I spend a fortune on fresh herbs at the grocery store each month and have attempted to grow my own several times. I fancy myself as a bit of a farmer, growing my own veggies and fruit, having a chicken or two for fresh eggs, living off the land - it's a nice thought but completely unrealistic. I don't have a green thumb and almost everything I plant dies within a few weeks so I wouldn't survive for very long. Here's the story of my 'Garden of Death'.

Take my mint for example. Everyone knows that mint grows like a weed; you can't kill it. But this is the most I've been able to do with my bit of mint



It's never grown enough for me to use it. The leaves get a little bit bigger, turn brown, and fall off.

When Janet (mother-in-law with a green thumb) was last here, she helped me pick out some nice parsley and chives. I still have a few sprigs of parsley left in the pot so I consider that quite successful. But my chives haven't done anything since I snipped a few to put in a frittata a few months back. However, it still has some green on it so I'm holding on, hoping it will grow back.



I've heard that basil lasts for a year at a time and you have to plant new ones each year. Well, my basil lasted for a few months and now looks like this. Again, it's still green but it's not as if I can use the leaves so I'm having to buy little packets at the grocery store again.



The worst case for my non-existent green thumb is the death of our tangerine tree. When we bought the house we had this beautiful, thriving, green tree that produced so many tangerines we couldn't give them away in the end. A few years after moving in it started shedding all it's leaves until there were none left. Now, we pull off a few of the branches here and there when needed for kindling for our fire. Here are the before and after photos



This is how it looks today



Today I bought a mint plant from Trader Joe's. It's full and green, and has big leaves that I'm going to use this week in a couscous recipe. Around the bottom of the plant is some thyme and an unknown herb. Can anyone tell me what I must do to keep it alive?

Look at this cute little creature that visited us over the summer. Unfortunately I didn't think it was so cute when I first discovered it - it looked like a rat as it ran behind the toilet. I was brushing my teeth and saw a flurry of grey fur out of the corner of my eye, running along the floor. I screamed and jumped on the edge of the bathtub as this tiny little thing cowered and shivered in terror.



Alex saved the day by putting on huge rubber gloves and catching it. It was gently released into our jungle of a back yard and now lives happily ever after. And his name is Fred, of course.

Well, I'm not sure that Alex would actually call me mellow but I'm definitely yellow today. My bruises are turning the color of the rainbow which is always a good sign and I'm now moving into the lighter spectrum of the healing process. I'm still swollen around the nose and cheek and noticed that my lip is swollen just enough to be almost sexy - wish it was permanent and also on both sides of the mouth (I'm looking somewhat lopsided at the moment). I had my stitches removed this afternoon and as usual I wussed out and got all hot and bothered to the point they had to stop and get me some cold water. It was quite painful but I'm glad it's all over and now I can just forget about it all. I have to go back in 2 weeks for a final check up - maybe I should ask about a lip job?

At my doctor's suggestion I'm off for the rest of the week so I can "rest" and try to minimize the swelling. I think I should ask Alex to cook dinner and clean the house - doctor's orders.

One other thing - a filling fell out of a tooth last night but I can't go to a dentist because I can't yet open my mouth wide. If it's not one thing it's another.

The patient got up somewhat discouraged this morning (and if you don't like whining you should probably stop reading now) but as the day progressed things got better.

I'm still swollen around my cheek, lip and nose but it is so much less than on Saturday. The bruising is also fading and turning a beautiful shade of yellow. However, last night I lay awake for over 2 hours because of a dull throbbing in my cheek and also the whole area was itching like crazy. What makes it itch so much? Come on Bookwoman, I know you have an answer for me.

I was on vicodin all day on Saturday to help with the pain but it made me feel really groggy so on Sunday afternoon I decided to take just Tylenol and that's what I've been taking since, making me feel a lot better. I can't wear glasses for more than 10 minutes at a time and they leave indentations on my swollen nose. I still can't smile or laugh but at least I can talk (poor Alex, I'm sure he was enjoying the peace and quiet for that short period of time). Eating is still a bit of a problem but if I cut my food up into tiny pieces it's not too bad.

Tomorrow the stitches will be removed, or at least that is the plan. I plan on going to work on Thursday so let's hope all goes well.

Here's a tip if you have stitches inside your lips - don't eat salty products. Stings like crazy!

A couple of months ago I went to the dermatologist to have two small growths on my face biopsied and the diagnosis was Basil Cell Carcinoma (BCC). I had one on the side of my nose and one just touching the top lip - both tumors were tiny. Because it's the most common type of skin cancer and the easiest to treat I wasn't too worried about it but knew the tumors would have to be removed. Well, they were removed last Friday and gosh, darn (that's for the kids reading this) does it hurt! Not even the vicodin makes up for the pain.

It didn't start out too badly. My surgeon used the Mohs surgery process and actually removed all the BCC in one slice for each tumor. Before he removed them he had to numb the nose and I have to tell you I can't ever remember being in such pain as having those numbing shots. My wussiness really came through because while it was being done the doctor was telling me what a trooper I was being, the assistant nurse was holding my hand telling me to squeeze hard if I needed to and some other random person was rubbing my legs telling me it would all be over soon. I felt quite the five year old for a while and waited for someone to tell me what a brave girl I was being. After it was all over the assistant nurse patched me up quite neatly and I was amazed at how quickly it had gone. As you can see in the photo below I didn't look too bad.



