From One, Many

Let me start off by stating that my experience in flower arranging is limited to DIY projects that can best be described as "fly by the seat of my pants" and "off the cuff;" you know, code for "I have no idea what in the world I'm doing." But it's the creative, trial-and-error process that I'm after; the end result is really just a bonus.

I have a fairly large collection of vases that I've amassed over the years. Most of them are either re-purposed glass jars or thrift store finds, but I have a few from the occasional flower bouquets I have received. So when I start rearranging, I pull most of the vases out of the cabinets and just start plunking things in here and there until I find something that I like. The structure exists in that there is no structure at all. I didn't use any special floral tape or products for these projects, just the following items:

• Vase(s).
• Tepid water with a few drops of bleach to keep the water from spoiling.
• Scissors to trim the stems at a 45 degree angle underwater.
• Flowers.

Pretty easy, right? Okay, now that we've got all that together, we can get started. Remember these flowers from last week? I divided that one arrangement into seven to place around the house. It would also be nice to give one of these to a friend, neighbor or coworker.

The tall stems did come in handy. I pulled out a nice, big vase from the cupboard. The flowers are dropping their petals pretty quickly. So, in order to prevent the tiny petals from being visible in the vase, I dropped in some bougainvillea blossoms that I snagged from the yard into the water.

I thought the bougainvillea flowers might start fermenting in the water, but a week later, they were still holding up.

I color-blocked some of the chrysanthemums into two separate arrangements, tied together with rubber bands that I had saved from other flower purchases at the Farmers' Market. I also reused some glass jars that I have saved as vases, as you can obviously see from the expiration date on the side of the glass on the left. I did mention I am not a professional, right? Because I'm pretty sure a professional wouldn't do that. At any rate, I'll keep these two together as a grouping because, well, they look best as a pair.

Chrysanthemum, chrysanthemum, chrysanthemum. That's fun to say, right? And did you know they are native to Asia and northern Europe? I sure didn't. You can learn more about these versatile flowers here.

This arrangement reminds me of a cupcake. I'm pretty sure I don't want to eat a cupcake with green icing, but I still like the squat vase and the fluffy blooms of the carnations and chrysanthemums. Oh, and the raffia bow helps tie everything together. (Get it? Bow? Tie? I crack myself up sometimes. Seriously though, if you can't amuse yourself, then who can?)

Bougainvillea makes another appearance here, along with the fern-like fronds of the filler that I submerged in another large vase. This came about from one of those aforementioned "I have no idea what I'm doing, but I'll try this" moments.

The Gerbera daisies found a new home in this slightly-rectangular vase, along with some palm fronds that I submerged in the water and wrapped around the interior of the vase. It took some maneuvering and trying different lengths of fronds, but eventually I got them to stay in place.

And that's all she wrote! For now, at least.

P.S. You knew I couldn't stop there, right? I just wanted to mention that I didn't delve into all the details about how to care for flowers, just some basics, as I wasn't intending for this post to be all-inclusive, not that I know that much anyway.

P.P.S. Thank you for reading this all the way.

Bonsai Haiku

Fractions form and worlds

divide, but yet there you are:

Simple, by design.

Resistance is Futile

This is Lucy. She also goes by Lola. The handsome fella behind her is Tucker.

Hi Tucktuck.

Being basset hounds, these two seem to have a natural gift for being very effective beggars. Something about their big brown eyes and their long, soft ears. It's hard not to cave, it really is. It might be bordering on impossible.

And they always seem to be around to catch any wayward scraps that you may or may not have accidentally dropped.

Hope springs eternal, eh Lucy?

Packing: Part Deux

Good packing is an art form. It may not win any artistic acclaim or demand millions of dollars at Christie's, but it will make your life a lot easier. If you pack properly, you can fit an amazing amount of stuff into a small little area. Ideally, you want to start getting things ready a few days in advance of your departure, or at least start making your packing list then, so that you remember to bring everything you need. So let's get started! Packing in 7 easy steps. I know you're thrilled, but try to contain your excitement.

1. Pull out your suitcase. I definitely recommend spending a little extra money on a good bag, rather than going with the cheapest one because seeing all the contents of your luggage spill out onto the baggage carousel is not a comforting feeling. Trust me on this one. If you have time, you can shop around for a bag like this one (which is the same as the one pictured above). I recently saw it advertised for $40 off its regular price.

2. If you are traveling by air and have a neutral colored bag, you might want to tie a small, brightly-colored ribbon on the top so that you can easily spot your bag. Also, there is no need to include all your personal information on the luggage tag. Your first initial, last name, phone number where you can be reached while traveling and email address will suffice.

