An Evening With Harry Belafonte

Michelle Gabel/ The Post-Standard

He spoke for almost an hour, no notes, he held the attention of his audience the entire time. Eighty-three years old and the fire burns as brightly as ever. He told stories, some funny, some poignant, he talked about his friends and connections in Syracuse and the Onondaga Nation, he talked about his life of activism and his disappointment in the changes of the past thirty years.

Tomatoes 2011

A Cooking Life

Jaune Flammé
Babywine
Stupice
Carmello
Chianti Rose
Mortgage Lifter
Paul Robeson
Black Zebra
San Marzano 3
Brown Berry and Brown Cherry
Isis Candy and Bi-Color Cherry
Sundrop
Miribelle
Sun Gold
Super Snow White
Green Grape
Sugar Sweetie

The first seeds have arrived and they are of course, tomato seeds. The fresh seeds, the new (for me) varieties make me believe that I might just rekindle my enthusiasm for the garden.

I'm finally going to try Stupice and Mortgage Lifter along with Paul Robeson and Chianti Rose, Sun Gold and a different brown cherry, Brown Berry. It seems strange not to be growing Brandywine and Black Krim after all these years but they are more available at the Farmers' Market so I may as well grow something different.

additional varieties as of 2/18: Marmande, Costoluto Fiorentino, Ramapo, Power's Heirloom, Djena Lee's Golden Girl, Tigerella

Fenced Garden Plan 2011

While I was curled up under a quilt yesterday, trying to keep the thermostat low so my mucous membranes wouldn't turn to dust during the 24 hours of frigid temps, I started going through seed catalogs. I quickly discovered that some seeds have already sold out for the season. I decided it was time to get the garden plotted.

I think this year I will resize the beds. I originally planned to use landscaping timbers to contain the beds but I never found what I wanted at a reasonable price. At this point I think inexpensive, rough-cut boards will be just fine and the smaller dimensions will make it possible to add another bed on each side.

Now I'm just hoping that the spring weather will give me a chance to get the prep work done in time to do an early planting of favas, rapa, radishes and such.

Meanwhile the flying squirrel made another appearance downstairs a couple weeks ago. It found the sunflower seed jug and I was able to get very close and watch it before I finally scooped it up into the jug and took it back to the attic. Now I'm leaving some seeds in the attic in the hope that the squirrels will be more likely to stay up there until spring. I can see the last years of my life looking like a scene from "Grey Gardens".

The problem is that I know the last dog we had would have torn the house apart if a squirrel had gotten in so we haven't gone any further in adopting a dog. I'm so disappointed that I haven't even been able to check the website to see if Candy is still available.

2/14 Candy was adopted a week ago. I hope she has a wonderful new home.

We're Approved

Our application to adopt a dog from Chow Chow Rescue of CNY has been approved. A gorgeous black male puppy, Moose, has been placed but an older female, Candy, the dog who finally motivated me to apply is still available. I plan to meet her next week. After almost twelve years without one, something I can't really identify has shifted and now I'm ready for another dog. Or at least very close to it...