Cough cough. Tap tap. Anyone still out there?? It's been a long time! We're back in the US now and I don't even know if this blog works anymore. Surely the technology has changed. Wow. Well, I'm excited to dust off my stamps and my memberships and see what I can do to revive these hobbies. Stay tuned. . . And let me know if anyone is still out there and getting this! Whoop!

Great Reads

One of my favorite books of this year is one I just finished "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline.

It is sort of a Hunger Games/Charlie and the Chocolate Factory type of book taking place in the future. All computer, gaming, virtual reality, and lots of 80s nostalgia.

I got the audio version read by Wil Wheaton - he did a fantastic job - get the audio if you're going on a road trip.

If you were into any sort of computer or D&D type games of the 80s, you will REALLY appreciate it. Otherwise, the 80s references to movies was fun in its own right.

Give it a go if you're looking for something different.

:)

RIP Tony Moore

A great letterboxing icon has passed.

:(

Fun Plants

I just can't wait until I can get my own little greenhouse. I have been looking at plants and plotting my plan of attack. One of the things I just love, is getting the more 'exotic' plants. You know, the ones you won't find at the local garden center. Every citrus variety, olive, avocado, tea, coffee, etc. It's like a collecting hobby to me - finding and caring for these exotics.

A place I found here in the UK gets two thumbs up from me as a supplier of these sorts of plants. Carreglefn Nurseries. I have ordered a few plants from them now and have had great success. Each plant comes nicely packed up and includes feeding and care instructions. All the plants have been very healthy and only shipped during the right part of the year for each variety.

Check them out if you are in the UK and just want to check out something different. They aren't cheap (for that, you'll just have to get some seeds from the various catalogs) but how many people do you know that have their own coffee plant?!

:)

Coffee Tips

Ran across this great article from Freakonomics on how to make the perfect cup of coffee with a French press.

I was all excited to try it out when I realized my French press got packed up when we moved house at end of last year and it now is lost in a box in a storage unit. Booooo!

Oh well, I'll get it sometime. Meanwhile, here's the link for you to check it out:

Coffee

Garden: Planting Schedule

Ran across this Planting Schedule by Mel Bartholomew online for raised bed gardening. Nice chart to plan your veggies for the year.

iPhone: Gardening Apps

On one of the gardening blogs I enjoy reading, they did a post on the best gardening iPhone apps that is very informative. As we now in the thick of springtime and enjoying the emergence of flowers and bees and visits to the garden centers, here is the link to check out these apps and website:

My Garden School iPhone Garden Apps