3. Be sure to tuck an empty plastic bag in here somewhere (grocery bags work just fine). That way you'll have somewhere to store all your dirty clothes. You can also throw in some of those used dryer sheets I've mentioned in a previous post to keep things smelling fresh.

4. Gather together everything that you will need. For this trip, I packed the following items:

• Shoes: cowboy boots, good walking/trail shoes, flip flops and I wore my heels in the car.
• Bottoms: 1 white skirt, 1 black skirt, 1 striped dress, 1 pair of shorts and 1 pair of jeans.
• Tops: 1 green jacket, several white tank tops, 1 purple tank top, and 1 plaid Western shirt.
• Accessories: 2 scarves, 1 belt with buckle and jewelry.
• Bathing suit & sarong.
• Undergarments.
• Toiletries.
• Books or other reading material.
• Pen & notebook.
• Phone charger.
• Plastic bag.
• Camera (in a separate bag).

Then start a-packing!


5. I put all my shoes at the bottom and fit in other awkwardly-shaped stuff around them. I did bring a hairdryer on this trip because I knew that the hotels we were going to be staying in were pretty bare bones, so they wouldn't be provided. Most hotels, especially the larger chains, have hair dryers in the room. If you aren't sure, I recommend checking the hotel's website or calling ahead. You don't want to lug around extraneous stuff.

6. Start putting in your clothes. If you roll them, you can actually fit more items in the suitcase, and rolling also helps prevent wrinkles. I folded here. You can see I have an open space on the left hand side; this is where I will put my toiletries. Be sure to use other nooks & crannies for small items like belts or scarves. Oh, and just like the song, "These Boots are Made for Walkin'" (the one by Nancy Sinatra), indeed, that's just what they'll do. But they also are the perfect place to stuff socks or what-have-you if you need additional room (they also keep their shape this way).

"Are you ready boots? Start walkin'."

7. Now, last but certainly not least, it's time to pack some reading material. I thought the selection of Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey was appropriate, seeing as how I was headed to the desert and all. I like to usually have some short stories on hand, as reading short stories makes me feel as though I am accomplishing something akin to finishing a novel, but in a much shorter period of time.

If you look closely, you can see that I have used the card from the flowers that my sister sent me as a bookmark. You can also use postcards that you pick up along the way.

So it's time to hit the road! And there should be no need to worry when you are 100 miles away that you didn't forget anything because you are prepared. Road trips are not made for worrying.

Packing: Part 1

For me, road trips inspire all sorts of visions: Adventure. Excitement. Hair blowing in the breeze. Tunes blasting on the radio. Clean bathrooms in rest stops. The latter might be pushing it, I realize, but one can dream.

But first, we pack.

This particular road trip is just a quick jaunt into the Southwest. The Weather Channel was predicting highs in the mid-90s and lows in the 60s. So I wanted to pack some flirty skirts and breezy dresses. And I would need some good walking shoes. To begin packing, I laid out some of the outfits I planned to wear if I had never worn them together before to help me visualize how the clothes will look together. I use caution when bringing new clothes with me on a trip, as there is nothing worse than being uncomfortable while vacationing (it's supposed to be fun, after all) and not having any other choices for clothes. It's always good to have a few backup items, just in case of a wardrobe malfunction or something like, say, spilling ketchup all down the front of your dress. Not that that's ever happened to me.

I do harbor this idea that one day I will just hop on a plane sans luggage and fly off into the sunset. Upon arriving at my destination, I will then proceed to the nearest market or shops where I will purchase my necessities for the trip. This would not be terribly difficult because I would be somewhere warm as I am not much of one for cold weather, and I could wear mostly swimsuits and sarongs. (Speaking of sarongs, these are wonderful things to pack for a trip as they can be used as a wraparound skirt, dress, towel, blanket or whatever you'd like to fashion.)

But I would sure miss my cowboy boots. Unless I was wearing them on the plane, of course.



My sister bought me the pendant necklace when we went to the Brooklyn Flea Market during my most recent visit to the Big Apple. I think it pairs nicely with the neckline of the dress.

The enameled choker necklace came from my local thrift store for a mere $2.95. This purchase coincided nicely with a recent article in Lucky magazine about enameled jewelry. I bought the striped dress at the same time for about $5.

