Funny veggies

Mister Carrot. 'nuff said.

Garden status 9-28-08

What fabulous weather we're having! With temperatures in the 80s this weekend, and continuing for the upcoming week, I'm enjoying the last hurrah of summertime. I went swimming in an outdoor pool this afternoon and it might as well have been the middle of summer. Actually, it was better because it wasn't *real* hot, and there were gorgeous fluffy clouds but no lightning.

This hollyhock flower was neon at dusk tonight. The plums are ripe, I can't keep up with the zucchini, tomatoes, cucumbers, and basil. The swiss chard is growing better than ever with the cool nights, and there is a nice patch of cilantro where the spring patch went to seed.

Beets and carrots keep producing, and the leeks are fattening up nicely. Winter squash are almost ready to harvest. The potato vines are starting to wither so a potato dig is in order.

Italians vote for ugliest English words

"For years it was the French who worked themselves into a lather over their native tongue being infected by English."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2712197/Italians-vote-for-ugliest-English-words.html

Language journal

I know this is supposed to be a blog about gardens, but I think I'll have to change it to include my other passion: language. I was at the Jamba Juice this morning - a rare occurrence for me, but I was next door and the Orange Refresher looked too good to pass up (it wasn't all that great, after all).

Anyway, the fellow behind the counter was *very* difficult to understand. I found myself having to ask for clarification numerous times. And I mean numerous: to order and pay for a silly juice drink, I asked "What?" or "Sorry?" about 5 or 6 times. Now, I work with international students, so I've gotten used to accents from at least 15 different countries. But this guy was as American as apple pie. I tell my students stories like this so they realize that sometimes people don't understand them not because of their accent, but because they are *mumbling*! Let's hear it for speaking up!