Growing

I took some more garden photos today - keeping track of the changes from day to day is a lot of fun for me.

One main thing I did this morning was that I thinned out the basil seedlings, since they were definitely overcrowding each other. I do regret I didn't take a picture before I did it, to show how many there were. No other reason than, I forgot!

Close up of the little basil seedlings.

In just over a week, this pot got really crowded, the seedlings grew, and today I thinned them. You'll have to take my word that there were a lot more in here!

"Before" and "after" of the container in front of the house - just over one week apart

Blooming geranium!

I planted some more basil seeds in the garden next to my basil transplant and some of the tomato plants. I'm really hoping to make some homemade pesto later this summer! I'm also considering planting some chives in a container and buying at least one marigold plant.

Yup, gardening is becoming a "thing" - at least for now!

In other news, I made a new Giada appetizer this weekend to share with some friends, and it was a great success. The recipe is for Smoked Salmon Pizzettes - my friends said they were like bagels and lox with "less bagel" - and this was positive for them. The smoked salmon pieces sit on top of a mix of mascarpone, sour cream, and capers, and all that is on top of little circles of pizza dough (hence, pizzettes). Like many of Giada's other appetizers, it was easy and delicious!

[Photo from The Dishy Decorator. Recipe is linked above.]

Garden Update

I know you are all on the edge of your seats - but I get to write about what I want, even if it's boring to some. :-)

After a few days where I was worried that I was actually killing my plants (spots on the leaves, and in some basil leaves, something that is a pest called leafminer, according to the interwebs), the last few days have been better. All the plants look pretty good, AND the cilantro (coriander seeds) that I planted is sprouting. When I took photos for the blog, there was nothing to see, but there are green seedlings coming up now. They just weren't as quick to appear as the little basil plants (which also keep on growing). Also, the geranium plant blossomed again, the buds that I took a photo of the other day are now open and beautiful. I'll have to take some more photos over the weekend. For whatever reason, I'm really enjoying this project so far. It's nice to have a reason to get outside.

In school, my classmates and I just finished a big writing assignment, so we're in sort of a breather before the big run-up to finals, which start in a month (eep!). It may not actually be a breather as in there is plenty we could be doing, but we all need one. Today, instead of grocery shopping like I'd planned after school, I hung out with a bunch of friends/classmates and just chatted for a couple hours at a restaurant type place AWAY from school. It was just what the doctor ordered after the relative solitude of writing our briefs.

Alright, there's my update. About to watch another episode of the Good Wife before bed. (I just got into the show recently and I highly recommend it!)