Mexican. He was incredibly strong and brave and just lots of fun to be around. I remember one Saturday morning for no reason he did 200 situps. I said I could do that and did. Later I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach I was so sore. This guy cut his own hair - even in the back. He taught me the words to the Ritchie Valens song La Bamba which I still perform. I guess the point is those guys had a positive influence on me and were good friends and great Americans and I wish I could tell them that I think about them often and will never forget them.

A Couple Of Things

2004-09-30T07:55:00.000-04:00

I went to the hospital Oct 6 for heart catherization and the possibility of angioplasty and maybe having more stents put in. This would relieve my shortness of breath and improve my memory. Turns out I am not a candidate for any more stents as my vessels are diffused. I will have to treat my heart condition with a combination of diet, exercise and medication.

On a more cheerful note, I should have a CD of ten of my original songs out before Christmas (I hope). I hope this happens as it would be a dream come true. Then I will be back to square one with my shortcomings in marketing. I can write great songs I just don't know how to sell them. Any ideas out there?

I'm In Trouble

2004-09-17T14:39:00.000-04:00

Do you know the three words you hate to hear when you are having sex? They are: "Honey I'm home."
That just happened to me and I am in deep trouble. My wife came home and caught me in bed with a little midget woman. She started screaming and crying and pitching a fit and said "You promised me you wouldn't run around on me anymore." To which I replied "Well, you can see I've cut down."
By the way, I finally figured out why my eyes burn so much during sex: It's the mace.

Howdy Y'all

2004-09-04T09:03:00.000-04:00

The Garden Writers Association was in Washington state a couple of years ago and I was attending the Trade Show. I approached a booth with two young women and said "How're y'all doing?" They giggled and said to each other "He said y'all." I felt like someone out of Mayberry. Later some different ladies laughed when I pronounced the L in salmon. It is a Southern thing to pronounce things like they are spelled: I ran. if it's spelled Iran then we're going to say I ran. If you want it pronounced differently then spell it Eron. It irks me when a waitress says to me and my wife "you guys ready to order?" One of us is obviously not a guy. Used to you could tell who was a Southerner and who was a northerner just by who said y'all and who said you guys (yes I know I capitalized Southerner and not northerner) but nowdays what with incessant TV watching, everybody like talks as if they were from California, ya know?
I grew up believing y"all to be a perfectly acceptable, non-gender contraction for you all. Of course I will admit there are those of us who say y"all when talking to only one person. This is gramatically incorrect. Then there are those who will say "I'm not just talking to y'all, I'm talking to all Y'all." Sounds redundant doesn't it? I looked up redundant in the dictionary and it was in there twice. Barbecue. Now there's a good old Southern multi-purpose word: I'm gonna take this barbecue (meat) out to the barbecue (grill) and barbecue (cook) it. And people say we talk funny in the South. Bless their hearts, they just don't know any better.

I'm Dead

2004-08-27T14:33:00.000-04:00

A Mister Gary Dorsey from the Atlanta Journal called and wanted to do an article on bloggers in the Metro Atlanta area. We had a nice long conversation and I was very open and honest with him -maybe too open and honest. I got to thinking about it later and thought if he prints everything I said I'm dead. Dead, I'm telling you, and it's all my fault. I told him how I sometimes go to Crystals or to McCrackens (McCrackens on Monday and Crystal's on Tuesday) for their open mic night. Many times I don't stay out too late (or drink too much) but occasionally it may be after midnight (literary license here) before I head home. I am old enough to realize you have to be careful in this type of atmosphere even though the owner of Crystal's told me there has NEVER been a fight there. I suppose it could be because the place is so small there's not enough room to swing a punch. The real reason is most everybody knows everybody there. In fact, Billy the bass player said they all know each other so well there's only one DNA for all of them. That's one of the good things about a bar atmosphere, the humor.
I told Gary I sometimes play my original songs and occasionally there will be garden groupies come to hear me sing. I am a Master Gardener and Master Gardeners get to be mentors for a new intern every year. This gives me the opportunity to corrupt at least one person every year. You only live once.
I love to sing my songs and I love the audience to sing along. I even like to get up and sing backup with other musicians. I believe in music.
Garden in the daytime, music at night, what more could you ask for except a cure for hangovers and maybe a bottle of smart pills.
Gary asked me about other peoples blogs and I said I never read them. I never write about religion or politics but I will occasionally slip a sexual innuendo in there, sometimes hidden, sometimes not. I made a decision not to make my blog interactive. If anyone has feedback they can email me.
Of the blogs I have written so far my favorites are:
TITLE..................ARCHIVE DATE
She Loves Me, She..... 1/18/2004
Fun Day 1/10/2004
Flower Show Individuality 2/22/2004
You Read It Here First 4/7/2004

Gary has to run his article by an editor and I hope I don't come out looking too stupid but if I do it's my own fault. Sometimes I hate being me.

