Not My Cup Of Tea

Maybe the title of this blog is misleading. It isn't about tea at all. It is about what is being called 'interactive dining'.  It goes like this...you go in this new restaurant, get a bowl and go down the line. While in this line we pick out our vegetable, our starch, our protein, and even our sauce. After that I don't know what we do with our bowl because they completely lost me at 'sauce'. When I go out to eat, I want things peaceful, relaxing with no challenges. I know things need to change and we need to keep them fresh and new! I'm all for it. I remember the first motel...yes, they called them motels back in the middle of the 20th century...that put a swimming pool out front. It was called 'The Colony Motel'.  I just thought that was the coolest thing. I also remember the first McDonald's ever where I grew up. My dad drove us there.  I was elected to stand in the long line of this fresh new idea of a restaurant with a list of what they wanted on their hamburgers. Hamburgers were 15c, cheeseburgers were 20c...no condiment choices. You get what you get and like it or go somewhere else. Unfortunately, there was no 'someplace else' to go to. I don't remember ever having to stand in line at McDonald's ever again. I guess my parents didn't like this new challenge of a restaurant. I wonder where I get that attitude.  

Perhaps A Garden

I've been thinking very seriously about having a small...make that super small...raised vegetable garden next year. I guess next year would mean planting it in early May '12. Why raised? Because the knees I was given in the middle of the 20th century didn't come with a guarantee and they aren't working these days too well and I can't exchange them. Why super small? Because I'm hoping the neighbors don't notice it because the Home Owner's Association appears to frown on our turning our backyards into farmland. Why a garden at all? Because I used to be a very successful gardener back in the latter part of the 20th century and it's never too late to be the grand farmer I might have been. Also, I've been reading a lot about my 'global footprint', lately, have discovered my own is atrocious and possibly I can do something about that. So, I've been keeping a journal of the shade that our fence casts. 

My vision is for the garden to be on the left side of the yard. 

Unfortunately, the full sun appears to be mostly on the right side.  I guess I can be flexible...even if my knees aren't.