First off, I want to give a big “thank you” to my anonymous benefactor, mouseferatu, teflaime, and sartorias, who between them, have extended my paid account until well into 2007. *sniffle* I love you guys.
Been watching episodes of The Good Life courtesy Netflix. It’s a British sitcom that came out in the mid-’70s. (When it was released in the U.S. they inexplicably re-named it “The Good Neighbors.”) The premise is that a corporate drone decides on his 40th birthday, with the support of his wife, to quit his job and try to become self-sufficient . . . in Surbiton. They plow up their yard to plant crops, get a goat and chickens, and try their hand at various domestic chores such as churning their own butter and weaving their own wool. Their neighbors, upper crust middle-class folks, are appalled, and provide commentary and periodic assistance as their efforts go awry. Wacky hyjinks ensue.
Matthew introduced me to the show, who in turn was addicted to it by his folks. A charming series. And they ended it when it was still popular because, *gasp*, they’d said everything they had to say and were done.
Anyhoo, while I was watching the opening episodes, I had a brief flash of “could the Fosters become self-sufficient?” This is what happens after a couple blackberry pies and talk of jam, I tell you. Thankfully, sanity intruded immediately. I reminded myself that I can’t grow a ficus. If I try to nurture a plant, it dies. The blackberries are thriving because I am stoically ignoring them except when they start fruiting. I also am sensitive to the point of allergic to sunlight (thanks to lupus), Matthew has a bad back, and I’m sure our home owners association would have hysterics en masse if we started keeping chickens. But I did find myself wondering if blueberries grow in this part of the country. Blueberry pie would be a nice addition to our summer harvest. Am I defying the capricious gods of agriculture to even contemplate such an undertaking?
Writing Stuff
Received a 64-day “Nice writing here but didn’t like it enough to buy” personal rejection from Ellen Datlow of SCI FICTION.
New Words: 600, -100
On the folktale. Galvanized to finish it, I plowed ahead and finally made it to zero draft. Did a couple passes and managed to cull out 100 words. Going to give it a few more passes and then hand it over to the hubby to first reader. He’s getting a bit white around the eyes with everything he needs to do for Dragon*Con, but I’ll bribe him with pie. Plan to toss it up to Critters next week, and if all goes well, it’ll be out the door week after that. Whew. This was one was rather like pulling teeth.
500/day
64
The Good Life is indeed great – we catch repeats on various channels here from time to time. And my ex-girlfriend and her husband live in Surbiton.
The cast of The Good Life is to die for. They just couldn’t go wrong with Felicity Kendal, Paul Eddington (loved him Yes, Minister/Yes, Prime Minister), and Penelope Keith!
I adore Yes, Minister. I adore The Good Life.
I love the BritComs. 🙂
Ooh, Ellen Datlow, eh? Impressive. I once got a personalized rejection from Marion Zimmer Bradley. It’s my favourite.
~Maggie 🙂
Yeah, I’m right pleased to be getting Ellen Datlow’s personal attention, but I don’t think I’m getting any closer to her buying something, dangit.
Oooo, a personal reject from Ellen could almost make you forget it’s a reject. Almost. 😀
Almost, definitely almost!
He’s getting a bit white around the eyes with everything he needs to do for Dragon*Con, but I’ll bribe him with pie.
Who CAN’T be bribed with pie?
Nobody, that’s who.
I scream, you scream, we all scream for . . . pie!
I did find myself wondering if blueberries grow in this part of the country.
We have blueberry bushes. 🙂
Ooo, really? How well do they grow, and how fruitful are they? Do they need much nurturing? Shade or direct sun?
Come on over and have a look! 🙂
We actually ignore our blueberry bushes, but they seem to be doing well regardless. They get a lot of sun, even though they’re located close to a couple of tall trees. As you probably know, brambles are not attractive plants.
The birds always get to the berries before we do.
i love that show 🙂
I think most berry species are easy to grow and thrive on neglect. At least if you live where water falls from the sky. (Not my situation, unfortunately).
Zuccinis and squash are very easy. I’m extrememly sun sensitive too, so my gardening time is pretty limited. But it looks like we’ll have a bumper crop of both this year without much effort. (The horse contributes much organic material; plants love horse poop.)
I’d like to get some chickens. That way I’ll know for certain my eggs are coming from chickens kept in humane conditions.
Pat Kirby
Pie conquers all.
Oh, I LOVE that show!! You know, my family has actually done that in the past, and we’re working towards doing it again… :grins: We’d be a lot further along, but we used to live in the country; now the country has been discovered and become suburbia, and that brings problems. Like, for example, chipmunks. :grumbles: If ever there was an animal of suburbia, it’s chipmunks. Like so many city dwellers today, they’re only interested in destruction. Give me a rabbit any day! At least the rabbits eat the garden; chipmunks go through and cut through the plants at the base of the stalk, then just leave the plants to die. They don’t eat it; why this insatiable urge to cut it down?!
Erm. Enough rambling. 😉
Maybe you can tell me: are people with lupus really werewolves, as that term seems to imply? 😛 I can never hear it without thinking that.