Driving Is Driving Me Crazy

2004-08-14T18:11:00.000-04:00

I saw a bumper sticker that said "I drive like you do." Aside from the dangling participle, it brings out a valid point. We all drive a little crazy at times. Of course we think we are good drivers but ask yourself the following questions:
Does it upset you when someone tailgates you?
Have you ever been in a hurry and tailgated the person ahead of you?
The realization that I did both of these things has caused me to become a better driver. I am beginning to respect the right of the other driver to drive at whatever speed they are comfortable with. If I need to be somewhere in a hurry then I should make a decision to leave the house five minutes sooner so I won't have to rush and most of all won't have to be upset with others for "holding me up" Lots of times in our rush to get around someone we don't even think of the fact that when we pass them it's only going to be fifty feet before we are on someone elses bumper. Then what?
Based on the fact that I hate to be honked at I have made a decision not to honk at others even though I have the advantage of driving a car with a "real" horn (it sounds like a Mack truck) and not one of those wimpy, high-pitched modern horns. They shouldn't even call those things horns, they should call them whiney beepers. Underlying all this is the fact we need to relax and enjoy driving as much as possible. Everyone knows driving too fast is dangerous but my slow-poke sister has made me aware that driving too slow can be equally dangerous. The too fast crowd is out there on the expressways driving like maniacs, jockeying for position, leaping in front of each other and switching lanes like some motorized version of salmon swimming upstream. Me? I'm retired now so I tend to take things at a more relaxed pace. It doesn't bother me but it sure does bother the salmon.

Here's The (Revised) Plan

2004-05-24T20:49:00.000-04:00

Every Monday night (almost) I plan to be at McCrackens which is on Atlanta rd. just before the Marieta Square then every Tuesday night (almost) I plan to be at Crystal's on the Square in Marietta which is right around the corner, for their open mic. night. I did this last Monday and Tuesday and had a ball playing my guitar and kazoo - of course they laughed but they liked it. Never been there before? It's on the southeast corner of the square on Roswell Road right across from the courthouse. I think the address is 150 Roswell road. Great music, friendly people (even friendlier long about midnight) and no admission charge. I'm not sure it's a good thing to have a favorite bar and a favorite drink: Crown Royal & Sprite. There is additional seating outside on the sidewalk where the next player up can be found practicing. I have seen bass, harmonica, keyboard, and conga drum players congregating there. So far, I am the only one that plays a bit of country music along with the eclectic mix of songs I do. Why don't you come up and see me sometime and sing along?

Things Change

2004-05-08T20:37:00.000-04:00

When I was younger I was a human dynamo. I had boundless energy and referred to myself as Mighty Mouse. With time I had to admit that I was slowing down a bit. And now I confess I am beginning to fall apart. The only thing constant is change and I don't always deal with change well. I went to my daughters house to prepare her a vegetable garden. I cranked up the tiller and went about 5 feet before the tiller quit. Being in the same frame of mind that I could do anything as before, I finished digging her entire plot by hand with a shovel. That was several months ago and my legs and hips are still bothering me all day every day so don't ask me how I'm doing 'cause I might tell you. People are actually kinder to you and more tolerant of you if you are walking with a cane plus they are less likely to ask you to do stuff. So there are benefits to being temporarily crippled (can we still use that word or has it been removed from the dictionary of political correctness?) I think if I could lose a little weight it would help. I spoke to a good looking blonde lady the other day who said she wanted to lose 10 pounds. I told her I would take those ten pounds if she would let me choose the precise pounds I wanted. As expected she did not agree to this constraint. I'm not too old to cut the mustard it's just that mustard is a discontinued menu item.

What A Week

2004-05-02T14:21:00.000-04:00

Saturday and Sunday April 24 & 25th I was a vendor at the Jonquil Festival in Smyrna, Monday Ivan Tatum and I went to nurseries on a rainy day and bought supplies such as 5 different types of annuals, containers, Mini-nuggets, Natures Helper, sand, perlite, cow manure, water grabber, lime, and then delivered them to the 3rd floor classroom for tomorrows class. Tuesday we brought in all the trowels, coffee filters, shovels, buckets, tarps, wheelbarrow and more for our Container Gardening class of 35 seniors. It took a while to clean up the remaining mess when class was over. Wednesday Ivan and I drove to Blairsville for an all-day gardening symposium where I was a speaker. Thursday I rehearsed my next talk, practiced guitar and packed for two upcoming events. Friday April 30 my brother Robert and I played at Borders Bookstore in Atlanta - came home and unpacked the music gear then loaded up the gardening stuff. It was 12:30 before I got to bed. Saturday morning back up at 6 AM and on the road to Dawsonville Ga where I was a speaker and a vendor at the Arts In The Garden symposium. What a week! Sunday May 2nd and I am resting and wondering why I put myself through all that stuff. I have been so busy that I have neglected my own garden to the point that when a female fellow Master Gardener asked when would be a good time for her to come over and see my garden I said "At night."

You read it here first

2004-04-07T22:28:00.000-04:00

Just look at the date this was posted - April 7th 2004. That will be the first time someone commented that those garden rocks with the sayings like: love, truth, beauty, peace, solitude, and such should have a negative counterpart. Why not have garden stones that say something like, disease, pestilence, paranoia, drought, erosion , death, depression, mildew, and rot ? I'm sure you can think of others and some would agree that we must seek a balance in these things. Someone, somewhere, will take this idea and make some money on it. What do you think?
On a different topic I notice that a lot of the present blogs read like calendar advertisements. To read the more amusing ones look at the ones that have been archived. Again, I would appreciate some feedback by email.

Just A Feeling

2004-03-08T19:16:00.000-05:00

Kill all the Spammers, let God sort them out.