I've been squinting at our property lines and trying in my head to lay out an herb bed. It won't happen this year, but I miss my herbs. We don't get a lot of sunlight, but I'd like to take advantage of what we do get. The neighbors on both sides have planting beds that overlap our lines--the previous owner didn't care. I do. And I want those extra feet back. But I don't want to antagonize nice neighbors, either. So I'm going to work out an informative approach, "I'm just going to move this border edging back to the property line," rather than, "Is it okay if I move this edging that's been here probably as long as the house, thereby reducing the amount of planting space for you but taking back what's mine..." which is my usual cavilling approach.

I'm also trying to decide what plants I want, which ones will grow in this climate and survive overwintering. We don't really use what I grow in cooking so much as I just enjoy sitting in the sun amid the plants, or walking through them, and drowning in the dizzying array of scents.

I think the informative approach is best.

Mmm, herbs.

I am looking at my backyard, and trying to decide what to do, before i go in away from bitey bugs. The pile of old deck wood and junk that needs to be hauled away is smaller than I thought, but large trash pick up for the fall happens too late for my wedding. I think I can contact a hauler, and pay a fee to have it hauled away, though.

I think I will have to work on parts of the yard in sections, though. I will try to get the concrete patio cleaned up this week; it's just tons of leaves, and I can rake it, sweep it and hose it.

The side of the house is an overgrown mess, though. I wonder how much I would have to pay someone to just cut all that stuff down for me. There has to be an angry man with a machete around, right?

Erin - take a picture of the pile of wood and post it on CL under the free section.

Freecycle as well.

Nom, eating grocery store tortellini with awesome parsley pesto and tomatoes acquired from the Farmer's Market.

Also, a Jack Rose of course.

Not only am I keeping my same cell number (I've had it for like 10+ years), since we have Vonage internet landline service, we have our MA land line number.

Lord, I am exhausted. Wonder why?

Cats on their backs with their heads upside down at 90 degree angles are amusing. And reflective of how it's kinda hot and bothersome right now.

I have to report that if you're picking an Urth Caffe to visit in LA County, that so far the one on Melrose is the best. Not menu-wise, but staring-at-people-wise. They're just...they're all...it's like it's an event, you know? I haven't been to the one downtown, but the Beverly and the Santa Monica one are much more laid back. But then, less funny.

We had a bra-showing lady next to us who really seemed like she'd dressed for the occasion. Sheer top and lacy bra, and somehow her micro-mini looked like she was wearing a crinoline.

Matilda and I are back home again; she was shockingly cooperative and pleasant and mellow at -t's (in the car before we went in, I explained to her that we were there to give -t some love because she is very sad, because her husband whom she loves a lot has died and she misses him, and Matilda said, "Sometimes I am sad about my grandfather who died, but that was a long time ago when I was just a baby." "But still, so you understand how she feels?" I said. "Yeah. Yeah, I do understand," she said, and in we went).

-t's sister is staying with her and is very kind and funny and awesome, and -t is doing okay with her company and love. And she said that thinking about the Buffistas and all the loving messages and visits she's gotten makes her a little teary, in a good way.

I'm so glad -t was able to get some Matilda love.