It is definitely possible to find some new items at a thrift or secondhand store that are both fashionable and reasonably priced. Garage sales are probably the best places to buy gently used items at rock bottom prices. But all of these places require some patience as you are never sure what is available until you get there. So if you are looking for a specific item, you may have to make multiple trips. I try to have a few things in mind that I'd like to buy when I go in there (e.g., flower pots are on my permanent list), but this time I found a dress that would be comfortable enough for riding in the car for 6 hours but also would be appropriate for dinner out on the town.

I paired the dress up with a lightweight jacket in an army green color that I already owned. The jacket was also a thrift store purchase. I think I shelled out about $10 for it. Here is my approximated total cost for this entire outfit:

• Dress: $5
• Cowboy boots: $40
• Jacket: $10
• Pendant necklace: $0
• Enamel choker: $2.95
• Total: $57.95

I planned to wear the boots, jacket and jewelry with other outfits. I often make lists (more on this later) of all the outfits I plan wear on a trip, as well as the other items I need to bring (e.g., swimsuit, camera and accessories, phone charger, toiletries, socks). This is a very helpful practice to get into, especially if you have a tendancy to leave things at home. I happen to really like making lists, so I'll use any excuse to make one.

I might need to work on reining in my list-making though, as I am approaching a state where I need a list that keeps track of all my lists. And that's a little overboard, even for me.

Home Again

I'm back from a weekend on the road with long stretches of highway before and behind me and blue skies above me. It was wonderful and surreal, and I can't wait to share it with you. I'm going to regroup today, but tomorrow I'll be back with your regularly-scheduled programming. Even though I'm not sure I know what that is. But I'll figure it out; I know that much.

Memorial Day

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scare heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
-Lt. Col. John McCrae (1872-1918)

These pictures were taken at a 9/11 tribute in NYC, but I think the sentiments extend to Memorial Day as well.

The national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. I hope we all take the time to remember those who have fallen.

And thank you to all of you who have bravely fought for freedom under the stars and stripes of the USA.

Tip of the Day: Recycling Dryer Sheets

For those of you who use dryer sheets,* there is another use for them after they have tumbled around in the dryer. I place mine above the washer in a cardboard tube from a paper towel roll to save them to use for dusting.

They are particularly handy for wiping off the TV, as the same properties that prevent static cling also pick up any dust that has settled on the screen. (Remember your middle school science classes? The charged dryer sheet will attract the neutral dust particles and voila! The dusty surface is now clean.)

The upside to using these versus using a regular rag? The dust sticks to the dryer sheet and doesn't fall off.

*I know, I know, we should move away from using the dryer and line-dry our clothes. And I agree that we should all be focusing on conservation and preservation, but let's face it. Drying clothes on a line is not always going to be practical or feasible for everyone.

Mixing It Up

I am a lucky girl. My lovely sister sent me some flowers last week (Thanks, sis!). Getting flowers delivered at work has got to be one of life's greatest pleasures. At least I think so.

I thoroughly enjoyed the arrangement for the week. Breathing in the heady scent of the lilies seemed to induce an aura of calm around my desk, and I felt completely at peace with the world. Just kidding. The flowers don't quite have those magical powers on me, though I did feel more relaxed.

While I thought the arrangement was elegant and splendid just as it was, I wanted to mix it up a little. Also, I needed to take the flowers out to trim them and add fresh water in order to extend their life, so that was a good time to break up the bouquet.

So I brought the flowers home on Friday with the intention of making several new arrangements to enjoy throughout the house.

Ah, Gerbera daisies! They are such happy flowers, don't you think?

I wanted to add some different colors and textures into the new arrangments, so I headed out to this tree in the yard.

I spent quite a bit of time scouring the web, trying to figure out the name of this shrub-tree thingy, but I haven't had any luck as of yet. I'll keep searching, but on the off-chance that anyone recognizes it, I'd greatly appreciate it if you let me know. Pretty please?

These bright fuschia flowers bloom in springtime. I am not sure when it will start going to seed, but I think it will be soon, as the flowers are starting to drop their petals.

Hello, bee! I do believe you are looking at me. (Sorry, that rhyme was bad, bordering on awful really, but I couldn't resist.)

Okay, back to harvesting some cuttings. You're going to need your garden clippers for this plant. The stems are woody, and you will be hard-pressed to cut through the stems with regular scissors. Garden shears might work; I don't own any though, so I haven't tried using them. You also might want to grap a deep bucket or tub or vase for transporting the branches. They are a bit scratchy.

