A Day in Benicia (Blip Rejects)

These are all the photos I didn't use on my Blip photo blog.  All photos were taken February 26, 2012 in and around Wellington in Benicia.

The top photo is the sedum The Hub planted along the top of the Century Stone wall in front.  It looks like three different plants when it's fully in bloom.

Above is one of the cacti in my kitchen window.  It's developing buds.  It's so cute when it blossoms.  I bought it the week we moved into Wellington.  It generally only blooms along the base, then forms babies.

These three palm trees grow outside the mobile home park near the water.  They're very well tended.  Pretend like you're in Hawaii.

Another view of the boats down at the harbor.

A young lady down by the harbor. The sculpture is a whimsical one of Jack London.  He used to hang around Benicia quite a bit. 

Some people out of focus, looking at the water.

Two kids playing near the wall while a boat goes past.

An interesting house on a pier.  Don't know the story behind this, but I like how it looks.  That's the city of Martinez across the water.

Looking up into a willow tree.

One of the boats at the harbor.  It was pretty far away, so this isn't a very good picture.  But I liked this boat.

Link to my photo blog.
You can see which photo I chose, not included in this blog, by clicking on February 26 on the calendar.

Garden Update and Blue Ivy

This is the peach tree.  It's completely in bloom and it's only February 11th.  That's California for you.  Last year it bloomed at the same time, according to The Blog.  And we got peaches (we were expecting nectarines), so it's okay.  They weren't exactly edible, but the tree was just a baby.  I have high hopes for edible fruit this year. 

The viburnum along the back wall is starting to bloom.    It's beautiful.

The arbutus marina (or strawberry tree) is blooming.  It has dangly "strawberries" on it, too.

This is the hibiscus that rooted all on its own when I had it inside in a vase.  So we shoved it in the ground!  It's just a baby.

The jade, which has been in a pot for about twelve years, is blooming for the first time.  I originally plucked a teeny piece of the jade in (shhh) Disneyland outside Sleeping Beauty's castle.  I kept it in a paper cup until we got home, put it in the ground and now it's three to four feet round and BLOOMING!

This is just a spider that was building a web.  He helps keep down the gnat population.

Here's Sybil.  She's a multi-fruit tree we got for FREE at Lowe's.  Look at all the buds!  I can't remember the three fruits on here, but I think there's a plum and maybe a nectarine.  Luckily it's labeled, but I'm too lazy to look right now.

Look how gorgeous the sky was yesterday evening.

This is the hardenbergia that is blooming along the back wall with the viburnum.

The weeping Japanese maple along the arbor walk is just setting its leaf buds.

As promised, I have included some pictures of our wonderful cat, Blue Ivy.  Her name used to be Hugo.  But recent events have motivated us to change her name to Blue Ivy.  Read about those events here.

We've also named our new olive tree Blue Ivy.  And we're encouraging the Little Boy to change the name of his little blue car to Blue Ivy.

Stay tuned for more garden updates and more pictures of Blue Ivy.

Real Esate Diversion: San Francisco Contemporary

The Dot is looking in earnest for a new place in San Francisco.  This isn't it.  And not because it's $3 million.  It's two and a half miles from work!  But isn't it cool?

This is the rooftop deck (it doesn't have a yard.)  Below is the little observatory so you can still see the incredible views during inclement weather.  Inclement weather is generally imminent when you live in the City by the Bay.  So this should come in handy.

This house is so open and bright, it just gives me a great feeling.

 

Love this kitchen with the industrial details.

A view over the rooftops towards the Golden Gate.

Here is the front with port hole and steel garage door.  So cool.  You can just glimpse a bit of the pink apartment building to the left.  I'd still take it.  But it's not quite right for The Dot. 

Wish List: Shed

You could hardly even call this a shed.  It's a tiny house.  Snagged from the Tiny House blog.  It's from the Tumbleweed kit.  I've been dreaming of a shed in my back yard for years and years.  Even before we moved to Wellington.  The Husband helped build a shed with his dad and brother about 30 years ago, and ever since I saw them do it I've been itching to help him build one myself. 

I'm sure it won't be this elaborate, but I'm planning on cute and quaint with a window and window box.  I was hoping for a chicken inside, but that's okay.  The Dot tells me her friend's chickens have taken over the whole yard.  I like my yard and have plenty of eggs.  And pets (one old cat, one fluffy guinea pig and two stoic turtles).  But I sure would like a shed perched at the back of my yard, looking down over the Arbor Walk.

Speaking of turtles, Angrite the angry male Russian Tortoise woke up today.  Last year he woke up before spring and put himself back to bed, so I wasn't surprised to see him.  His wife, Pica, is still snoozing away.  Maybe she's pregnant!  I'll keep you posted.