Baby Bubba Okra in a Pot

South Philly's Finest One Pot Okra Plant

The Pictures as promised:



And here's a close-up of the leaves:

Quote

Fierce love also takes the form of gentleness.

Big Money Post

You know, I've had this blog up now for quite some time.

One reason it exists is to provide an outlet for my longer-form musings that otherwise I'd commit to paper and then ignore forever.

Starting last year, I decided to turn on advertising. Sadly, as of yet, I have not earned dime one. But I figure if I want to make the big money in on-line advertising, I should post a bit more frequently than once every three months.

Since I get to see the logs for this page, I know that most people who visit are coming to find something other than my poetry. For instance, lots of folks are looking for pictures of a baby bubba hybrid okra growing in a pot.

And as it turns out, this year I again planted a pot of okra on my front porch and am getting good results! About every 4 days I get a new okra pod right on my doorstep. And, happily, no one bothers to steal it.

If, like a great many Philadelphians I have met over the years, you are unacquainted with the okra, let me suggest simply microwaving one fresh young pod for 30 seconds. Then, eat all of it, other than the spiny little cap at the base. It is delicious! Just like that! No butter, maybe a little salt, but otherwise great tasting all on its own. Or you could prepare that southern classic, fried okra. Or, I suppose, just stop in at you local Church's Chicken (there's two locations in the Suburban Station concourse.)

Speaking of delicious, greasy food, at long last I've regained (and then some) my wedding diet weight-loss. Unfortunately, this means that I must diet. Well, I suppose I don't have to, but the unpleasant alternative would be buying all new clothes. Which, in itself would not be so bad, except for my utter poverty.

Being something of an obstinate sort, and taking due consideration of human physiology, I have decided to attempt to eat less than or exactly 1800 calories a day. For a man my size, per this helpful website, I should be slimming down smartly.

So I have spent the last three days constantly searching to various websites to find out how many calories are in the foods I eat.

Which reminds me...it turns out that the plumeria stalk we picked up from Kauai, Hawaii during our honeymoon finally bloomed this year!

New Seeds on the Way

MARIGOLD SNOWBALL HYB
HERB LAVENDER ANGUSTIFOLIA
OKRA BABY BUBBA HYB
SNAPDRAGON CINDERELLA MXD CLR
SALVIA LADY IN RED
NASTURTIUM PAPAYA CREAM
SUNFLOWER BABY BEAR
LAVENDER PROVENCE BLUE

Snow!

End of Growing Season

Today, December 5, 2009, the weather has finally turned decisively cold. Today we're seeing a wintry mix. The 2009 growing season for my corner of South Philly is now over.

New Poem

Oh Lord, Help me to write a single true thing, and it will be
Obviously Your handiwork. Like a sparrow taking flight
Or the daily sky-filling dance of the celestial host
Softly reassure the ostensibly incredulous men
Of a skeptical age. But a hint of honest work lurking
In my doughy frame, well, a global conflagration of faith
Would surely result. The new Philadelphia miracle
Pricking the pickled hearts of jaded reporters and jejune
Bloggers. I hear they say a prophet is not without honor-
I forget the rest, but if in your plenitude you could send
A doe-eyed fact-checker in a size zero dress I’d nail
The quote down. My story I would share the world over for a
Small fee to cover my costs, and a large fee to cover my
Wife’s. I pray you would not disdain my pleas for worldly lucre,
Or worldly fame, and perhaps goodly looks, for all are to Your
Glory. Help me, Lord, a procrastinating writer to start
Telling of your love, and capturing finally a small part.

Lotus Pot Yesterday

It's alive! Check out those floating leaves. You go, Lotus, you go.

More Plant Pictures

Beautiful red Celosia



Snapdragons! These are volunteers from last season. Check out the gorgeous orange. The parents were dwarf, but these look pretty tall.

The Chill

Today I had the disconcerting experience of walking into Rite-Aid, noticing the fine late glow of the setting day in the west, and then getting hit with a blustery storm as soon as I walked out. (Weirdly enough, to verify the URL I just looked at Rite-Aids site, and they've got a big link up for Swine Flu Facts. And a rebate program for the allergy drug Zyrtec. Hmm, maybe I should check out their page more often.)

Anyway...it's been very unsettled weather as of late.

The plants, of course, have varying levels of excitement about this chilly (55 degree) wet weather.

I have a big pot filled with both the Zowie Zinnia and a lovely draping of Nasturtiums all around it. Up until this week, the Nasturtiums were all leaves. Big, beautiful green leaves, but still, just leaves. In the just the last few days the first lovely frilled yellow flowers have started to appear.

In fact, I should probably note that Nasturtiums have generally been one of the most lovely, and reliable, of the flowers I've grown.

Oh, and there has been quite a show from some Snapdragons that overwintered in my big back pot as well.

The Weather Channel predicts that tomorrow and Friday will make it into the 70s. I hope so.

The News from NY is Good - I Passed

Back in February I took the NY Bar exam in Albany. Today I got an email saying I Passed. Tomorrow, it should be publicly posted! Woo-hoo! I am so happy I don't have to study again!

To all the folks who had to put up with me while studying...thank you!

Starting a Lotus

A long-time request for my garden has been a lotus. Doing a search I found a press release from Auburn University. They are looking for ways to commercialize this beautiful flower. From the press release, I went to Ten Mile Creek Nursury, and happily I was able to get a Red Dragonfly rhizome. Unfortunately it's been quite chilly this week in Philadelphia, so I'm worried it will just go dormant. When it quits raining I may try to snap a picture.

Early Spring Picture of Zinnia

This picture was taken today using a brand new point and shoot Canon camera with a fancy built-in macro lens. Springtime in Philly. Hopefully I'll have some more pictures, soon.

Flurries

And thus ends the 2008 growing season for Philadelphia, PA: flurries this afternoon.

I appreciate the fact that it still feels like Summer outside for at least another day

Unfortunately, over the past few days I was the victim of sunflower snatching. From all appearances the flowers were not taken far (there is broken sunflower litter near my porch).

Hopefully it was someone so hungry that they needed unroasted (indeed unformed) sunflower seeds for food. So far, the 10 day forecast shows no frost on the horizon, either.

Pictures from Today

Today was a wonder, do nothing Sunday. Woo-hoo for relaxation.

Close to the Autumnal Equinox

I've noticed the days growing shorter, and even enjoyed the seasonably cooler daytime temperatures this week, though I must admit I'd rather not see summer gone just yet.

I don't get to go to the movies that often, mostly just because of the amount of time I spend at work. But, I did get to see The Dark Knight, which I'm happy to report was awesome. And this time I didn't wind up taking a bad taxi trip.

Pomegranate August Outside Shot

Getting to Meet Some International Visitors

Last night was the IVC First Thursday Reception for international visitors. I had, as always, a lot of fun. I got to meet several Fulbright Scholars, Penn LLM Students, and visitors from Ferris University in Yokohama, Japan.

Celebrating 2008 Olympics

Today as I walked to lunch at the food court below the Comcast Center, I was given a flyer and a fortune cookie. Free food grabs my attention.

Both were advertising the Evening of Champions, celebrating the opening of the 2008 Olympics here in Philadelphia's Chinatown.

I don't know if I'll make it or not, but I think it'd be a fun outing.

While I don't watch a lot of sports, I reckon the Olympics are a good bet for pretty good show.