I am young, with the ears of a spritely 25-or-less-year-old!

Created by Train Horn

Spring is on the way. My crocuses (croci?) bloomed yesterday, February 21:


Compare to the same clump on March 5, 2008:
Point #1: they are emerging almost two weeks earlier. Climate change? It is probably in response to the 70 degree day we had a week and a half ago (although it's back down to freezing again). It will be interesting to keep track of first blooming dates over the coming years.

Point #2: more flowers! Most bulbs divide each year. I may get a fourth flower later, although there's occasionally a rogue bulb that doesn't store enough energy to divide. I am looking forward to seeing the increase in flowers once there are lots of tulips, daffodils, and other species up in a month or so. Not to mention how many there will be in 2010 or 2011! Geometric series, baby!

My jaw hurts. I have not laughed so hard in a long time. You can too.

First, watch this: (you may have already, it's pretty popular)


Then, watch this:


Last, the two combine to form this awesomeness:

School is pretty busy. Today I gave the lunchtime research seminar. The advanced stats kiddos (ok, not really kiddos, they're all within a couple years of my age) turned in their first problem set so I have to grade them. Fortunately there are only 22 of them, as opposed to the 50 problem sets I had to grade each week last fall (which majorly contributed to my nervous breakdown). Next week I have two grant applications due. Sometime in the next couple weeks I'll be setting up my first lab experiment.

So: February. Getting a little closer to spring...although there's a wet snow falling outside right now. My indoor broccoli seedlings just sprouted. I've also got last year's onions that I started from seed growing under my plant light. Pretty soon I will probably start some cauliflower, then a second round of broccoli, all of which I won't be around to enjoy since I'll be in Maine. With me gone probably early May-late August solid, Ryan will have to tend to the garden, harvest, and eat or preserve everything. He's not too interested, so I have to sweeten the deal for him by only planting stuff that he likes. So no zucchini this year :P I am planning:

Perennials:
strawberries (should get lots, and maybe early enough for me to get some fresh ones!)
raspberries
assorted herbs

Cool season:
lettuce/spinach
broccoli
cauliflower
snap peas
shelled peas
carrots
onions

Warm season:
green beans
watermelon
honeydew melon
pumpkins
potatoes
soybeans

My apple, peach, and hazelnut trees are still too young to fruit, but they'll be around growing, too.

I am going to miss my garden during the summer. It was such a peaceful, happy feeling last year when I grabbed my morning cup of coffee, let the cattens out in the backyard, and strolled around in the early sun checking up on how much my plants were growing...who was flowering...what I could harvest. All wearing shorts and flip-flops. Summer, I miss you!

We just got the last of our tax documents, so I prepared our federal and state returns....

We're getting a combined $7,733.40 in refunds!!! Talk about "woot!" A good portion of that will go to additional mortgage principal. After that, I don't know. Ok, I know. We're the most practical and boring people ever. It will go into savings.

The Superbowl is about to start. Keep an eye out for the Doritos commercial with the kitty and laser pointer. Ryan likes to tease the cattens, especially Choco, with a laser pointer.