So grab your shears and snip off a few branches for your arrangement. I cut mine about 2 ft. long. It helps if you know the size of the vessel you are using to display the flowers, as you might want to make them longer if you have a very tall vase. If you aren't sure what you will end up using (I wasn't sure what I was going to do when I cut these), I think 2 ft. is a good length. That way, you'll have tall stalks if you want to use those, or you can just trim smaller stalks from the larger ones if you need shorter stems.

For transporting the branches, I grabbed this empty cat litter tub from the garage. It's a classy joint around here, I tell ya! I have no idea where this came from as I don't even have a cat, but it certainly comes in handy for weeding and serving as a makeshift bucket.

Remember to add water after you gather your flowers if you aren't planning on making your arrangement right away. I suppose you could add water before you head out and get in your arm workout for the day, but I am not the type of person to do that.

That's all for today. I will post the new arrangments I made next week when I get back from my road trip. Have a great weekend!

Oh, wait, one more thing: I know I have been posting a lot about flowers here lately, but I promise upcoming posts will be a little more diverse.

Tuesday Treats

Tuesday doesn't seem to get much love. True, it may not be as dreaded a day as Monday, the start of the work week. But it's definitely not Wednesday, which gets heralded as "hump day," and even generates wishes from people such as "Happy Hump Day!" And Thursday is close to Friday, so it has that going for it. And Friday, well, need I say more?

So where does that leave Tuesday? Wedged between Monday and Wednesday is not an enviable place to be. So I think it's time to show Tuesday some love.

You might be wondering what these pictures actually have to do with Tuesday. And my answer is: nothing really. Except they are treats, and the title of this post is "Tuesday Treats." Treats that one of my coworkers recently brought back with him from a trip to Vietnam: artichoke tea and sesame seed-covered candy. I know what you're thinking: Artichoke tea? Yes. Apparently, you can make tea from anything.

Okay, maybe not everything, but artichokes appear to be one of them. And although I was skeptical, I was pleasantly surprised by the buttery popcorn smell that wafts up from the cup as the tea steeps. The taste is much the same as its smell, though I think it tastes more like a buttered popcorn-flavored Jelly Belly. And that's one of my favorite flavors. I'm curious as to how the tea tastes iced. I will have to try that this summer.

And this gem is a candy made from sugar and peanut chips and then coated with sesame seeds. They are a bit tough and most definitely chewy, but they have a nice balance of sweetness (not nearly as sweet as most American candy), along with a hint of savory from the peanuts and sesame seeds. I have no idea what they are called, as they just came wrapped in cellophane.

I could have eaten a whole bunch of these suckers, but I didn't get a chance to because my coworkers devoured the rest of them. I'll have to check out some local Asian markets for them.

But this tea and candy made my day.

Lemons --> Lemonade

This post is not about food or drinks, or even about lemons, at all. You see, this post is about what to do when you go outside in the early evening, only to discover that something has been eating your beautiful roses, and has, in fact, chewed off the stem of one of the blooms, leaving it dangling from the bush by a thin cellulose thread.

You snip off the sad, hanging stem and bring it inside. And then, you honor it by putting the bloom in one of your pretty vases, and the rosebuds in another.

And you take a close look at the delicate green sepals and the opening white petals...

And as you gaze into the center of the flower, you plot your revenge for later that evening to hunt those bugs by flashlight.*

Not that I would actually ever do that. No, I dream of relocating the bugs out of my yard...maybe into a nice bug condo with a pool. Or maybe just training them to eat the weeds in the yard instead of the flowers.

Sigh. I guess that that something thought the rose was as lovely as I do (albeit for different reasons). So I appreciate the excuse to enjoy the beauty of these flowers inside (imperfections and all). It's lemons into lemonade, baby.

*Please note that no actual hunting occured nor were any animals harmed in the publishing of this post.

Dunguaire Castle, Ireland

Western coast of Ireland, late afternoon. I settle down into chair on the porch, wrapping myself in a throw blanket. I take a sip of tea and gaze out at the castle across the water before reaching for my book and tucking in for a good read.

Okay, so that never really happened. I mean, I'd at least be having a glass of warm port instead of tea. But the daydream is nice. The reality wasn't nearly as romantic, as I just snapped this from the doorway of a bus while trying to avoid cars careening around the tight turns.

Castles are pretty common in Ireland, though this one is certainly less ornate than many others in the country. But this one is unique due to it's location on the coast near Galway. It's not the proximity to the coast that makes the castle unique, but it's on a piece of land that is not surrounded by water all day. In fact, when the bus drove by this place in the morning, it was surrounded by a bed of rocks. But by late afternoon, the tide had come in and created this beautiful reflection pool.

So that's all. A castle and a daydream.