From there I moved over to the skilled hands of the plastic surgeon who was to repair the hole in my nose and my split lip. Everything was as it should have been. I was prepped and had an IV hooked up to my hand and as they wheeled me into the operating room they started me on the anesthesia. And that was all I remembered until I heard someone in the back of my dream telling me to wiggle my toes which I obviously did because they then left me alone saying I was fine. My face felt tight with the swelling but I wasn't in any pain at that time. However, I must have looked awful because when Alex walked in he looked quite shocked at my appearance.

And indeed I did look awful - so bad that you have to click on the link to see the photos. If you're a little put off by blood and gore don't click on the links

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Everytime I look at these pictures I wonder to myself, what was Michael Jackson thinking to go through however many nose jobs he had? I was in terrible pain all day yesterday and was so thankful for the vicodin although I hated being in such a groggy state. Today, I'm just on tylenol so feeling much better.

And finally, Boo knew I wasn't feeling well and here she is keeping me company.

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If anyone from work is reading this - I will not be in on Monday morning.

I had a bit of an accident yesterday and Alex had to take me to Grossmont Hospital emergency room.



I almost bled to death trying to set up a shot of my newly baked cookies. I tried to move a glass, and instead it fell and broke and I managed to gouge a chunk out of my thumb. I wasn't too worried at first - there was a lot of blood all over the floor and in the sink but I managed to stop it after a while. Alex made me pour peroxide over the wound to clean it (I will get him back for the pain I experienced with that), and I put a band-aid on it. But a short while later I noticed blood running down my arm and all over my pants so Alex decided it was time for a trip to the hospital.

These pictures are taken with my cell phone so they're not super clear but you can see the wound and the bruising surrounding it.







We were there for just over 4 hours and while I tried to be brave I almost passed out when the doctor was putting in the 2 stitches - I'm a bit of a wuss when it comes to anything gory.

I did manage to get the shot I was going for which will be in one of the upcoming blogs with the recipe for raisin oatmeal cookies.

As I was driving along University Avenue this evening, on my way home, I noticed 3 helicopters circling in the general direction of my house. My first thought was "Oh no, what has Alex done now?" Just kidding! But I was curious about the attention these helicopters were giving to the neighborhood. According to one local news station there was a hive of African killer bees and a few people had been stung and taken to the hospital. When reading this story, however, it believes some honey bees had interbred with Africanized killer bees. This all happened 2 blocks from our house so we're keeping our doors and windows closed for the time being.

It was a little chilly today and actually poured with rain for some time. While the weather is so cold, we are having what we think is the last fire of the season. Here's Alex and Boo taking a nap in front of a roaring fire.

Another Fred joined the Boese/Walton critter household today. We came home to Fred the lizard, sunning himself on the patio.



It was quite long and beautifully marked.

A week ago Ann and Diana came over to toast our newly finished bathroom and they were really surprised that we had already started on the masterbath. We had a great happy hour (or more) with some appetizers and plenty of wine.



As usual things quickly got out of hand and after toasting our new bathroom with champagne everything went downhill.



Well, we weren't really that bad... but almost.

I was so surprised to find my first rose of the season in the backyard. I never do anything to my feeble little bushes thinking that each year will be the last for them - but they continue to thrive, somewhat.



Looks lovely on the fireplace mantel

While browsing the web during lunch last week I came across another blog by a person with a strong interest in food. What caught my attention was her entry How to East a Pig's Head. Her pictures of the feast are awesome. The pig's head came atop a bed of white beans that I bet would be good dipping with the fat of the pig - all you would need is good chunk of crusty bread. I think you should read the blog to get the full description of their enjoyment.

I have never eaten a pig's head and after reading this I don't think I ever will. I don't like fatty meat and this seems to be one big blob of fat. Alex would probably eat some of it (especially the cheek part) but would not want a whole head served to him. I think his Dad, Klaus, might enjoy digging in for a taste or two as well.

Any thoughts on eating a pig's head? Anyone tried it? Look forward to your comments.

I've been meaning to tell you about a blog I recently found called Blue Kitchen. It's written by Terry B and is all about food. I really enjoy the way he writes and will be trying some of his recipes when Klaus and Janet come visit us in the next few months. He's located in Chicago and also writes about restaurants in the general area. By clicking on the archives link you can read all his previous posts plus click on the category of your choice for recipes.

I recommend this blog for an informative and fun read.

I've just finished my first glass of wine of the year. I resolved not to drink alcohol for one month and I did it. I sipped it slowly and relished every drop - it took me 1 1/2 hours to drink one glass! I'm now going to have another one.

I stopped making new year's resolutions a long time ago because I could never keep them. But this past new year's eve Alex and I decided to stop drinking alcohol for one whole month. The first 3 or 4 days were difficult for me but it quickly got easier to come home and do some housework instead of just sitting on the couch with a glass of wine. We all know that Alex couldn't hack it past the 7th day, but I'm still going strong and it's been 29 days. BUT, it's been a rough week at work and I've wanted nothing more than to relax at the end of the day with a glass of wine. So I'm writing all of this because I have only 2 days left before I can have a drink and I'm really looking forward to it.